Hecho en Tejas Competition

Hecho En Tejas Competition

Cine Las Americas presents “Hecho en Tejas,” a series of films and videos shot and/or produced in Texas, to showcase the wide variety of work being produced in the state by filmmakers with varied backgrounds. Two feature films and nine short films are scheduled during this year’s festival. The films are eligible for an Audience Award. Cine Las Americas is pleased to partner with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) to present a Jury Award to the Best “Hecho en Tejas” film.

FEATURES

Fearless A film by Wojciech Lorenc United States, 2021 Documentary 89 min, Color English Texas Premiere facebook.com/fearlessdocfilm In small-town Texas, a non-profit boxing gym is the location where Nancy Wagoner and James Reyna provide a space where participants “have a safe, educational and encouraging place to learn their skills.” Dispelling the myth of lifting oneself up by one’s bootstraps, Fearless is an observational documentary focused on the difficulties facing people of color and immigrants in the United States today by unpacking the concept of American optimism and the unrealistic expectations that accompany it.

Vecinos: Love Thy Neighbor A film by Alex Avila United States, 2021 Comedy 88 min, Color Spanish, English; English subtitles Austin Premiere vecinosthemovie.com Roberto hasn’t done much changing lately, but even from his couch he’s seen his neighborhood become a place he barely recognizes. When Maria moves in down the hall from him, though, Roberto has no choice but to consider the good side of change. Vecinos reminds us that no matter how easy it is to lose your identity in a city that won’t sit still, it’s even easier to lose it when you’re the one sitting still.

SHORTS

	Leftovers A film by Gabriela Maite Curiel United States, 2020 Comedy 6 min, Color English World Premiere Maite has had enough of her food being eaten, so now she is serving up some revenge.
	H02D A film by Gabilán (Juan Gabriel Padilla) United States, 2020 Drama/LGBTQ+ 24 min, Color English World Premiere www.instagram.com/beanzrice H02D (pronounced Hood) captures the music and life of Austin, Texas rapper Blakchyl. Set to the soundtrack of their most recent album “H02D” & collaboration EP with rapper Tåsi “East 10th,” the short film explores an increasingly gentrified East Austin from the point of view of a Black, queer, & gender non-conforming artist born & raised in the Live Music Capital of the World.
	Tu Eres Yo y Yo Soy Tu // You are Me & I am You A film by Melissa Kirkendall United States/Ecuador, 2021 Documentary 14 min, Color Spanish, English subtitles World Premiere www.littlevillagebigmountain.com/youareme A documentary about Carmen Cumba, an indigenous midwife in the High Sierras of Ecuador who despite many hardships and obstacles has dedicated her life to helping the women of her community both as an Ancestral medicine practitioner and as an advocate for equality for her fellow midwives in Ecuador.
	Don’t Touch A film by Tania Cattebeke Laconich United States, 2021 Documentary 9 min, Color Spanish, English subtitles World Premiere Two women of very different cultures reflect about the unspoken rules of touch.
	Disrupted Borders A film by Alejandra Aragón United States, 2021 Documentary 19 min, Color Spanish, English; English subtitles Regional Premiere www.muvimon.com/ Wendy (17) is an aspiring engineer who tinkers using parts from discarded electronics in hopes of making a 3D printed prosthesis for her best friend Shelly (16), an artist with double limb deficiencies. These young Mexican-American women reinvent cultural, gender, and ability norms against a turbulent backdrop of the border recently scarred by racist policies and attacks.
	Femenina A film by Ilana Garcia-Mittleman United States, 2019 Romance/Drama 12 min, Color English Feminina tells the story of Nick, who lives his life in the confines of a boxing ring. When Nick begins training with Nina, the newest member to join the gym, he quickly realizes his feelings for her and asks her out on a simple date. But when Nina comes out to him as transgender, Nick must examine his own feelings and sexuality
	Espera A film by Emily Grooms United States/Mexico, 2021 Documentary 14 min, Color Spanish, English subtitles World Premiere Asylum seekers await their immigration appointments in a makeshift refugee camp on the Texas-Mexico border after “Remain in Mexico” puts their dreams on hold indefinitely.
	2AM Lullaby A film by Sean Schiavolin United States, 2021 Drama 13 min, Color Spanish, English; English subtitles Regional Premiere At an old theatre in Austin, TX, a stage performer sings a nightly lullaby to herself after the glitter has faded and the makeup has been wiped off. A night janitor from far away secretly hears her song as he works alone. A chance encounter between them could forever change their destinies.
	La Lengua Perdida // The Forgotten Language A film by Mirella Yanez United States, 2020 Documentary 7 min, Color English Texas Premiere A young Latina woman explores and reflects upon the loss of her once native tongue which leads to speaking to a loved one, in earnest, for the first time.