Doors open

IdentificarX Documentary (2024) by Ana Lydia Monaco (BFA 18) – 12 min

Synopsis: A short interview-based documentary highlighting the journeys of a number of ArtCenter’s Latinx Alumni through ArtCenter and their respective careers. The documentary is part of IdentificarX, an exhibition celebrating ArtCenter’s Latinx Alumni.

Ana Lydia is a Mexican-American award-winning filmmaker, producer, and writer making heartfelt character-driven stories that highlight people rising above the ashes of adversity and injustice. Monaco has been working in the entertainment industry for over ten years with clients including Nike, Target, and Disney Resorts. Her work has been featured in Oaxaca Film Fest, Tulsa American Film Festival, Panafest, and many more.

Prom Time (2019) by Luisa Betancur (BFA 17) – 9:28 min

Synopsis: Upon overhearing her teen daughters recounting their dating experiences while getting ready on prom night, Judy accidentally drugs herself with Chinese herbal medicine, spiraling her into a gaudy sexual fantasy with the class hunk.

Luisa Betancur is a Colombian-born cinematographer who grew up between Colombia and California. Luisa has been awarded the ASC Master Class Visions Scholarship and was part of the first ICONIC Lift-Off cohort. She has worked on multiple projects including FREEJOY productions and MAMAG_ on Beyoncé’s Black Is King, The Killers’ new visual album, and more.

Bad Hombrewood (2022) by Guillermo Casarín (BFA 19) – 24 min

Synopsis: Through compelling interviews and archival footage, Bad Hombrewood reveals the dark side of Hollywood's history, the war stories of casting, and the challenges Latinx filmmakers encounter trying to succeed in the entertainment industry. Latinx filmmakers and allies come together to answer the question, "How can we create a place for us in Hollywood?"

Guillermo Casarín is a Mexican film director, screenwriter, and producer. His work has been recognized by the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Emmys, and film festivals, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival.

Q&A with Guillermo Casarín.

Intermission and snacks

New Film Project (2024) by Manuel del Valle (BFA 2021)

Manuel del Valle is a Mexican film director and producer. He is best known for his surreal film Piel (2017), heartbreaking short Celeste, and gang thriller Bloodhound Disciple (2018). His work has been featured in some of the top-ranking film festivals in Latin America such as the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Oaxaca Film Fest, and Hola Mexico Film Festival.

Cardboard Camera (2012) by Carlo Olivares Paganoni (MFA 12) – 19:12 min

Synopsis: Cardboard Camera tells the story of an imaginative 10-year-old boy, who can't afford a video camera, so he creates a cardboard camera instead. Recruiting his friends, he makes a film to enter into a film festival. The short film stars James Blakely, Sophia Viggiano, Ricky Martinez, Alex Long, Arcadio Cadena, Tania Gonzalez, and Terasa Sciortino.

Carlo Olivares Paganoni is a Mexican American writer, director, and filmmaker. He has worked in animation and live-action projects; writing, developing content, directing commercials, promos, and live-action short films. His thesis film Cardboard Camera won a Student Emmy® and was selected by several international film festivals, including LA Shorts Fest, San Diego Latino Film Festival, and the PBS "KVCR" Shorts Showcase.

Here and There (--) by Diego Andoni Rubio (BFA 23) – 21:01 min

Synopsis: Disillusioned with dancing, a young ballerina takes a trip with a stranger, during which she is forced to confront her fears and self-destructive tendencies.

Diego Andoni Rubio is a writer, director, and producer. He is best known for working on Nahjum (2019), Asics - Judges (2023), and Out of Place (2019). His commercial clients also include Smirnoff, Louis Vuitton, and Seiko.

A Man’s Story (2016) by Fernando Arrioja (BFA 94) – 10:07 min

Synopsis: A gripping meditation on masculinity and violence, A Man's Story follows young painter Kam after a triggering boxing practice forces him to confront his father about his domestic abuse.

Fernando Arrioja is known for A Man's Story (2016), Blind Trust (2022), and Drift (2015).

Q& with Manuel del Valle, Fernando Arriaga and Carlo Olivares Paganoni.

Doors open

Honey, I’m Home (--) by Gaby Méndez (BFA 19)

Synopsis: A 1950s housewife tries to persuade her husband to go on a trip to Peru over turkey dinner in the middle of July.

Gaby Méndez is a director, actress, and writer. She is known for writing and directing Beach Girls (2017). As an actress, she has worked on Escándalos: Todo es real excepto sus nombres (2014) and Latex Love (2017).

Love, and The Deadly Virus (2022) by Olivia Sandoval (MFA 21) – 27:00 min

Synopsis: Amid a pandemic, a hypochondriac seamstress has her world turned upside down when she meets a handsome dancer on a dating app. Their restrained passion will compel her to put aside her fear of infection and figure out an unusual method to get closer to him.

Olivia Sandoval is a filmmaker, production designer, and director. She was born in Chicago but grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. In her senior year at ArtCenter, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the plans for her senior thesis film; she responded by writing and directing Love, and The Deadly Virus.

El Triste (2020) by Manuel del Valle (BFA 21) – 13:00 min

Synopsis: A drama that takes place backstage at a marionette show. This short film follows "El Triste", an old used ragdoll-like marionette, and his journey of self-acceptance and discovery as he decides to do all it takes to prove to himself and his fellow puppets that he is valuable and worthy of admiration.

Manuel del Valle is a Mexican film director and producer. He is best known for his surreal film Piel (2017), heartbreaking short Celeste, and gang thriller Bloodhound Disciple (2018). His work has been featured in some of the top-ranking film festivals in Latin America such as the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Oaxaca Film Fest, and Hola Mexico Film Festival.

Q&A with Olivia Sandoval and Manuel del Valle.

Intermission and snacks

Santo vs Los Clones (2024) by Carlo Olivares Paganoni (MFA 12) – 12:44 min

Synopsis: Set in Mexico City, the film follows the adventures of El Santo as a superhero who must try to stop the plans of Dr. Clone, an evil scientist, who is determined to kill him and simultaneously dominate the world by creating clones of his old enemies (through their DNA).

Carlo Olivares Paganoni is a Mexican American writer, director, and filmmaker. He has worked in animation and live-action writing, developing content, directing commercials, promos, and live-action short films. His thesis short film Cardboard Camera won a Student Emmy® and was selected by several international film festivals, including LA Shorts Fest, San Diego Latino Film Festival, and the PBS "KVCR" Shorts Showcase.

BALAM (2023) by Guillermo Casarín (BFA 19) – 10 min

Synopsis: Itzel, a young girl of Mayan descent, gets lost in the jungle while on a stargazing trip with her father. Alone, and on the run from a furious poacher, Itzel stumbles across a lost city deep in the jungle and comes face-to-face with Balam, a spirit guide, who shows her how to read the stars and plot a way out.

Guillermo Casarín is a Mexican film director, screenwriter, and producer. His short documentary, Bad Hombrewood, addresses the lack of Latinx representation in Hollywood. His work has been recognized by the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Emmys, and film festivals, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival.

Quarantine Shenanigans (2020) by Jude Chacon (MFA 21) – 1:01 min

Synopsis: Episode What NOT To Do and What To DO is a PSA short format stop-motion animation featuring a robot figurine and a cotton ball suggesting what to do and not do during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Jude Chacon is a music video director and stop-motion filmmaker. He has directed a stop-motion music video for the Backstreet Boys' Christmas album. Some of his favorite artists include Edward Hopper, J.C. Leyendecker, Hopewell, Nine Inch Nails, and Massive Attack.

Q&A with Carlo Olivares Paganoni, Guillermo Casarín and Jude Chacon.

Intermission and snacks

Todas menos Tú (2024) by Luis Kuri (BFA 1995) - 93:00 min

Synopsis: While vacationing, a group of friends discover their friend's fiancée is cheating on him. Together they embark on a mission to collect evidence and save their friend from marrying someone who, besides being a cheater, is a horrible person.

Luis Kuri is an established commercial film director with clients including the multinational advertising company J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy, and Televisa. Kuri’s film projects include Todas menos Tú (2024) and Érase una vez (2017).