Program

In the wake of her best friend’s death, Adela embarks on a journey through time to a distant autumn, where Elena eagerly awaits, armed with detective novels and the warmth of a crackling fire. In a tale of timeless sisterhood and celebration of life, Adela must confront her grief and unravel the mysteries that bind them together.

The Felpetos have managed a clandestine lottery business for decades. The family enterprise operates in a small housing development. Maribel leads a crew of clerks who log the bets from her living room. Alejandra, her mother, lives in an identical house just a few meters away, which serves as the administrative office. Some lotto bankers have been raided lately, and the atmosphere in the neighborhood has become strange since. There has been talk about police dismissals and big-money movements. Nobody can tell what is true from the rumors or the news on TV.

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.

In BALOMANIA, 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, the desire 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!

Today marks the end of Dante's contract with La Flaca, death personified. As Dante starts recalling who he was before he died, he aids Monet, a ghost desperate to return to his body before it decomposes. Caught between his orthodox upbringing and his passion for drag, Jacob faces the ultimate test as he prepares for his debut performance. But keeping secrets from his devout parents threatens to derail his dreams. To save his father's life, Timbí travels through the circles of hell accompanied by Uma, a gypsy determined to settle a bet with La Flaca to save her dying daughter's life. El Boticaro, the devil himself, and Erato, a fallen angel, act as the omniscient narrators of this world. Against this backdrop, the lives of these characters intertwine at the mythical bar Babel, one night where the living and the dead collide.

Cosmographies is a hybrid film that draws from speculative fiction, observational and poetic documentary, Indigenous futurisms 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 the day her daughter Madalen asks her to pay regular visits to Ramón, her ex-husband, who is ill. After fifteen years apart, and even though they were family for years, Isabel sees him as a stranger and begins to rekindle resentments she thought she had overcome. Nevertheless, accompanying Ramón at his most vulnerable time will allow Isabel to see their failure with different eyes and focus on the present 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. And when life's trials and tribulations come her way, she faces them with her overflowing imagination.

ALF returns to his Catholic school and encounters a new student, OLIVER, who captivates him, leading him away from his lifelong friends. Yet, when faced with adversity, Alf betrays this attraction, opting to display his masculinity to his friends. This choice results in dire consequences that will leave an indelible mark on them all for life.

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 (76) 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.

The teacher of this second grade classroom, Celeste, has been transferred to another school and has a few days to spend with the primary school students who started with her. Together they live the month of september, full of movement, changing in direction and of 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 and beauty unveils a family's secrets and erotic fantasies. The attraction that she sparks in each member of the family leads her to exercise power over them. Behind their seemingly happy lives, lies unexpected complexity. Linda replaces her cousin in the household chores of an affluent family, completely disrupting the harmony of the family. Her presence is not invisible; the house observes her movements and spies on her. The family orbits in a closed circuit, like the house’s security cameras. Everything seems comfortable, clean, orderly, and stagnant. Linda mixes household tasks with moments of leisure inside the house, creating an ambiguous discomfort with her presence. Gradually, she begins to awaken different desires and needs in each family member. They want to breathe fresh air, but altering the safe distance could be risky, especially for Luisa, the mother. Although having her close revitalizes her, it also materializes the unthinkable: desiring her maid, a woman ten years younger than her. Linda operates like a virus: she enters the family body, exposes its weaknesses, and destroys it.

Rico’s summer is a wild mix of chasing girls and hustling homemade cocktails out of a cooler on Orchard Beach, the Bronx. But when Destiny, his teenage girlfriend, crashes at his place with his family, it’s only a matter of time before his rowdy, carefree days come spiraling down.

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 and atmospheric drama explores the evolving relationship between two dissimilar lonely souls who develop a touching and unexpected bond. Ana María, a Colombian immigrant, employed as a home caregiver and harboring a secret, crosses paths with Mercedes (Paulina García, GLORIA), a high-class woman, who is grappling with encroaching dementia that is slowly erasing her identity and past. As their lives intertwine, they embark on a journey of mutual discovery and support, delving into the fraught complexities of mother-daughter relationships. Together, they navigate the challenges of caregiving and the profound need for connection, learning to survive and care for one another amid their personal struggles.

Lucia and Aurora are about to leave their country forever with their mom – and they need their ‘father’ to sign exit papers. It’s been convenient for Carlos to not be a dad, but now if he wants his daughters love, he has to earn back his place before they leave.

Martín (Franklin Aro) is a 15-year-old shoeshiner working on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Although orphaned from a young age, Martin lives with Gladys, an old friend of his late mother, who has given Martin and his friend Sombras shelter in a tiny room under the stairs of the old house where she works as a maid. Moved by his imagination and Gladys's stories, Martin begins to suspect that one of his best clients, Mr. Novoa (Alfredo Castro), is his father. Mr. Novoa is a lonely tailor whose only family is Astor, a beautiful German shepherd he cares for like a son. Martin convinces Sombras to help him steal the tailor's dog under the pretense there would likely be a big reward and Martin would use it as an opportunity to connect with Mr. Novoa. Mr. Novoa, desperate to find his dog, offers a reward to whoever finds him. Martin approaches Mr. Novoa and offers to help hang reward posters in exchange for money. As the days pass and they roam around the city handing out flyers and looking for the dog, Martín and Novoa grow closer. As his relationship with Mr. Novoa develops, Martin will have to decide whether to give in to his friend Sombras's pressure to claim the reward money or confess and return the dog to Novoa, risking the paternal relationship he has worked so hard to build.

After several years undercover, lurking in the circles of the Abertzale left as she pretends to be a young sympathizer of the ETA terrorist group, a police officer finally gets the chance she’s been gunning for: ETA gets in touch with her. They need to use her apartment for two ETA members whose objective is to prepare several attacks. The most difficult mission of her life begins now: to inform her superiors while cohabitating with two terrorist who, if at any point they suspect her, would kill her at the drop of a hat.

¡Videos Musicales! A music video competition + party. Artists, directors, and producers have the opportunity to screen their music videos 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.