Shorts Program 3: Nuestras Raices
- Fiction Shorts
- 83 mins
In this program
Saq Nikté and the Spirit of the Mask / Saq Nikté y el Espíritu de la Máscara
Directed by Ester Weiner
In a forgotten community, an artisan girl puts an old K’iche’ invocation to the test and summons a curious spirit into our world.
Altar Ego
Directed by Desire Lacap, Stephanie Franco
Clara decides to honor her late aunt by building an altar for Día de los Muertos after many years of neglecting the tradition. As she arranges the ofrenda with marigolds, candles, and her aunt’s favorite foods, Clara speaks to her aunt, sharing the updates of her life since their last time together. The more Clara shares, the more she can hear the disapproval of her aunt’s spirit.
Kusi Smiles
Directed by Sisa Quispe
Kusi gets triggered by joining a traditional family gathering in the Andes. Unable to sing since her mom passed away, Kusi is confronted by her grief in the community that shaped her.
El Colibrí
Directed by Manuel Villarreal
Mia sets out to restore her papa’s hope by repairing her mother’s final gift: a wooden hummingbird. Along the way, she meets the rambunctious Nacho, kindly seller Alba, and the eccentric Doña Lala, who help her discover the power of hope and community.
Ana y la Distancia
Directed by Hansel Porras Garcia
A Cuban mother exiled in Miami anxiously awaits the arrival of her son, who is crossing Central American borders to join her.
Susana
Directed by Amandine Thomas, Gerardo Coello Escalante
Susan, a middle-aged American tourist, finds herself alone in Mexico City. When she encounters a group of young Americans, she jumps at the opportunity for a little adventure, discovering just how powerful her dollars can make her.
Window Cleaners
Directed by Sylvie Weber
When two undocumented window cleaners witness a domestic conflict inside a high-rise apartment, they must decide whether protecting their jobs and livelihoods is worth betraying their moral responsibility.
Queen of Samba
Directed by Stacy Pascal Gaspard
Wrestling with her identity on the eve of a big samba competition, Nayelis decides to try Lady Fair, a lightening cream that has been in her household for as long as she can remember. As pressure mounts in the glittering competition, the lightness reveals a sinister darkness. How far will Nayelis go to be crowned Queen?
Dates & Times
Regal Union Square
September 20, 2025
7:30 pm