Official Selections: 1st - 6th Latinx Film Festivals
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film
El Soñador
Los Angeles Premiere
Documentary Short
A family of undocumented immigrants must overcome prejudice and systemic obstacles, in order to survive in America.
Director: Duncan Heger
Producer: Ashley Dasom Lee
Writer: Duncan Heger
Cinematographer: John “JP” Dellanno
Editor: Duncan Heger
- 2023 Young Director’s Award Shortlist
- 2023 NFFTY Audience Award Winner
- 2023 Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (Official selection)
- 2023 Raleigh Film & Art Festival (Official Selection)
- 2023 Monadnock International Film Festival (Official Selection)
- 2023 NFFTY (Official Selection).
Instagram: @elsonadorfilm , @duncanheger
EX Weeks Out
Short
Lucy wakes up on her front lawn, with a broken heart and a really bad hangover, after her husband, Dan, asks for a divorce via text. Lost, lonely, and still a little hungover,Lucy sets out to find out who she really is.With the help of great friends, a little dog, and some muscle memory, she decides to "do something for her". Inspired by the literal girl next door, she registers to compete in a bodybuilding competition. Of course, like any comeback story, once Lucy finally sees some progress, sh*t hits the fan.Does Lucy have what it takes to make it to show day? Can bodybuilding heal the strongest muscle of them all - the heart? Find out soon. She's EX Weeks Out.
Director: Trisha LaFache
Producer: Amanda Rivas, Todd Gallet, Trisha LaFache, Dany San Lugo
Writer: Amanda Rivas
Cast: Amanda Rivas, Ray Santiago, Maureen Blanquisco, Lisa Marie, Allishia Knotts, Trisha La Fache, Lauren De Miranda, Thien Nguyen, Sharieff Walters, Tonie Cordero, Gabrielle Masulli, Rosy Vargas, Conor Holloway, Cillian Dunne, Emma Kennedy, Lilliana Montenegro, Todd Gallet, John Michael Young
Cinematographer/ Director of Photography: Mariscela Mendez
Editor: Jeremy Sancen
EX Weeks Out is an official selection of the following festivals: IFS LA Film Fest, Orange County Latino Film Festival, Chelsea Film Festival
Website: .imdb.com/title/tt28684625/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm
Instagram: @chelosmandita
GO DANI GO
Short
When the biggest soccer tryout of her life lands on the same day she must help her mother pick fruits in the fields, a spunky young athlete has to choose between chasing her dreams or staying stuck in the strawberry fields.
Director: Chelsea Patricia Ramirez
Producer: Justine Beed, Trey Sutton
Writer: David Willner
Cast: Sammie X; Karyme Valeriano; Laura Diaz; Sebastian Sage
Cinematographer: Matthew Beavers
Editor: Camila Papadopoulo, John Malone
- Winner, “Best Narrative Short” at Miami Women Film Festival
- Winner, “Best Picture” at WCA Feminist Media Film Festival
- Runner-up, “Best Short Film” at March On Washington Film Festival
- 2nd Runner-up, “Best Short Film” at ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Festival (Telly Awards-qualifying)
- Finalist, “Best Short Film” at Georgia Latino International Film Festival
- Finalist, New York University Sports Film Festival
- Semi-finalist, “Visiones Únicas” at Mirada Corta Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes, México
- Quarter-Finalist, “Best Super Short” at Student World Impact Film Festival
Website: chelsearamirez.com/projects/go-dani-go
Instagram: @grumpykidpics
Twitter: @chelsea_rami_
Facebook: GO DANI GO - The Short Film
High Ceilings
Sarah comes to pick up Ray for rehab.
Director: Danilo Dayani
Producer: Harrison Thomas, Danilo Dayani
Writer: Danilo Dayani
Cast: Goya Robles, Corina Calderon
Cinematographer: Dave Anglin
Editor: Todd Sandler
Esmeralda
Los Angeles Premiere
Short Film
When a young woman, Esmeralda, returns to her native land to confront her mother about a traumatic childhood memory, the two women forge a newfound bond through a shared experience.
Director: Jennifer Greco
Producer: Nifemi Adegboye, Maria Camila Alonso Cruz
Writer: Jennifer Greco
Cast: Ana María Estupiñán, Ana María Sánchez, Elkin Díaz
Cinematographer: Carlos Del Castillo
Editor: Juan David Cardona
- Female Eye Film - Winner of Best North American Short Film
- Student Academy Awards, Semifinalist
- Flickers' Rhode Island, Semifinalist
- Miami Short Film Festival, Semifinalist
- Official Selections / Currently in competition: Georgia Latino Film Festival, Seattle Latino Film Festival, Catalina Film Festival, Evolution Mallorca Film Festival, California Women Film Festival, among others
Website: esmeraldafilm.com
Instagram: @esmeraldafilm
Facebook: fb.com/esmeraldafilm?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Flick
A reclusive college student is driven mad after picking a booger he can’t flick away.
Director: Ariel Zengotita
Producers: Ariel Zengotita and Tu Do
Writer: Ariel Zengotita
Cast: Nate Pringle
Cinematographer: Tu Do
Editor: Ariel Zengotita
Flick began its festival run at the Palm Springs International ShortFest in June 2020, and has been featured at over 15 film festivals since then, including Encounters Film Festival in the UK, and the upcoming Chicago International Film Festival. It received a nomination for Best Actor at NOLA Horror Film Fest, and won the award for Best Special Effects at Horrible Imaginings Film Festival.
Website: http://squidvalley.com
Instagram: @zengojira
Fruits of Labor
Fruits of Labor is a micro-film shot on iPhone 11 that brings attention to the journey of produce being picked in a field by exploited workers, to being picked off the shelf by us, the consumer.
Director: Eli Fénix
Producer: Eli Fénix
Writer: Eli Fénix
Editor: Clara Ann Pereira
The film won the #FilmTheFuture film contest put on by the consulate general of Mexico in Los Angeles.
Gomika
The film is about a robot without a purpose in a world full of working bots. Where he lacks strength to work with its fellow bots, he has an abundance of creativity and curiosity, making him unique yet an outcast. Will the boss bot and other bots stop to enjoy his art, or is his uniqueness not a match for this world?
Director: Solomon Carreiro
Producer: Salamanda
Writer: Solomon Carreiro
Editor: Solomon Carreiro
Official Selection in 10 Festivals, 1 Award Nominee, 1 Finalist, 1 Best Animated Film; Outstanding Achievement Award.
Website: solomoncarreiro.wixsite.com/gomika
Instagram: @gomika_film
Facebook: facebook.com/Gomikafilm
Hold For Applause
LA Premiere
During the lockdown, everyone in Spain shows their gratitude to the health care workers by applauding from their windows at 8pm. Greg would like to join them but he’s too busy solving an international online relationship crisis.
Director: Gerald B. Fillmore
Producer: Gerald B. Fillmore
Writer: Gerald B. Fillmore
Cast: Gerald B. Fillmore, Vanessa Benavente
Cinematography: Gerald B. Fillmore, German Díez
Editor: Gerald B. Fillmore
Website: selectedfilms.com/hold-for-applause
Instagram: @geraldbfillmore
Espinado
West Coast Premiere
I met Martin Espino in 1985. Since day one I’ve had a very positive and vibrant connection with him. As a musician he inspires and makes me want to work with sound. Sound is a very crucial element for the image. Even silent films had a piano player doing the score. In 2014 I started to make a documentary about him and his art, shooting some of its scenes with a Super 8 camera. As editing progressed, I noticed that the Super 8 shots possessed an unrivaled authenticity. Espinado is the result of what can be done using film and editing in digital.
Director: Ivan Cordeiro
Producer: Eyesee Films
Writer: Ivan Cordeiro
Cast: Martin Espino, Ana Maria Vellanoweth, Alejandra Hernandez, Jane Vargas, Leticia Vellanoweth
Cinematographer: Ivan Cordeiro
Editor: Ivan Cordeiro
Website: www.eyeseefilms.com
Eulogy
Los Angeles Premiere
Director: Sergio Lopez
Producer: Sergio Lopez
Writer: Sergio Lopez
Cast: Sergio Lopez, Jillian Morgese, Sergio Lanza
Cinematographer: Dashiell King
Editor: Sergio Lopez
Website: sosergio.com
Instagram: @sergiolopezfilms
Twitter: @yessergio
Facebook: @sergiolopezcomedian
Freestyle
USA Premiere
The Beat pulls new buddies into sonic orbit! Combining elements of 90s R&B, hip hop, new jack swing, chiptune, future fun, ballroom, and Afrofuturism, Freestyle is a celebration of street dance and all other underground dance movements that create personal connections within public spaces.
Director: Ros Fiol
Producer: Ros Fiol
Writer: Ros Fiol
Cast: Josué Romualdo, Jeremy Guyton, Bailey Oliver
Cinematographer: Ros Fiol
Editor: Ros Fiol
Freestyle is a highly collaborative effort. Those listed as “Specfial Thanks” contributed heavily during pre-production as dance, music, talent, and cultural consultants. They also happen to be deeply supportive friends with great ideas. Much like the message in Freestyle, it’s when these unique contributions come together that everything reaches the next level!
Website: https://rosfiol.com
Instagram: @fosriol
Gorditx
Short
With the end of summer talent show looming, A chubby, 9 year old Mexican Girl, Ursula, struggles to fit in at the summer camp held at the lilly white country club that her father works at. With the help of the former ladies golf pro and now masculine transgendered chef, Cormac, Ursula finds out what makes her special.
Director: Malik Ever
Producer: Gus Murray
Writer: Elizabeth T. Vazquez
Cast: Mila Ibarra , River Butcher, Levi Bernhardt, Hannah Kat Jones , Moises Chavez, Gabriela Coro.
Cinematographer: Mallory Grossman
Editor: Stanley Joseph
Honorable Mention at Cannes Shorts.
Website: Gorditx.com
Instagram: @gorditx_film
Hermanita
Short Film
After recently being released from prison, Daniella learns that her little sister has been abused at the hands of her stepfather and has to decide if her duty to protect her sister is more important than freedom.
Director: Hisonni Mustafa
Producer: Lizette Hunter, Hisonni Mustafa, Jessy Bermudez and Justin Melson
Writer: Lizette Hunter and Hisonni Mustafa
Cast: Lizette Hunter, Jessy Bermudez, Mervin Alexander and Christina Thomas
Cinematographer: Hisonni Mustafa and Justin Melson
Editor: Hisonni Mustafa
Instagram: @hermanitashortfilm