Latino Film Institute Fellows Debut Short Films at the Egyptian Theatre

On May 29, filmmakers from the Latino Film Institute’s (LFI) Inclusion Fellowship and Spark Animation Grant premiered their short films at the Egyptian Theatre as part of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF). The programs provide production grants and mentorship to the fellows with support from Netflix.

The two back-to-back screenings featured 10 live-action and three animated narrative short films across a variety of genres, including fantasy, thriller and dramedy. The Egyptian Theater was packed with festival attendees, cast and crew of the films, and industry veterans such as actor and LFI Founder, Edward James Olmos, providing a distinguished platform for the filmmakers to showcase their work. 

“The work we do at the Latino Film Institute goes beyond film,” said LFI Executive Director, Axel Caballero, at LALIFF’s opening night. “It’s about opening doors, creating opportunities, and building the infrastructure for education, advancement, and innovation. With the collaboration of many industry leaders, we are committed to transforming the entertainment industry by ensuring that Latino perspectives are not just included but recognized as essential to the broader storytelling landscape.”

Following the screenings, the filmmakers participated in Q&A sessions, reflecting on bringing their creative visions to life. “It was so fulfilling to portray Argentinian culture of the 1920s. It’s a love letter to Buenos Aires, my hometown. I, myself, had to cross Plaza de Mayo to go to film school," said Juan M. Abdo, who directed Remember the Rats. “It was just so rewarding to realize this film that I really love.”

The evening concluded with a reception in the Egyptian Theatre courtyard where attendees had the opportunity to network and mingle with the filmmakers.

The filmmakers and short films of the 2025 LFI Fellowship Screenings are: 

Alex Z. Avila | The Apricot: The Apricot tells the story of a 10-year-old boy and his first summer working on the family's apricot farm. This project is inspired by childhood memories that the director holds dear to his heart.

Ana Ramírez González | Agua Dulce: A playful game of tag between a tiny water droplet and a spirited firefly takes a turn when they reach the pond's edge and the unknown stirs beneath.

Colby Barrios | Love Me Tender, Love Me True: A middle-aged Latino man, struggling with self-esteem and caring for his ailing mother, finds unexpected confidence and connection as he prepares for an Elvis impersonation performance — only to face his greatest fear when the impersonation isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Gabriela Paciel | I F*cking Hate You: After a flat tire leaves Michelle and her brother, David, stranded on their way to her wedding, the two siblings must put their differences aside if they want to survive.

Imani Celeste Fuentes | Tigueronas: After ending an abusive relationship with her narcissistic boyfriend, Aaliyah and her friends hatch a bold plan for revenge on a girls’ night out, igniting a journey of self-empowerment and sisterhood.

Jorge G. Camarena | All the Windows are Closed: An 11-year-old boy struggles to keep his sister close as her plans to leave their isolated ranch threaten to tear apart the only family bond he has ever known.

Juan M. Abdo | Remember the Rats: While local people and rats learn to live together in culturally changing 1920s Buenos Aires, the governor prefers the French scene, so he brings pigeons to remove the rats. But it comes at a price.

Kaila Gutierrez | High Beam: A nine-year-old gymnast spends a day at the gym with her mother, a devoted gymnastics coach. Desperate to catch her mom’s eye, Genna obsessively strives to make the gymnastics team.

Loren Escandón | Gris: Sofía’s first week of school stirs unexpected questions about race, family, and belonging. As she struggles to define herself, her drawings spring to life and help her journey to understand everything she is.

Matthew Serrano | Xolo: After he finds her body, a little dog named Skippy must convince Xolotl, the Aztec god of death, that his owner deserves a good afterlife.

Nicolas Jara | Turn Away: A dazed gunshot victim awakens from a coma and is snuck out of a San Francisco hospital by his suspicious partner. As they venture onto a boat under the cover of the night, a chilling revelation threatens to tear them apart.

Sofía Garza-Barba | Efflorescence: On the night she’s set to meet her vegan boyfriend’s friends, LaLa finds herself transforming into a carnivorous human plant. As her metamorphosis spirals out of control, she must find a way to keep her instincts in check before dinner takes a deadly turn.

Victor Velasco | I Have Wings but I Cannot Fly: In a society where a dangerous regime has banned shapeshifters, a resilient single mother brings her son to work, only to discover he's transforming into a bird.