The story of KITÁ began with a simple idea: that art can unite us. We set out to portray a group of talented Juilliard students as they traveled to the Philippine Islands to teach dance—but what unfolded was far more profound.

What excites us most is that KITÁ shows Juilliard as you’ve never seen it before. These dancers, known for their discipline and artistry, stepped far beyond the conservatory and into the unknown. Most didn’t speak the language. Few knew what to expect. But what they discovered was powerful: that art, in its rawest form, connects us when words fall short.

In the Philippines, dance became more than performance. It became a bridge—a way to listen, to share, and to heal. We witnessed a rare metamorphosis: young Westerners who came to teach found themselves transformed by the generosity of the communities they entered, and by the quiet weight of a complex shared history.

As filmmakers, we were moved not just by the beauty of the movement, but by the moments of real human change. KITÁ is a meditation on what it means to give and receive—and a testament to creativity’s power to restore a divided world.

Art is not a luxury. It is a language of survival, empathy, and possibility. Through this film, we hope to remind audiences: there’s still hope for a truly beautiful tomorrow.

-William & Gianina