Short Films
Program 6 – “In the Beginning”
Join us for a collection of short films made by some of the brightest and upcoming filmmakers.
Filmmakers will be in attendance for a post screening discussion.
Las Muralistas: Our Walls, Our Stories
USA / 2022 / 25 min / Documentary / Houston Premiere
Synopsis
Las Muralistas: Our Walls, Our Stories is a 25-minute documentary directed by Javier Briones and edited by Claudia Escobar, in partnership with SFMOMA. The film features women muralists whose works cover the walls of San Francisco’s Mission District. The muralism movement that emerged in the 1970s in the Mission District marked the beginning of a tradition of activism, expression, and community building through public art. Hear from artists Juana Alicia, Smokie Arce, Susan Cervantes, Elaine Chu, Priya Handa, Yolanda López, Consuelo Méndez, Irene Pérez, Patricia Rodriguez and more on their experiences, the impact of femmes in the movement and the effort to make space for future muralistas.
About the Director
Javier Briones is a bi-lingual filmmaker and curator with over 10 years of experience in both narrative and documentary film. Motivated by social and personal concerns, he makes films that are complex, layered explorations of history, memory and subjectivity. His films focus on people from Latin America and the places, spaces and moments where social, political and cultural structures take on visible and tangible forms. His works include El Soñador, Luz, and The Earth Did Not Speak, which was nominated for a 2016 International Documentary Association Award. Javier has been an Artist in Residence at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program and the San Francisco Film Society. Some of his most notable recognitions include the JustFilms Princess Grace Award, The President’s Award at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, and the Delphic Art Movie Award. He is a curator at the San Francisco chapter of the Video Consortium, an international organization for journalists and documentary filmmakers.
The Polacks
Las Polacas
Cuba / 2021 / 25 min / Drama / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
Mother and daughter embark on a journey in an old Polski Fiat commonly known in Cuba as the “Polaquito”. The bond between Bertha and Margot does not prevent a family’s and country’s turbulence from arising. Immersed in conversation, the distance to an inevitable destination is shortened.
About the Director
Carlos Barba Salva, an award-winning Cuban film director based in Los Angeles. Bachelor of Arts from the “Universidad de Oriente” in Santiago de Cuba city. His cinematographic beginnings were through his thesis about the relationship between cinema and literature, specifically what represents the film “El Siglo De Las Luces” by Humberto Solas. Since then he started to work with the iconic Cuban filmmaker and over time he became his assistant director on films such as “Barrio Cuba” and ” Adela” (2005). He studied Screenplay Workshop at the International School of Film and Television of San Antonio de los Baños. Barba Salva has written and directed the following films, all of them have been awarded in International Festivals, including Best Documentary at the Tiburon International Film Festival, San Francisco, 2016, and the Honorary Guamo Award 2017. He worked as an assistant director in films by Jorge Perugorría (“Strawberry and Chocolate”), Arturo Sotto and Rebeca Chavez. He wrote, along with Enrique Pineda Barnet (“I am Cuba”), the screenplay “Mi Virgen De La Caridad”. In 2020, Barba’s film “Humberto & Lucía” for The Criterion Collection and Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project. With “The Polacks” he won the Coral prize and the Cibervoto prize at 42th Havana Film Festival.
Sion Papi
USA / 2022 / 20 min / Documentary & Animation / Texas Premiere
Synopsis
Still in shock of the death of her dad, Anne is then thrusted into visiting the Dominican Republic to bury her dads ashes, a place she hasn’t visited in 16 years. Thrusted into this unfamiliar place, Anne begins to wonder what her dad was like when he lived in D.R. and if he was happy. She wonders why he even immigrated if he was so much happier back home. She wishes dearly to be able to ask her father these questions in need of answers. Anne must eventually come to terms with the possibility of not getting the answers she desires.
About the Director
Born in New York City and raised in the projects of Harlem by Dominican immigrant parents, Anne was always exposed to many different people of various cultures and backgrounds. As a young girl, she fell in love with storytelling in all aspects and mediums. Whether that be through writing short stories, poetry, making collages, bookmaking, and/or most importantly through filmmaking. Anne endlessly aims to tell stories of those underrepresented, especially when it comes to telling stories of the Dominican and/or Dominican American community.
Más Latina
USA / 2021 / 14 min / Comedy
Synopsis
Gabi is a disappointment to her family, a messy 30-something with zero kids, zero suitors, and struggling to find her voice as a comedian. When her Tía (auntie) gives her a makeover, Gabi accidentally finds success performing stand-up in character. While on stage Gabi imitates the strong women in her life and makes jokes about them. The result is laughs from the audience plus a bit of respect from her peers, but what will her family think?! Sometimes in life, you’ve got to literally be someone else to figure out who you really are.
About the Director
Janeva was born and raised in Los Angeles by her Guatemalan single mom. She began as a visual artist and studied Fine Art at the Cooper Union in New York City. After graduating with honors, she starred in the feature film “La Voz de Los Silenciados”. The art-house film won numerous awards internationally and inspired her filmmaking career. Janeva fuses witty comedy with authentic storytelling. A true multi-hyphenate, she wrote, produced, directed, and acted in “Más Latina”, currently screening in festivals, and the winner of the Audience Award at Stareable LA 2022. Beyond sharing Más Latina with the world, Janeva produces the stand-up show “First Dibs Comedy”, dedicates herself to screenwriting, and acts in character roles in Film and TV.
