Short Films
Program 4 – “A Fresh Start”
Join us for a collection of short films made by some of the brightest and upcoming filmmakers.
Wet Foot
Pie Mojado
USA / 2022 / 20 min / Drama / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
In the middle of the Straits of Florida, a brother and sister drift aimlessly seeking refuge after escaping their home island of Cuba. After three days adrift with no food or water, Antonio (Jeffry Batista) rapidly falls ill from severe dehydration. In the end, freedom may end up costing one of them their lives, as salvation nears and Caridad (Kaelyn Gonzalez) realizes the truth of her nation and what sacrifice truly means.
About the Director
Anthony Ramon Soto is an award-winning Cuban-American director, screenwriter, and producer from Miami, Florida. Anthony’s background fuels his passions for unconventional storytelling through the lens of struggle, loss, hope, and the raw uncanny beauty of life. A humanitarian at heart, Anthony focuses on stories that shed light on highly debated issues both at home and abroad. Whether it’s racial inequalities, social constructs, or existentialism, Anthony believes the best way to challenge people’s perspectives is to show, not tell. His first documentary, The Teacher and The Mountain, is an award-winning film that received national distribution in Italy. In 2022, Anthony has gone on to produce many films including a proof on concept on its way to becoming a feature film. As a natural-born storyteller, Anthony feeds his hungry soul through creativity in the realm of film. He hopes that the stories he shares will be displayed on the world stage for all to see and learn from.
Keep/Delete
USA / 2022 / 19 min / Sci-Fi / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
In a future where memories are stored like files, broken couples are offered the ability to wipe every trace of a relationship from their minds.
About the Director
Kryzz Gautier is a queer, Afro-Latina writer/director born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Since transitioning from undocumented to permanent resident, she’s been a writer on HBO’s GORDITA CHRONICLES, is a writer/creative consultant on the upcoming installment of 2K Games’ acclaimed franchise BIOSHOCK, and her feature debut WHEELS COME OFF landed on the 2021 Black List. The last is being produced by Julie Oh at OhCo. She’s sold multiple shows and features to studios, some of which have her attached as director. Kryzz has been a fellow in prestigious programs like NBC’s “Female Forward” for scripted TV directors, Ryan Murphy’s “Half Initiative”, Joey Soloway’s “Disruptors”, the Sundance Institute, The Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship, and the DGA, among others. Her work has screened at multiple Academy Award, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Award qualifying festivals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Directing Narrative Fiction from Emerson.
Be Right Back
Ahhora Vuelvo
Mexico / 2022 / 18 min / Drama / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
In ‘Be Right Back’, we meet Mateo, a young worker who faces a harsh reality when he realizes that he cannot provide for his girlfriend Sara, a wealthy young woman with whom he ran away. Facing the disenchantment of his decision, and out of fear of Sara feeling it too, Mateo decides to steal a ring from his boss as a symbol of his promise to Sara.
About the Director
Arturo Márquez is a Mexican director, writer and cinematographer. As a director, he is known for his projects ‘The Slight Rebellion Off Madison’ (2018) and ‘Stay’ (2021). His passion is telling stories; he’s a believer that cinema, being as Roger Ebert described it, “an empathy machine”, is the definitive way to do so.
In Heaven
Spain / 2022 / 14 min / Dramedy / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
Julia wasn’t a happy woman. She made an important decision to change her life.
About the Director
Manuel Martínez Gómez (Manuel Gomar), was born in 1962 at Sierra Mágina, Jaén. Has a degree in English Philology at the University of Granada. Later in Huelva, being teacher at La Orden High School, creates the Theater Group called Arteatrozos where he writes and directs the plays “Soledad y la sirena del amor”, “La quinta miseria” or “Con soltura”, all of them premiered at the Gran Teatro of Huelva. A few years ago, he started to study Audiovisual and Cinema . He has written and directed several short films: “Wait and See” (2013), “Scared”(2014), “The Mist” (2014), “Skillets” (2015), “Illusive” (2016) and Pili was right (2017), “The message” (2019), “The Partisans” (2019) and “In Heaven” (2022).
Fuego
USA / 2022 / 22 min / Drama / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
The film begins with a look at generations past, a snapshot of Giovanni’s father dancing with a woman back in the 1980s. This is an example of his “Fuego,” the purpose or passion in one’s life. The story that Gio tells about his Fuego is set in a bar on New Year’s Eve. Gio had a falling out with his brother, Francisco, after he and his girlfriend, Nadine, tried to play matchmaker for Gio and a salsa dance teacher, Camila. Gio is in the bar telling this story to his friends, Eddie and Joel, instead of being with family on an important night. Moments before midnight, Gio sneaks away to check his Instagram feed and sees that Francisco is newly engaged to Nadine, popping the question this evening. Gio is full of regret, but as the night winds down Francisco makes a last-minute appearance at Gio’s bar. The two have a heart-to-heart conversation revealing Gio’s true Fuego, the importance of family.
About the Director
Edwin FrankO (Edwin Frank Ortiz) is a Latino film director of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent hailing from Barrio Logan of Southeast San Diego. He graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with an emphasis in directing. FrankO began his artistic journey as a hip hop dancer. Edwin discovered his “fuego” back at Point Loma High School when a film colleague asked if he could dance and act in his film. Being new to acting, he loved it and decided to pursue it. This eventually introduced him to film production and the rest is history. With a creative portfolio that consists of acting for theater and film, producing and directing music videos, commercials and documentaries, he looks forward to finally creating a meaningful narrative film that will highlight his talents and introduce himself to the world of narrative content.
