Short Film Program 1
Join us for a collection of documentary short films made by the brightest, upcoming filmmakers.
Miss Flores
USA / 2021/ 8 min / Documentary / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
A fiercely protective mother, Miss Flores (Pseudonym), recounts when she fled from her unstable life in Nicaragua across the U.S.-Mexico border while she was pregnant.
About the Director, Juliana Toloza Serna
Since she was a young girl competitively roller skating in her home country of Colombia, Juliana has always kept her eye on the finish line. A lover of both animation and live-action, she refuses to be tied down to a single medium. She is an advocate for intersectionality, diversity, and representation in media. Juliana can be found reading cheesy romances at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts.
Snake’s Mouth
Mexico / 2020 / 15 min / Documentary / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
Chicán (chi’kaan), a Mayan word meaning “Boca de Culebra”, is a small Mayan community in southern Yucatán where for generations its inhabitants have been born with a particular characteristic and share the same surnames. This documentary portrays the life of a local family and their resilience in a town where tradition will continue unless someone breaks the cycle.
About the Director, Adriana Otero Puerto
Adriana Otero Puerto has a Master’s Degree in Production and Teaching of Visual Arts from the Higher School of Arts of Yucatán. Among her works are “The Value of the Land” (2014) and “Snake’s Mouth” (2020), which have been winners of awards at different film festivals in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Canada. In 2021, she premiered “What happened to the bees?” in theaters in Mexico — a film that she produced and co-directed. She currently directs the production and distribution company ABEJAS CINE.
Oh Mercy – Searching for Hope in the Promised Land
USA / 2019 / 12 min / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
“Oh Mercy – Searching for Hope in the Promised Land” is a documentary film about thousands of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers from Central America who awaited court dates and immigration hearings in the US — many for almost two years, with no end in sight. Increasingly desperate and discouraged, they huddled in squalid camps and detention centers on both sides of the Rio Grande, which, for several hundred miles, serves as a natural border between Mexico and the United States.
About the Director, Robert Bilheimer
Robert Bilheimer is the director, writer, and producer for Worldwide Documentaries, Inc, a not-for-profit film production company he founded in 1989 with his partner, longtime colleague, and senior producer Heidi Ostertag.
When Lola is Gone
Spain / 2021 / 14 min / Documentary / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
José María is deafblind. He lives without a clock, a phone, social networks… His mother,Lola is 76 years old and she is his only contact with his environment. In Spain,there are no nursing homes for deafblind people. What would happen when Lola is gone?
About the Directors
CRISTINA R. OROSA
Feminist, raised among strong and courageous women. She has worked in various television formats. She is enthusiastic about being a loudspeaker of unjust situations. An audiovisual piece that portrays the strength and love of a mother.
BEATRIZ ROMERO
The world of television editing and production has marked from the beginning her development as a professional in the sector. Bringing to light a story as shocking as the story of Lola and José María has been a revulsive for her and the rest of the team, whose intention is to give visibility to these families and show the institutional helplessness and lack of resources and support to which they are currently subjected.
Tony’s Cakes
USA / 2021 / 12 min / Documentary / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
A man with a troubled past finds redemption in building his own bakery.
About the Directors
Tony Holman and Vida deKayla first met in a film production class at their community college in 2017. Coming from a theater background, Kayla initially came into film as an actor but quickly decided that she wanted to focus her efforts towards writing and directing. Tony started his film career as an editor but has slowly worked his way towards becoming a documentary director and cinematographer.
Seguimos Aquí: Pride, Pandemic, and Perseverance
USA / 2021 / 34 min / Documentary / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
Four LGBTQ+ identifying Latinx Chicagoans navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, interpersonal struggles, and community triumphs throughout a turbulent yet powerful 2020.
About the Directors
Emmanuel Garcia (he/him) is a storyteller and community organizer committed to queer and trans liberation. Emmanuel started his connection with ALMA Chicago as a youth when he co-founded the ALMA Scholarship, an award given annually to two Latinx LGBTQ youth to achieve academic success for over a decade. His advocacy includes leading a social marketing campaign in Little Village and Cicero, IL, that addressed homophobia, transphobia, HIV/AIDS stigma within the Latinx community, and the groundbreaking public program “Vives Q” that promoted intergenerational dialogue between LGBTQ trailblazers and youth.
David A. Moran (he/him) is a first-generation Chicano from the West Side of Chicago. Receiving his BA in 2015 from Columbia College Chicago, David has sought to use his love of languages and critical thought to better challenge today’s sociopolitical climate. As an advocate for social justice, immigration reform, and abolition work, David joined SoapBox Productions and Organizing at the end of 2016, helping it expand to the current multimedia state all the while producing, facilitating, writing, educating, and engaging in the day-to-day operations of both the 501(c)3 and the culture.
