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
I Just Wish You Told Me
Los Angeles Premiere
Jessie and Karen have been a same sex couple for thirteen years. When Karen goes into surgery and unexpectedly dies, a traumatized Jessie can’t make sense of it. In her search, Jessie discovers hidden truths that disrupt and shake her confidence in their entire partnership.
Based on a true story, I Just Wish You Told Me, shows how betrayals in long term relationships, can lead to wounds that never heal.
Director: Michelle C. Bonilla
Producers: Michelle C. Bonilla, Kelly Pendygraft
Writer: Michelle C. Bonilla
Cast: Jennifer Christopher, Juliette Jeffers, Susie Geiser, Dennis Mencia, Elizabeth Pan, and Dana Goldberg
Cinematographer: Allie Schultz
Editor: Evelyn Osborn
Winner: 2021 Toronto International Women Film Festival
Nominations: 2021 Best Dramatic Short (Official Latino Arts and Film Festival), 2021 Best Actress in a Dramatic Short, Michelle C. Bonilla (Official Latino Arts and Film Festival)
Official Selections 2021 : New York Latino Film Festival, Out on Film Atlanta LGBTQ Film Festival, Official Latino Arts and Film Festival, Female Voices Rock Film Festival, Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Some Prefer Cake - Lesbian International Film Festival, Out South Queer Film Festival, Toronto International Women Film Festival, Cine+ MAS SF San Francisco Latino Film Festival
Website: IJustWishYouToldMe.com
Instagram: @ijustwishyoutoldmefilm
Facebook: facebook.com/IJustWishYouToldMe
Jose Feliciano – Behind This Guitar
From the slums of Puerto Rico to the world stage, José Feliciano, embarks upon a 55+ year career and becomes a 9-time Grammy Winner.
From Light My Fire to Feliz Navidad to Chico and the Man to global stardom, the film chronicles this under-appreciated singer/songwriter/musician.
Director: Frank Licari & Helen Murphy
Producer: Frank Licari, Helen Murphy, Khoa Le
Writer: Frank Licari & Helen Murphy
Cast: Jose Feliciano, Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana, Emilio Estefan, Rudy Perez, Frank Licari, Rick Jarrard
Cinematographer: Egor Morozov
Editor: Paul Jaigua
SXSW2020 Selection, Nashville Film Festival Best Latin Film Winner, Filmocracy Fest Inspiration Award.
Website: JoseFelicianoMovie.com
Instagram: @JoseFeliciano
Twitter: @JoseFeliciano
Facebook: @JoseFeliciano
Lemniscate
Short Sci-Fi Film
Los Angeles Premiere
When a dad has his biggest scientific breakthrough during his young daughter's scheduled visitation, he must choose between being a good father, or traveling to a parallel dimension.
Director: Chuck Meré
Producer:Blake Elder, Anthony Oseguera, Chuck Meré, Nate O'Guin, Frank B Miller
Writer: Chuck Meré, James Phillips
Cast: Jason Engström, Brooklyn Miller, Courtney Gardner Jensen, Sophie Meré, Jason "Holiday" Cooley
Cinematographer: Nate O'Guin
Editor: Michaela Myers
Official Selection: LOS ANGELES LATINX FILM FESTIVAL, Boston SciFi Film Fest, Hispanic Film Festival, ARKANSAS SHORTS – A Weekend of Short Film, SModcastle Film Festival
Winner: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Screenplay Festival, Fayetteville Film Fest
Facebook: fb.com/lemniscatemovie
Inner City Legend
World Premiere
From a fateful training session with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach to becoming Los Angeles’ pride, this is the story of the Inner City Legend; professional boxer, Scrappy Ramirez.
This is the pilot episode of the What's Your Hustle? documentary series.
Everyone has a struggle. Everyone has a story. Everyone has something to say. What's Your Hustle? is a documentary series where we sit down with hustlers from all sides of the spectrum - from professional athletes to artists to business successes - and learn more about what makes them tick. With a passion for transforming underrepresented stories into powerful visuals, we operate from a place of substance, meaning, and emotion. We all have one - What's Your Hustle?®
Creator/Executive Producer: Johnny De La Cruz
Director: Edwin FrankO
Cinematographer: Mark Arica
Producers: Johnny De La Cruz, Edwin FrankO
Editor: Lito Buendia
Cast: Scrappy Ramirez
Website: www.MSCLTV.com
Instagram: @mscltv
Twitter: @mscltv
Facebook: facebook.com/MSCLTofficial
Just the Two of Us
World Premiere
Just the Two of Us is a comedic short film with heart that is just entering the film festival circuit. After weeks of dating, Walton and Jess are back at his place and ready to have sex together for the first time. But before they can, Jess has to share a secret about her anatomy that may just scare Walton away.
Director & Writer: Grasie Mercedes
Co-Director: Nathan Caywood
Producers: Gumption Pictures and Queen’s Gambit Films
Cast: Grasie Mercedes, Will McCormack, Jeremy Culhane, Matthew Law, Carlos Santos, Nigil Whyte
Cinematographer: Dominique Martinez
Editor: Alexis Evelyn
Website: gumptionpictures.com/just-the-two-of-us
Instagram, Writer & Director: @grasiemercedes
Instagram, Film: @grasieshorts
La Guagua 47
Music Video
La Guagua 47 is based on an unforgettable experience the film’s Puerto Rican Producer, Songwriter, and Artistic Director Alba Martínez had in 1985 when she first arrived in Philadelphia. The film tells the story of a young migrant who recently came to a big metropolis and felt very alone, missing her Latino people and culture. One day she finds out about the 47 bus and embarks on a journey that changes her life. The film is a joyful celebration of Latindad and the search for belonging.
urney that brings people together.
Director: Pedro Escárcega
Producer: Alba Martínez
Writer: Music by Alba Martínez
Cast:
Artists: Ashley Rivera - Lead Dancer, and Protagonist, Aaron Mitchell - Dancer, Reyna Casarez - Visual Artist, Geraldo González - Visual Artist, Nicolas Nava - Visual Artist, Rosa Ruiz - Visual Artist, Laura B. Zavala - Visual Artist, Maga Urdaneta - Graphic Designer, Julieta Zavala - Lead Fashion Designer, Kamille Payamps - Fashion Designer, Dayesla Reyes - Makeup Artist, Letty Pineda - Makeup Artist, Graciela Cruz - Hair Designer
Community Actors: César Viveros
Copyright: Alba Martinez
Caracas Iberoamerican Film Festival - International Short Category
Afro Latino Film Festival
Honorable Mention: Allentown Film Festival - Music Video Category
Instagram: @ritmolab
Facebook: fb.com/ritmolabmusic
Las Llaves, el Gato y un Pez Negro (The Keys, a
Cat, and a Black Fish)
Los Angeles Premiere
Ilford is a positive and happy man who is emotionally abused by his wife. One day, some strange occurrences steer him into making an unlikely
decision.
Director: Gonzalo Mejía
Producer: Bernanrdo Maurovich, Daniela Moreno, Gonzalo Mejía
Writers: Gonzalo Mejía and Pablo Córdova Cordero
Cast: Rodrigo De La Rosa, María Bestar, Sabrina Seara, Yül Burkle,
Santiago Mur-Bestar, Mayra Rocha, Xavier Coronel.
Cinematographer: Isaac Mead-Long
Editor: Gonzalo Mejía
Winner Orlando Film Festival (Best Foreign Language Film), Quarter-Finalist Miami Short Film Festival, Winner Big Sur Film Festival (Best Director), Winner Paris Film Festival (Best Director), Winner Film Gate Film Festival (Audience Award), Finalist Lulea International Film Festival
Instagram: @g.film.director
Lotería!
Short
Rafa is forced into the trial of his life when he is confronted with Destiny and her deck of Lotería! divination cards.
Director: Isabella Ruiz-Hicks
Producer: Helene Hollidge
Writer: Isabella Hicks
Cast: Cesar Hernandez, Claudia Serven, Andres De La Fuente, Emanuella Boisbouvier, Celina Biurrun
Cinematographer: Bruno Dante Solis
Editor: Emma Gerard
Awards: Finalist "Gulf Coast & Video Festival," Best Director "Art Awards Festival," Finalist "Independent Shorts Awards"
Website: isaarte.squarespace.com/loteriaabout
Instagram: @loteriacortometraje
Isabel Toledo: Echoes and Vibrations
Short
The remarkable story of the beloved Cuban-born American fashion designer Isabel Toledo, as told by her husband and lifelong collaborator, Ruben Toledo.
Director: Clay Haskell
Producers: Paula S. Wallace, Glenn Wallace, Eric Breen, Walker Dalton, Frank Peluso Jr., McKenzie Lynah
Writer: Frank Peluso Jr.
Cast: Ruben Toledo, Francesca Mintowt-Czyz, Bradley Alfieri, Danielle Navish
Cinematographer (if applicable): Clay Haskell
Editor: Danielle Navish, Elena Toccafondi
Website: scadfash.org/exhibitions/isabel-toledo-love-letter
Instagram: @scadfash
Link to Isabel Toledo Exhibition: instagram.com/reel/Cdbdq4sgkW3/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU=
It’s Time
Short
Maria finds herself caught in an endless battle against a mysterious man in her hospital room.
Director: Tammy-Anne Fortuin
Producers: Tammy-Anne Fortuin, Rachel Kylian, Tigran Mutafyan
Writer: Rachel Kylian
Cast: Leticia Castillo, Sean Scott McCracken, Rachel Kylian
Cinematographer: Tigran Mutafyan
Editors: Tammy-Anne Fortuin, Tigran Mutafyan
Music: Skander Chairat
Website: imdb.com/title/tt14324680
Instagram: @itstimefilm
Twitter: @itstimethefilm
Facebook: .fb.com/itstimefilm
Learning To Ride
World Premiere
Learning To Ride is a short film about a young mother preparing to leave her New York City family home, and learning to ride a bike in the process. It was shot in Brooklyn, NY in September of 2019 , with a predominantly female and non-binary crew. The film marks the directing debut of Writer/Director Luísa Parnes. Luísa is a LA-based Brazilian screenwriter (Writer: Before I Forget, Brazil, 2018, director Tiago Arakilian, a Fox co-production), and first-time director and is honored to premiere her short at the 1st LA Latinx Film Festival.
Director: Luísa Parnes
Producer: Rabia Sultana, Muriel Moraes
Writer: Luísa Parnes
Cast: Leilane Cohen, David Cork, Monica Steuer, Eloise Ro, Michael Elian
Cinematographer: Shannon Madden
Editor: Heidi Black
Instagram: @learningtoride2020
Letter of Wreck
Los Angeles Premiere
An undocumented high school senior, Elena, gives tips on how to get her professionally frustrated History teacher to write her a much needed letter of recommendation for college. Her teacher, Paco, in turn gives tips on how to avoid student requests so he can focus on being a lazy teacher. It's a story which juxtaposes two generations of Latinos struggling in completely different ways, and comedically shows our current challenges in the world of education.
Director: Gustavo Guardado, Jr.
Producer: Miguel Angel Caballero, Lonnie Frazier
Writer: Gustavo Guardado, Jr.
Cast: Miguel Angel Caballero, Diana Cruz
Cinematographer: Francisco Cortinas
Editor: Gustavo Guardado, Jr.
Official Selection for the following film festivals: 2021 San Diego Latino, 2021 Vancouver Independent, 2021 Philadelphia Latino.
Living Altars
West Coast Premiere
Living Altars is a remarkably intimate short film by directing duo Peggy Peralta and Lourdes Figueroa portraying wearable Day of the Dead altars of two artists, Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez and Eli Reyes in their Covid-19 era living installations. The visually stunning film depicts the artists wearing their altars, created with mixed folk arts media while narrating stories of family, grief and consolation.
Director: Peggy Peralta, Lourdes Figueroa
Producer: Los Cenzontles
Writer: Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez, Eli Reyes
Cast: Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez, Eli Reyes
Editor: Peggy Peralta
Do-Rodriguez and Reyes, folk arts teachers at Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy in San Pablo, CA, could not create an in-person community altar because of Covid-19 restrictions. So the filmmakers were invited to create a film to convey their creative process and stories of loss, gratitude and healing.
Instagram: @loscenzontles
Facebook: Los Cenzontles | Facebook
Love is Everything
LA Premiere
Feature film
"Love is Everything" narrates the lives, challenges and opportunities of Latino families in America through the eyes of an aspiring reggaeton artist in none other than the genre’s capital: Puerto Rico. The film depicts a story of love and innocence between two teenagers from different social strata who are burdened by the complexities of class biases, pier pressure, drugs and other harsh life realities. But despite these incessant forces, the film’s characters remain steadfast in their pursuit of happiness, reminding us there is always a sliver of hope, even when the music stops.
Director: Luis Enrique Rodriguez
Producer: Agustin Meizoso, Zoryleny Avilès.
Writer: Antonio Morales, Adaptation Luis Enrique Rodriguez
Cast: Jose Enrique Segarra, Juliana Rivera, Ana Malavè, Nestor Rodulfo, Josè Fèlix Gòmez Heyda Salamàn, Modesto Lacèn.
Cinematographer: Robert Peña
Editor: Luis Enrique RodrìguezBest Latino/ Hispanic Movie in Independent Award, Liverpool, UK.
Instagram: @todoporamormovie