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
Mama Retreat
Short film
In search of community, a weary expectant mother attends an all-inclusive retreat in the mountains, only to have all of her greatest fears realized.
Director: Eileen Álvarez
Producer: Kate Helen Downey, Ben Lopez
Writer: Eileen Álvarez
Cast: Annie Gonzalez, Julianna Robinson, Eileen Álvarez, Madi Bready, Laura Campbell, Ally Davis, Nicole Garza, Kylee Van Dillen
Cinematographer: Judy Phu
Editor: Arturo Zúñiga
Any awards, accolades or additional details about the process you would like to mention:
Mama Retreat was part of the inaugural class of Nalip's Latino Lens incubator for Latinx and Women of Color in collaboration with Netflix. It premiered at LALIFF in 2022
Instagram: @mama_retreat_film
May I Take It Your Plate
West Coast Premiere
Short
The film is a humorous yet uncomfortable glimpse into the life of Martín, an actor of color, as he encounters negative stereotyping during an acting audition.
Director: Martín Solá
Producer: Michelle Liu Coughlin
Writer: Martín Solá
Cast: Martín Solá, Heather Botts, Gilbert D. Sanchez, Lee Zarrett, Jackson Moran, Gary Leimkuhler, Ioannis Pazianas, George Pappas, Michelle Liu Coughlin, Kevin C. Martinez, Susan Molloy, Gary West
Received an honors award for Live Action Short at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival and a Best Actor Award to Martín Solá for his work in the film.
Awarded Best Latino Short at the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival and a Best Actor Award to Martín Solá for his work in the film.
Moonie: The Web Series
Web Series
If “Seinfeld” is the show about nothing, “Moonie” is the sitcom about the little somethings, poking fun at the microaggressions and annoyances of everyday life for a group of 30-something Black queer friends. Prank-loving butch comedian “Moonie” is at the center of this immature crew that never shies away from escalating the absurd to the outrageous.
Director: Jess Desvarieux
Producer: Moonie Desvarieux & Jess Desvarieux
Writer: Jess Desvarieux
Cast: Moonie Desvarieux, Glo Butler, Stephanie Alexandria, Christopher Rand
Cinematographer (if applicable): Keira Cronin
Editor: Crystal Platas
Nominated in the category of Best Web Series for a Queerty Award (winner to be decided on 2/28/23)
Website: mooniethewebseries.com
Instagram: @Mooniethewebseries
Nuestra Santa Lucia
Short
A story about love, sacrifice and courage. Being in a life or death situation Lucia must make a hard decision and leave her family and culture in search of an opportunity to save her father. Along the way she is able to help defy the odds and have transformational encounters .Director: Paul Tully
Producer: Norma Flores, Paul Tully
Writer: Norma Flores
Cast: Janelle Marie Rodriguez, Wilson Ramirez, Sal Lopez, Cynthia Quiles, Daniel Graulau
Cinematographer (if applicable): Arran Alps (U.S), Angel Jimenez (Mexico)
Editor: Vicente Manzano
This short was shot in LA and Atlixco, PUE, MX.
Noah's Song
Noah's Song follows a transgender man confessing his feelings of gender dysphoria to his partner. We see this conversation in the form of interpretive dance, as the dancers lean on each other, and disappear into each other's bodies. Through dance, the film explores the nuances in gender expression.
Director/Writer/Editor/Cinematographer: Damian Bonito Zapien
Producers: Damian Bonito Zapien and the Vassar Film Department
Music: Damian Bonito Zapien and Noah Ari
Party Podcast
Short film
A bride records a podcast episode during her bachelorette party.
Director: Tess Paras
Producer: Eddie Mujica
Writer: Calvin Seabrooks, Laurie Magers, Lauren Walker
Cast: Shuang Hu, Glo Tavarez, Sibel Damar, Lureena Cornwell, Anosh McAdam
Cinematographer: Kelsey Talton
Editor: Patricia Esguerra
Instagram: @tessparas
Twitter: @TessParas
Riders
Los Angeles Premiere
Riders is an action-drama about Ari, a young woman who tries to make her way into the motorcycle world, a world ruled by men. Ari starts a journey of grief and self awareness where the passion she shared with her father becomes her best ally and also her worst enemy to keep on against all odds. She decides to join a motorcycle club but first she has to learn and prove to all the guys and herself that she really can ride.
Director: Diana Trejo
Producer: Diana Trejo
Writer: Diana Trejo
Cast: Alejandra Yañez, Uriel Meza, Jorge Glumac, Jose Santillan, Cynthia Galaz
Cinematographer: Pavel Suslov
Editor: Alfredo Gonzalez Unibe
Facebook: facebook.com/ridersthefilm
Más Latina
Short / TV Pilot
A Latina struggles to break into a male-dominated comedy scene. The key to her success comes from an unlikely place, the opinionated women in her family!
Directors: Janeva Adena Zentz, Tim Young
Producer: Janeva Adena Zentz
Writers: Janeva Adena Zentz, Tim Young
Cast: Janeva Adena Zentz, Mayra Perez, Andrea Garcia, Jesus Rangel, Alexander Armendariz, Nellie Christine, Brandon Don Heath, Ian Richard Jones, Christopher Benitez
Cinematographer: Emily Tapanes
Editor: Janeva Adena Zentz
-The Audience Award at Stareable LA 2022
-Nominated for Best Editing at Stareable LA 2022
-Named "Must Watch" by programmers at SeriesFest 2022
Website: janevazentz.com/maslatina
Instagram: @mas_Latina, @janevazentz
Memories of Development
Los Angeles Premiere
Amidst the arrival of Hurricane Irma, a troubled Cuban youth must come to terms with his identity when an impulsive act of violence threatens to spiral his life down a path of self-destruction. Shot with a predominantly Latinx skeleton crew in the director’s hometown of Hialeah, FL – the city with the highest population of Cuban residents in the United States – Memorias of Development is a melancholic portrait of masculinity, alienation, and the personal hardships of a first-generation immigrant experience within the Cuban-American community.
Director: Nestor Trujillo Bazán
Producers: Nestor Trujillo Bazán, Andy Lee, Brandon Armas, LJ Galindo
Writer: Nestor Trujillo Bazán
Cast: Joel J Hernández Lara, Hansel Porras, Juan Paulo Munevar, Yoshvani Medina
Cinematographer: Brandon Armas
Editor: Nestor Trujillo Bazán
Instagram, Writer-Director: @neonfeverdreamer
missguidance
West Coast Premiere
Sandra, a woman in Honduras, and Rosario, a Mexican woman living in the US, develop a strong friendship over a series of direct messages as they share common experiences of violence in their respective home countries. As the danger intensifies for Sandra and her 15 year-old son, Carlitos, Rosario offers financial assistance to help them get out of harm's way and begin a journey to the US, but the path to safety comes at a higher cost.
Director: Cynthia Bastidas
Producer: Cynthia Bastidas & Arlene Chico-Lugo
Writer: Cynthia Bastidas
Cast: Alexandra Lemus, Maria Peyramaure, Brayan Angulo, Martin Sola, Alexis Suarez, Hector Canales
Cinematographer: Paulina Dabrowska
Editor: Kevin Oliver Arota
Website: semillitaproductions.com/missguidance
Instagram: @semillitaproductions
Twitter: @semillitaprod
Natal
West Coast Premiere
Set within a Mexican-American household during Christmas Day, Natal tells the story of Carlos, a young boy’s first encounter with heteronormative gender roles, and the confrontation between his father and uncle, who disagree on the implications of masculinity.
Inspired by childhood memories and the experience of growing up in a Catholic and conservative Mexican household, Natal is a cautionary tale of the hand-in-hand issues of machismo (toxic masculinity) and homophobia as it showcases some of the ways by which these learned behaviors are passed down through generations.
Director: Luisa Maria González
Producer: Andre Fernandez, Anne Chow
Writer: Luisa Maria González
Cast: Stanton Longoria, Penn Lampton, Ricardo Dorman, Victor Martinez, Daisy Barahona, Denise Salcido, Dalia Zambrano
Cinematographer: Trevor Nitschke
Editor: Case Conner
Accolades and Awards:
1st Los Angeles Latinx Film Festival (2020), Official Selection
2020 Official Latino Film Festival, Official Selection
2020 New York Latino Film Festival, Semi-Finalist
2020 El Paso Film Festival, Official Selection
Latino Media Arts & Studies Undergraduate Film Award at UT Austin, Recipient
Facebook: facebook.com/natalthefilm
Open
A married couple’s first night exploring an ethically non-monogamous relationship reveals deeper issues in the marriage. The film was inspired by the many people in these relationship structures navigating a world in which non-monogamy is no longer a fringe issue.
Director: Noel J. Estrada
Producer: Robbie Lemieux, Noel J. Estrada
Writer: Noel J. Estrada
Cast: Carmen Lucia Borla, Ryan Wesen
Cinematographer: April Maxey
Editor: Mikayla Irle
A self-taught filmmaker, this is Noel J. Estrada's directorial debut, brought to you by a cast and crew that was over half Latinx.
RECuerdo
West Coast Premiere
Hit with the realization that things are spiraling out of his control, a widowed father rushes to keep his memories alive.
Director: Alfonso M. Rodriguez
Producer: Alfonso M. Rodriguez
Writer: Alfonso M. Rodriguez
Cast: Camila Beatriz, Richard Lund, Isabelle Van Vleet
Animator: Andrew Lehman
Editor: Alfonso M. Rodriguez
Post Audio: Zach Egan
Original Music by: Anthony Palmini
Website: alfonsomrodriguez.com
Instagram: @fonzr10
Marco & Luna
West Coast Premiere
Feature
A love story where the paths of two strangers cross, only for them to be promptly separated by chance. Though physically they'll only be a few feet away, if only they knew this.
Director: Gabriel Lozano Marchand
Producer: Adriana Gaal
Writer: Gabriel Lozano Marchand
Cast: Enrique Arrizon, Valeria Castillo, Omar Fierro, Aldo Bringas, Alexis Montañez
Cinematographer (if applicable): Edith Valle
Editor: Gabriel Lozano Marchand
Website: mediaterra.net/marco-luna
Instagram: @marcoyluna
Metztli
West Coast Premiere
Short. Visual Album
Armed with a pair of magic glasses and accompanied by his big white elephant, our main character Benito tries to navigate his emotions and come to terms with what he truly wants for himself. Metztli, takes place during the course of a day as Benito embarks on a journey that culminates at a secret show hosted by The Mini Projects. His journey is highlighted through a series of scenes and music videos that blend the worlds of magic realism, suburbia, catchy music and color.
Director: Uri Brito
Producer: Uri Brito. Denise Lopez. Serafin Lopez.
Writer: Uri Brito
Cast: Adrian Mesino, Jayson Acevedo, Viviana Luna, Nohemi Rosales, Emily Brito, Michael Brito, Angel Brito.
Cinematographer: Jonathan Lopez
Production Designer: Judy Febles
Editor: Alexis Lopez
Sound Designer: Jose Escamilla
Original Music by: The Mini Projects
The visual album consists of five scenes and six music videos. Production on the visual album began during the pandemic of 2020 and was completed over the course of 2 years.
Instagram: @metztlifilm
Mexico, Missouri
Festival Debut
Short
After the shocking arrival of his cousin from Mexico, a young LA native is forced to become more worldly.
Director: José A. Hernández Jr.
Writer: José A. Hernández Jr.
Cast: Jonathan J. Garcia, Ruben Dario Perez, Jesse Garcia, and Adriana Garcia
Cinematographer: José A. Hernández Jr.
Editor: José A. Hernández Jr.
Instagram: @ventureworks_films
Facebook: fb.com/ventureworksfilm
Mid-Life
World Premiere
Short Documentary
At a time where one's relationship with their body begins to change, Oscar is forced to switch his perspective on things that can often be overlooked, following a horrible, life-altering accident.
Director: Cielo Yáñez
Producer:Cielo Yáñez
Cast: Oscar Ugaz
Cinematographer: Christian Del Rio
Editor: Cielo Yáñez
IndieX Award Winner Student Mini Doc
Memento Mori
Short Short
An unborn soul gets to preview her life in the form of a film screening and must make the ultimate decision: to go, or not to go?
Director: Arianna Garcia
Producer: Victoria Mejia
Writer: Arianna Garcia
Cast: Peren Yesilyurt, Henry Tsai, Cat Ski, Gloria Garcia
Cinematographer: Liam McEneaney
Editor: Liam McEneaney
- HollyShorts Monthly Screenings 2023 - Official Selection
- Picture's Up! Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
- LA Student Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
- Mystic Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Processing
Short Film
Processing: Detective Frank Ramirez recounts the loss of his partner in a nightmare bust gone wrong.
Director: Renetta G. Amador
Producers: Gabriela Latorre, J.Judit Apolinario
Writer: Cliff Smith
Cast: James Michael Tyler, Hana Mae Lee
Cinematographer: Drew Aiello
Editor: Julia Franklin
Website: mexecutionerproductions.com
Instagram: @mexicutionerproductions
Romeo Santos: King of Bachata
Los Angeles Premiere
Romeo Santos: King of Bachata tells the story of bachata music and the Dominican diaspora through the legacy of bachata's biggest champion and superstar, Bronx-born Dominican singer-songwriter Romeo Santos. Framed around Santos' historic performance at MetLife Stadium—the first headlining show by a Latin artist at the 80,000-capacity New York City-area football stadium—the documentary traces the ascent of the disenfranchised music from the oppressed countryside in the Dominican Republic under the reign of a cruel dictator in the 1960s, through its unprecedented rise to international recognition—culminating in the record-breaking concert starring Santos alongside the legendary bachateros who paved the way for him, as well as fellow Dominican Cardi B.
Director: Devin Amar, Charles Todd
Producer: Sheira Rees-Davies, James Rothman, Raphael Estrella, Katherine Aquino, Ned Doyle
Cast: Romeo Santos, Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez, Aventura, Cardi B, José Manuel Calderón, Raulin Rodriguez, Joe Veras, El Chaval, Frank Reyes, Elvis Martinez, Kiko Rodriguez, Luis Vargas, Monchy & Alexandra, Zacarias Ferreria, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony, Emilio Estefan, Ivan “Mate Traxx” Chevere, Gerry Grimaud, Afo Verde, Raphy Pina, Thalía, Tommy Mottola, Sergio George, Artie Pabon, Abel “Abelito” Mendez, Martires De León
Cinematographer: Rick Siegel, James Rothman, Leroy Farrel
Editor: Matt Mitchener
Website: imdb.com/title/tt15101380/, www.schemeengine.com
Instagram: @romeosantos @thekidmero @schemeengine @devinscheme @chas_todd @sheirareesdavies @jamesrothman @mm_se