A Boy Named Peter, directed by Paolo Santiago, Johan Dano, RGV Short Film, 16 minutes, World Premiere. After the traumatic events of a party gone violent, Filipino-American teen, Peter, asks guidance from his older brother, Kuya Marcel. Tragedy looms heavy in this unique ghost story, soaked in the melodrama of an LGBTQ+ romance and embraced in bittersweet familial love.
A Demonic Tale, written by Jaclynn Moreno, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. A dysfunctional family of demons lives their normal, abnormal lives until the prince begins behaving normally and threatens the family’s reign.
Across, directed by Carlos Evaristo Flores, Nicolas J. Lewis, Documentary Short Film, 18 minutes. The film Across deals with the nostalgic view of border residents in Laredo, Texas going across the Rio Grande River to party in Nuevo Laredo's nightclubs. The film also deals with the war on drugs in Mexico, and how that has impacted the Laredo community.
Alone, directed by Quenne Eric Nonde, Music Video, 5 minutes. Alone is the latest music video by award-winning director Quenne Eric Nonde, featuring the music of melodic techno power duo Roberto Montoya x RHYS. Shot by two distinct cinematographers, each with their unique sensibilities, the visuals highlight the ambience and dynamics of the soundtrack. Zoe Jimenez brings her gritty, lo-fi lens to contrast with Quenne Eric Nonde's dramatic and emotional style.
Amor de Papel, directed by Cesar Omar Cesar Gomez, Music Video, 3 minutes, Festival Premiere. In the music video "Amor de Papel," Cesar Ache Yuma portrays unrequited love as he sings about a woman seeking wealth and status. Despite lacking material riches, he offers genuine love, torn between his feelings and her desires.
Ancient Landscapes of South Texas: Hiding in Plain Sight, directed by Bull Sanchez, Documentary Feature Film, 43 minutes. This film explores the 50-million-years geologic history of the Rio Grande Valley, featuring ancient beaches, salt lakes, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption, Pleistocene megafauna, and the impacts of a large river. It also examines how prehistoric people benefited from these resources, and how it is being reshaped by its human occupants.
At The Flash Show Deck, written by Sean William Chandler, David William Leeper, The Pitch. At The Flash is a mind-bending, kaleidoscopic story covering six decades in the life of a fictitious gay bar.
Baggage, directed by Ana Kiri, U.S. Short Film, 9 minutes, USA Premiere. Everyone has “baggage” that we carry around with us in our lives. But it’s not a negative thing, rather something that makes us who we are. People connect when finding similar things in each other's "baggage.” When you wake up in the morning, for a few minutes you are still clean and baggage-free. As you go along with your day, certain things bring up memories in you and your baggage appears.
Behind Our Walls, directed by Nate Roels, Documentary Feature Film, 46 minutes, Texas Premiere. Behind Our Walls tells the story of a group of inmates in Michigan, as they seek a college education behind bars through the Calvin Prison Initiative. This feature-length documentary demonstrates the resilience and determination of men behind bars, many of whom have been incarcerated for decades and many of whom have life sentences. Behind Our Walls shows that all people are deserving of a second chance, no matter what they’ve done.
Births in a Nation, written by David Carment, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. Is this the last generation?
Brahmakanya (The colour of hope), directed by Dhiraj Kashyap, International Feature Film, 1 hour 16 minutes. The Film Brahmakanya - The colour of hope is the life story of a poor, homeless girl child. A child, who had to quit school halfway through, and is constantly engaged in the struggle for life.
BROKEN, directed by Alberto Ornelas, Texas Short Film, 9 minutes. In "Broken," Joey, played by Alberto Ornelas, confronts his mental health struggles through a self-tapped diary. This poignant short film by Ornelas highlights the complexities of mental health, aiming to raise awareness and spark crucial conversations.
Carnage Radio, directed by James Fite, U.S. Feature Film, 1 hour 49 minutes, RGV Premiere. A small town encounters its first murder in 12 years. Then soon another. Clues link them to a local late-night radio show. With the help of the station DJ, a police detective sets out to save her town from a deranged psychopath who is killing off the radio show listeners.
Collector's Edition, written by Allen Garza, Giovanni Salazar, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. You reap what you sow
Copilot, directed by Darcy Doyle, U.S. Short Film, 12 minutes, RGV Premiere. Gene Davitt and her aviator father, Jim, frequently visit her ailing grandfather. Throughout stories of free-flight, dinner preparations, housekeeping, and unspoken tensions, young Gene finds both what is expected of her, and who she aspires to become.
Curry Scent, directed by Christa Boarini, U.S. Feature Film, 1hour 45 minutes, RGV Premiere. Curry Scent is a refreshing tale about an Indian immigrant family desperately grasping for the American Dream by trying to find their daughter, Geetha, a wealthy match before their visas run out. Geetha's story is told with uplifting humor and various funny situations, from their cramped living quarters to her various dates on which the entire family seems to participate. Curry Scent is a true feel-good film that will resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Dad Died Crying, directed by Joseph Balderas, RGV Short Film, 13 minutes, World Premiere. Two brothers, Donnie and Theo, reunite after their father's death. With contrasting memories of their upbringing, they confront their past while fulfilling their father's final wish.
Darlins, directed by Zach Uthman, Texas Short Film, 9 minutes, Texas Premiere. When a writer cuts a creepy creature from her novel and turns down a would-be suitor, she finds her editing choices have dire consequences.
Deadline, directed by Idan Gilboa, International Short Film, 13 minutes, RGV Premiere. A couple of irrelevant old ladies meet on a routine day while waiting in line at the health clinic and make a life-changing discovery. By tampering with the pre-ordained death queue determined up above, they can delay their own doom. Instantaneously they form a murderous pact and set out to not only ensure their own survival, but also to settle some old accounts with those that have overlooked or mistreated them.
Determined, directed by Jose Sanchez, Documentary Short Film, 6 minutes, RGV Premiere. Deep in the South Texas Borderlands, one high school football player's battle through adversity inspires his teammates, school, and community.
Devourer, directed by Isaiah Iran Navarro, Texas Short Film, 28 minutes, World Premiere. Two females chased by bounty hunters must overcome their dark past to avoid being sacrificed in an unholy ritual.
Don't Mess with Texas: An Abortion Story, directed by Ellison Leticia Martin, Qiu Li Tovo-Hurt, Roswell Goransson, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 6 minutes. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has harmed the lives of Texas women. This documentary not only explores the personal impacts on Texas women but also how they are working together to make a better future. Don't Mess with Texas!
Don’t Move, directed by Elisa Cavazos, Madilyn Zamorano, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 3 minutes, World Premiere. A warning is given to the national public about unknown attacks occurring. Olivia finds her night getting more peculiar as it goes on. Soon facing attacks head on she realizes the one responsible is a doppelgänger of herself. Olivia meets her demise at the end as her doppelgänger takes over.
Dreamless, written by Caleb Cruz, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. Two brothers are trapped in a hyper-digital game in a sinister society where entertainment has literally taken over.
ECHOES OF THE VOID, written by Leonard Padron, Andres Eloy Garcia, The Pitch. Amidst the summer celebrations of 1987, a timid high school student, Martin, and his charismatic best friend, Freddy, are drawn into a mysterious beach party. When Freddy vanishes without a trace, Martin becomes the prime suspect. Moments later, as detectives interrogate Martin about that fateful night, he unveils a chilling tale of strange lights, parallel realities, and a truth that threatens to shatter his perception of reality
El Tesoro, directed by David Rodríguez Estrada, International Short Film, 21 minutes, Texas Premiere. Taking on an unexpected mission, Clemencia poses as a clairvoyant, helping a stranger uncover a buried treasure.
Estela, Is It You?, directed by Fabian Martin, Victor Martin, U.S. Short Film, 22 minutes, RGV Premiere. A grieving woman communicates with her dead husband through her car radio.
Finding Light, directed by Shelby Quezada, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 10 minutes. Based on a true story of a young girl dealing with the sudden loss of her mother. Lizzy finds healing in her faith.
FLOODPLAIN, directed by Samuel Diaz Fernandez, Documentary Short Film, 17 minutes, RGV Premiere. Austin residents relive their memories of a 2013 catastrophic flood in Onion Creek, which was a once-thriving community, but now scarred by disaster. Ten years later, they are determined to prevent history from repeating itself.
For You, directed by Tristan Cole, Music Video, 3 minutes. This project showcases the strong love that a father has for his son and what he's willing to do to always be there as a positive role model in his life.
Go To The People, directed by Jeff Sewald, Documentary Feature Film, 1 hour, World Premiere. Inspired by his father, a physician who made house calls, Dr. Jim Withers began providing medical care to the homeless in 1992. Initially dressing as a homeless person, Jim made street rounds in alleys and under bridges. Soon, Operation Safety Net was born and sparked a movement that spread worldwide.
Grow a Better Dallas, directed by Cullen Blanchfield, Documentary Short Film, 27 minutes. Restorative Farms is a non-profit offering restorative justice and urban agriculture solutions to the "food desert" problem in South Dallas. Restorative Farms offers rehabilitation and therapeutic solutions to individuals with criminal backgrounds. Restorative Farms was co-founded by Tyrone Day, who was falsely incarcerated for over 25 years.
Guayabera, directed by Emmanuel Anacleto Pena, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 7 minutes. Guayabera is a story about a boy, grappling with the loss of his father. Unable to move on, the boy is trapped in a cycle of various vivid dreams, where he may get to find closure.
How To Catch a Dream, written by Enrique Quintanilla, The Pitch. A young genius wants to build a dream catching machine to achieve his goal of remembering his dad, however in the process of doing so, he deciphers a mysterious message and suspects that a secret society wants to steal its meaning.
Hurdles, directed by Pamela Oliver Munoz, RGV Short Film, 3 minutes, RGV Premiere. When an un-athletic dreamer's hopes of being on the track team are dashed, her negative thoughts about herself weigh her down until she is submerged in the waters of her subconscious where she can let go of them, and be her best self. A story with heart about being human.
Juliet?, directed by Shelby Quezada, Ana Lucia Garza, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 5 minutes. There is drama in the drama department when the leading role is won by a newcomer.
Kingman Stables, directed by JC Tovar, JR Molina, RGV Short Film, 9 minutes, RGV Premiere. The Tovar brothers dream of refurbishing their family's horse stables into a premier place to house a horse. They hire struggling filmmaker Victor De La Cruz to produce a high quality commercial sure to bring in new clients, but the brother's antics push De La Cruz to almost quit the project.
Lava Platos, directed by Albion Sabani, Texas Short Film, 13 minutes, World Premier. Finally it's closing time, but the city's biggest gangster just came in expecting dinner. Oof, what to do?
Loteria, directed by Ali Atshani, International Feature Film, 1 hour 25 minutes. In the harsh reality of the Middle East, a group of young individuals harboring dreams of reaching America and fulfilling their aspirations embark on a perilous journey. Driven by the desire for a better life, they turn to smuggling, led by traffickers and human smugglers, to cross the border. However, this path is fraught with danger, leading to the loss of many lives - men, women, girls, and boys alike. As they navigate the treacherous terrain and face the grim realities of their circumstances, each character is forced to confront their own mortality and the sacrifices they are willing to make for a chance at a brighter future.
Mabel (Mictlan), written by Irlanda Martinez, The Pitch. A horrified teenage girl faces her corrupted humanness to survive after she’s cornered in a forsaken place
Made Out Of Babies - Stranger, directed by Valeria Gonzalez-Gracia, Music Video, 5 minutes, RGV Premiere. Lost and alone in the depths of her local downtown, this stranger navigates her fate through her impulses and inexplicable attitude. Her encounters remain messy due to her unrequitable kindness, and 'Made Out Of Babies' encaptures her journey throughout Stranger's bleak night with a song full of rage.
Morals, directed by Hugo Alberto Rodriguez, RGV Short Film, 33 minutes. RGV Premiere. Year 2045 crime is at an all time low due to the initiative John Mitchell has initiated, where a police task force executes "low income class" individuals with the help of a chip implanted in them to cut off their "morality". Peter Morales fights with what is right and what he was programed to do.
Moving Forward, directed by Roy Vela, Texas Short Film, 15 minutes, RGV Premiere. Following the funeral of her husband, Liz tries to push through the grief by filling her time with work. As Liz sits across from her therapist, a simple question brings about a realization of the situation that led to this point.
Mujer Mexicana, directed by Baldemar Garcia, Music Video, 5 minutes, World Premiere. Mujer Mexicana is an amazing cinematic splendor brought to you by Tejano Star Magali Delarosa and Baldemar Garcia of 1st Class Cinema, off her fifth studio album which shares the same name. This is an autobiographical video which shows how the singer got her start in the business at such a young age.
November, Timothy David Orme, Music Video, 3 minutes, Texas Premiere. Official music video for "November," from Lyndsay Stone's album A Couple Seeds!
One Wrong Choice, directed by Shelby Quezada, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 11 minutes. Based on true stories of families and victims of drunk driving accidents. The film shows the different people that are impacted as a result of one wrong choice.
paranoia, directed by Devin Navarro, Jason Tovar, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 3 minutes. Suffers the consequences after falling asleep during class
Pierre West, directed by Jakob Arevärn, Henrik Larsson, International Short Film, 30 minutes, World Premiere. One mans shot at leaving loneliness begins with his TV breaking down. Is the road to hapiness too long? — Or was this dish worth waiting for?
Pipi, directed by Ines Wallisch, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 7 minutes. In the horror narrative "Pipi," a therapy session unveils unsettling experiences involving Ellie's imaginary friend, Pipi. Initially perceived as harmless, Pipi's influence begins to take a dark turn, causing Ellie’s parents to question her violent and unexplainable behavior. What started as an innocent imaginary friend, turns into a chilling story revealing the consequences Mr. and Mrs. Harris face when searching for help.
Polite Desertion, written by Nikole Salinas, The Pitch. A new government program promises a suicidal writer a consequence-free avenue to end his own life.
PopularLon3r - Broken Hearted, directed by Baldemar Garcia, Music Video, 3 minutes, World Premiere. A group of secret service agents are on the move to retrieve one of their members who has been captured behind enemy lines.
prObed, directed by Umar Shiraz Jafri, Texas Short Film, 6 minutes, RGV Premiere. A first date goes horribly awry with the arrival of some uninvited out of this world guests.
Scent of Ivory, directed by Jared Palomares, RGV Short Film, 24 minutes, RGV Premiere. Siblings Kaity and Jaime live on after the death of their hardworking mother. Past-due bills and disconnection notices have driven Kaity to be the best role model for the past five years. As she struggles with the weight of responsibilities and crippling anxiety, she begins to see flashes of time. Now, she must support her brother when his identity and future come into question before their relationship is severed.
Search & Destroy, directed by Alexander Rosales, Texas Short Film, 15 minutes. SEARCH & DESTROY is an adventurous and tender 15 minute coming of age adventure-drama that follows RAFAEL and his neighborhood friends (The Squad) who are on the run after pranking the high school baseball team (The Enemies).
Serial Killers Anonymous (the repentant), directed by Judas Tanguma, RGV Short Film, 18 minutes. A fallen angel sent by god to harvest the souls of the repentant before they can sin again has found a group of individuals she can relate with while sharing stories, drinking coffee, and eating donuts.
Simon, written by Cristo Petrides, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. A robot, growing up within a government facility, realizes he's being used as a pawn to create horrifying lethal weapons, and discovers he’s more human than his own creators.
Sleeping Project 78 (Feature film) — Horror, written by ALIZZAYA GUEL, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. The surviving test subjects of a new sleeping drug force a group of scientists to partake in life-or-death games.
Surcos, directed by Julio C Gonzalez, RGV Short Film, 23 minutes, RGV Premiere. This documentary follows the journey of a woman and her struggles as she emigrated to the United States from Mexico to work in the fields. While battling with the decision of leaving behind her mother and children in search of a better life. Este documental sigue la trayectoria de una mujer y sus lucha mientras emigró a los Estados Unidos desde México para trabajar en el campo. Mientras lucha con la decisión de dejar atrás a su madre y a sus hijos en busca de una vida mejor.
The Activated Man, directed by Nicholas Gyeney, U.S. Feature Film, 1 hour 55 minutes. After Ors Gabriel loses his beloved dog to cancer, the shock from the trauma produces strange vision projections that force Ors to wrestle with two possibilities: That his mind has fractured, or that it's actually real.
The Border Crossed Us, directed by Loretta van der Horst, Documentary Feature Film, 1 hour 12 minutes. International Premiere. In La Joya, Texas, a small town on the Mexican border, police search on a daily basis for traces of human traffickers who help migrants and refugees cross the border to the United States. These hunts frequently result in perilous pursuits of traffickers transporting migrants.
The Calling, written by Lourdes Andrea Elizondo, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. The darkest place of all is the human heart.
The Crow Woman, directed by Brooklyn Rice, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 4 minutes, Texas Premiere. The story of a seemingly eccentric 16-year-old girl and her search for meaning.
The Hedgehog's Dilemma, written by Nina Chávez Góngora, The Pitch. When a mother discovers that her younger daughter has been sexually assaulted by her older son, she will try to keep her family together, even if it means hiding the truth.
The Nightwatcher, directed by Xavier Diaz, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 9 minutes. Using comic books for inspiration, highschooler Kenny Kilmister decides to train himself to be a real-life superhero, despite having no real super powers.
The Red Bike, directed by Torben Bech, International Short Film, 15 minutes, Texas Premiere. When Jack receives a red bike as a birthday present, no one could have predicted what it would lead to.
The Route To Emancipation, directed by Talib Abdullahi, Riley Engemoen, Documentary Short Film, 18 minutes. The Route To Emancipation by Black History Bike Ride follows 3 friends as they embark on a 350 mile cycling route from the Texas Capitol in Austin to the site where Juneteenth began in 1865. The journey takes viewers back through centuries of Black history in Texas, with interviews from educators, historians, and community leaders along the way.
The Struggle, written by Mathieu Shane Caviness, Texas Young Filmmaker Pitch. We follow a story of three teens in the same rural town at a small highschool who are trying to find their place in the world. Their home lives are not quite the happy home so they are rebellious and uncaring for what their parents say. They each fight the battles with addiction whether it be personal or in the family. Eventually they all end up at a house party together and make one final decision which changes their future forever.
The Venusian Chronicles, written by Lynn Vincentnathan, The Pitch. When the discovery of a spaceship wreck on the Moon strikes people with fear of invasion, a meek Venusian professor must reveal his identity to stop vigilante attacks on innocent people and steer Earth away from the fate that ended life on Venus.
The Word, directed by Rob M Neilson, U.S. Short Film, 9 minutes, RGV Premiere. The 1% decide to give all African-Americans reparations...but there is a catch.
TOBOR: The Ultimate Battle, written by Jorge Flores, The Pitch. With all odds against her, a leader emerges in a post-apocalyptic era as she engages in the ultimate robot battle in a fight for survival.
Transit Method - Psychometry, directed by Justin Wilson, Music Video, 4 minutes, Festival Premiere. Transit Method conjures a cosmic ritual in which the VVitch summons Green Man in a Dark Beltane ceremony. They use their earth magic to call in The Sacrifice, who lays down her soul in order to make way for a new initiate of The Family.
True Crime PHS, directed by Ruby Trevino, Kory Bazarte, Texas Young Filmmaker Short Film, 5 minutes.
ULTIMATE CITIZENS, directed by Francine Strickwerda, Documentary Short Film, 39 minutes. Jamshid, an Iranian American public school counselor, helps the children of immigrants and refugees in Seattle find belonging on their way to compete in the world’s largest Ultimate Frisbee Tournament. With a Frisbee in hand, Jamshid shows that love wins – one kid, chicken, ultra-endurance race, and friend at a time.
Vance and the Afterlife, directed by Sam Kimbrell, U.S. Short Film, 10 minutes, Texas Premiere. Vance and the Afterlife is a film about a corporate stiff named Vance who dies and ends up in his own imagination… or lack thereof. Through an appeal process administered by his afterlife guide Sarah, Vance is given a second chance at life that’s focused less on superficial career goals and more on creative expression and appreciation for the world around him…
Vemana, directed by Michael Joseph, U.S. Short Film, 15 minutes. When Emily and her boyfriend flee to Upstate NY to get away from her abusive father, they encounter a bigger problem as the son of an Aztec cult captures them.
Volveras (You will come back), directed by Luis Antonio Rodriguez, Music Video, 4 minutes, World Premiere. You Will Come Back" portrays a woman in old Mexico, condemned as a witch for loving. Society blames her for embracing love. In a twist, her lover is the condemning priest, revealing hypocrisy. It delves into themes of love, persecution, and societal norms' clash with personal desires.
What Washes Ashore, directed by Harold Nieves Fisch, U.S. Short Film, 13 minutes, RGV Premiere. When a lonely young immigrant discovers a dead body on the shores of her employer’s vacation home, she calls on unexpected friends and untapped bravery to face her deepest fear.
Who Speaks for Charlie?, directed by Matthew Corolis, Documentary Short Film, 16 minutes, RGV Premiere. After receiving death threats from members of the autistic community, Eileen Lamb reflects on her own autism diagnosis, and doubles down on her commitment to fight for greater services for Charlie, her non-verbal autistic son.