Program

After the death of her best friend, Adela embarks on a journey through time to a distant autumn, where Elena eagerly awaits with detective novels and the warmth of a crackling fire. In this tale of timeless sisterhood, Adela must confront her grief and unravel the mysteries that still bind them—across memory, love, and loss. Between the absurdity of the present and the clarity of the past, she finds a space where their friendship lives on. Through magical echoes and remembered joy, Adela searches not only for Elena, but for herself.

The Felpetos have run a clandestine lottery operation for decades, quietly embedded in a modest housing development. Maribel leads a crew of clerks who record bets from her living room, while her mother Alejandra oversees the books from an identical house just a few meters away. Lately, the neighborhood has taken a tense turn—some lottery bankers have been raided, and whispers of police shakeups and suspicious money flows are everywhere. But no one knows what’s true and what’s just rumor or media speculation.

In partnership with Amnesty International, this showcase brings together films that explore critical human rights issues from around the world. The films in this section shine a light on the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of individuals and communities facing injustice. A discussion with representatives from local advocacy organizations will follow the screening, providing insight into the real-world impact and importance of these stories.

A secret society of giant hot air balloon makers in Brazil's favelas risk everything to create and fly their illegal masterpieces. Dubbed as delinquents, these 'baloeiros' operate underground like street artists, bringing joy to their communities while evading government threats and bounty hunters. Director Sissel shares her initiation into the balloon brotherhood, where launching silk paper creations becomes an act of social redemption and collective dreaming.

Ana is a nurse whose days are dedicated to care for Luis, a whimsy writer who's passing through his final days of living, but with whom she has forged a special friendship that offers comfort and consolation against their respective hardships in life. However, Ana needs to care for her children too; Little Elena in particular, who's suffering from a growing and strange condition that begins overescalating and turning dangerous not only for herself but for others.

Renato, Abel, and Gabriela are a family divided by emotional borders; for them, thedesire to be happy and break free from their current situation seems unattainable.The decisions they make independently will have an impact on each other's lives,demonstrating how fragile and delicate the way they are connected is.

Day one of the CLA Film Conference kicks off with bold conversations that dig into the collaborative, creative, and career-building sides of filmmaking. From co-productions that cross borders to makeup artistry as storytelling, and the unconventional paths filmmakers take to bring their visions to life—this is a day for anyone curious about how films get made and who makes them happen. Whether you're industry or indie, student or storyteller, come through and be part of the dialogue.

Day two of the CLA Film Conference dives into the future and heart of storytelling. Explore how podcasts, VR, and emerging tech are expanding the cinematic experience. Then, hear directly from filmmakers pushing Latine/x stories into the mainstream, and close the day with an inspiring keynote conversation with trailblazing producer Elizabeth Avellán. This is a space for big ideas, bold voices, and building what's next.

Close out the festival at our Closing Night Party at Lima Criolla! This warm and spirited Peruvian spot sets the perfect scene for one last night of connection and celebration. Enjoy bold flavors, festive sounds, and great company as we toast to the stories, artists, and memories that made the 27th annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival unforgettable!

In a tropical-punk twist on Dante’s Inferno, misfits converge at Babel, a nightclub-purgatory ruled by La Flaca—Death herself. As his contract with La Flaca ends, Dante begins to recover memories of his life and joins Monet, a ghost desperate to return to his body before it decomposes. Jacob prepares for his drag debut while hiding the truth from devout parents. Timbí descends into hell to save his father, joined by Uma, a gypsy gambling for her daughter’s life. Narrated by a devil and a fallen angel, their stories intertwine at Babel, where the living and the dead collide for one unforgettable night.

Cosmographies is a hybrid film that draws from speculative fiction, observational and poetic documentary, Indigenous futurism and Indigiqueer perspectives. It interweaves stories of resistance and environmental justice against extractivism in the Atacama Desert, Chile, as an allegory for contemporary plans to colonise the Moon and Mars. Set across 2023 and 2051, it weaves parallel stories of Lickan Antay land and water defenders, engaged scientists and fishing communities in Atacama, with the story of Māori astrobiologist Xuě Noon who finds solace in Mars and slipstreams across spacetime with an urgent message.

Forty years ago, Rafael Larraenza risked everything to cross from Mexico to the US. After building a successful career, a twist of fate drew him back to the border. For 25 years, Rafael has tirelessly searched deserts and mountains to rescue lost immigrants and recover remains, becoming a hero in Latin American communities. Despite needing a double hip replacement, Rafael continues his mission, knowing every moment counts for those lost at the border. When Indira, a mother from El Salvador, asks for help finding her son Rodrigo, Rafael risks his life again, driven on by sheer determination, even as the years and terrain take their toll.

This category brings together powerful and thought-provoking documentary short films that explore a range of real-world stories. The festival grants a Jury Award ($500 USD) for Best Documentary Short, honoring the film that most impresses the jury with its emotional depth, investigative rigor, and artistic merit. These films are an impactful testament to the power of short-form non-fiction storytelling.

Directed by Jesse Short Bull (Lakota Nation vs. the United States) and David France (How To Survive a Plague, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, and Welcome to Chechnya), and produced by Bird Runningwater. Leonard Peltier, one of the surviving leaders of the American Indian Movement, has been in prison for 50 years following a contentious conviction. A new generation of Native activists is committed to winning his freedom before he dies.

Isabel’s life takes an unexpected turn when her daughter, Madalen, asks her to visit Ramón, her ill ex-husband. After fifteen years apart, Isabel now sees him as a stranger, and old resentments resurface. Yet as she accompanies him through this vulnerable time, she begins to view their past differently. What once felt like failure now offers a new perspective—one that helps Isabel focus on the present and move forward in her own life.

Hecho en Tejas is a beloved showcase celebrating films produced right here in Texas. This year’s program kicks off with a red carpet and special screening of the feature film Duranguito, followed by a spirited intermission with drinks and conversation, then the Hecho en Tejas Shorts Competition. The short films in competition are eligible for both an Audience Award and a Jury Award, presented in partnership with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI). Celebrate Texas filmmaking with directors in attendance and a lively reception to close out the night!

Frida Kahlo is a little girl who is different. Sparkling and vibrant, everything interests her. When life's trials and tribulations come her way, she faces them with her overflowing imagination.

Alf, a student at a strict Catholic school, finds himself drawn to Oliver, a charismatic new classmate. As their bond deepens, Alf distances himself from his longtime friends. But when faced with peer pressure and societal expectations, he betrays Oliver in a desperate attempt to prove his masculinity. This decision leads to devastating consequences that shake his sense of identity and morality. Confronting the harsh realities of toxic masculinity, privilege, and homophobia, the film offers a raw and frightening coming-of-age story where one act of betrayal reveals the deep scars left by social conformity and internalized fear.

Mariluz Canaquiri says her river is a more than a body of water, it’s a living being. Beneath the surface lies a world of spirits led by the Karuara, the ‘people of the river.’ The film’s stunning hand painted animations take viewers into this magical universe. Behind their playfulness, the Karuara are metaphysical ecologists who maintain the delicate balance of life. But contamination from oil spills threaten the spirits and their river. Mariluz files a lawsuit demanding her river be recognized as a legal person, with rights. In a world that puts a price tag on nature, this film reminds us of our sacred connection to water.

While the renowned actress Norma Reyes rehearses a very bad and mediocre commercial play where she must play an old woman with Alzheimer's, her daughter Celeste, always overshadowed by her mother's star, decides to move out of the house. Despite the stress of rehearsals and the pain of her daughter's absence, Norma continues to push forward, but an unfortunate event will put both of their plans on hold. Her daughter Celeste will take this opportunity to mold from scratch the mother she always dreamed of having.

Celeste, a second-grade teacher, has been transferred to another school and has a few days to spend with the primary school students who started with her. Together they go through the month of September full of movement, changing direction, and uncovering revelations in the endearing intimacy of a classroom in a small town in Mexico.

Las Muertes Más Bellas del Mundo/The Most Beautiful Deaths in the World tells the story of five artists whose families fled El Salvador’s civil war in the 1980’s, landed in the nation’s capital, and created art out of war.

Linda, a captivating housemaid with a unique charm, uncovers a family’s secrets and desires. Her attraction sparks power over each member, revealing complexities beneath their seemingly happy lives. Her presence disrupts the household’s fragile harmony, as the house seems to observe her, like its security cameras. Linda blends work with moments of leisure, creating an unsettling tension. Gradually, she awakens hidden desires in each family member, exposing their weaknesses and destroying the stagnant equilibrium they once shared.

In a tight-knit Dominican American community in The Bronx, Rico hustles through the summer selling bootleg “nutcracker” cocktails and chasing girls without a care. But when his girlfriend Destiny starts crashing at his family’s apartment, their messy, complicated young love turns the cramped space into a powder keg. It’s only a matter of time before the party ends and reality hits. Writer-director Joel Alfonso Vargas turns his hometown into the heartbeat of his debut feature, teaming up with street-cast talent to deliver a raw, slice-of-life portrait full of humor, grit, and the chaotic charm of growing up fast in a city that waits for no one.

A celebration of the art of short-form storytelling, the Narrative Shorts Competition brings together exceptional short films that showcase a wide range of themes, genres, and techniques. These films highlight the power of concise storytelling, with each offering a unique and memorable experience. The Jury Award recognizes the best narrative short, honoring outstanding creativity, storytelling, and technical achievement.

Today, artists like Peso Pluma and Grupo Frontera dominate the airwaves. The meteoric rise of Tejano and Regional Mexican music can arguably be traced to one man: Johnny Canales, whose syndicated music variety show was appointment viewing in millions of households across North America and launched the careers of legendary musicians like Selena, Ramon Ayala, and Intocable. Through deep archival footage and interviews, TAKE IT AWAY explores the rise and fall not just of Canales, but the evolution of the genre itself.

Set in Panama City, this delicate drama follows two lonely souls who form an unexpected bond. Ana María, a Colombian immigrant working as a caregiver, harbors a secret, while Mercedes (Paulina García, GLORIA), a high-class woman, faces the slow onset of dementia that erases her identity. As their lives intertwine, they begin a journey of mutual discovery, delving into the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. Together, they navigate caregiving’s challenges and the deep need for connection, learning to survive and care for one another amid personal struggles.

As Peru spirals into political unrest in 1992, Lucía and Aurora prepare to leave for a better life in the U.S. with their mother. But to go, they need their estranged father, Carlos, to sign consent papers. What begins as a bureaucratic necessity becomes a reckoning, as the sisters confront the charm and contradictions of a man they hardly know. Over one final summer in Lima, childhood innocence slips away and buried truths surface. As Carlos struggles to reclaim a place in their hearts, each family member must face what this departure truly means—letting go of illusions, rewriting family history, and embracing the pain of saying goodbye.

In the Bolivian capital of La Paz, Martín is a teenage shoeshine boy and orphan with few friends or resources. His best client, Mr. Novoa, is a lonely tailor whose only companion is Astor, a beautiful German Shepherd he treats like a son. Out of desperation, Martín steals Astor—but as he and Mr. Novoa spend more time together, an unexpected bond begins to grow between them.

After years undercover within the Abertzale left, posing as a young ETA sympathizer, a police officer finally gets the break she’s been waiting for: ETA contacts her. They need to use her apartment as a safe house for two members preparing multiple attacks. Her most dangerous mission begins—cohabitating with terrorists who would kill her instantly if they suspect her true identity. As the pressure mounts, she must secretly report to her superiors while maintaining her cover in a deadly game of deception.

¡Videos Musicales! A music video showcase + party. Artists, directors, and producers have the opportunity to screen their music videos for a festival audience. Videos in competition are eligibile for a Jury and Audience award which includes a cash prize! This program is a unique opportunity to see the latest and best of Latinx, Latin America, Spanish, Portuguese, and Indigenous of the Americas creativity, style, and sound.