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Shorts Program 3: Nuestras Raices

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