SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2026 - 6:00 PM
SHORT FILMS
NOVO ATLANTICO
Tansi Makele * 2025 * United States * 3 minutes
Music Video.
DIFFERENT MEANING
Jon Cruz * 2024 * United States * 8 minutes
Director Statement: I wanted to put this film together to raise awareness for men’s mental health but also share apart of me that very few people know. I struggled with mental health for a long time and as a men is hard to deal with mental health in a society that doesn’t see you as a human being. My hope with this film is that other young men feel inspired to come out of their comfort zone and share their experiences and feelings…in short I want to work towards changing this negative narrative that men “shouldn’t share feelings”
Julia's Dance: A Bomba Flamenco Bedtime Tale
Christopher Santiago * 2025 * United States * 13 minutes * World Premiere
Julia, a rambunctious little girl, goes to bed one night after reading her favorite bedtime story, “When Julia Danced Bomba.” On this night, we venture into Julia’s dream, and are treated to the magical musical fantasies of one imaginative little girl.
B Is For Bachata
Ricky Rosairo * 2024 * United States * 13 minutes
A young Dominican-American learns to dance Bachata at a family BBQ, where he discovers a long-lost family secret.
The Afro Mexpats
Ebony Marie Bailey * 2023 * Mexico * 17 minutes
The pandemic has fueled a “Blaxit”: Black Americans fed up with US racism and rising housing costs are leaving the American dream behind. Many are seeking refuge in Mexico, but what does “freedom” really look like on the other side? Through the stories of three Black women who have transplanted to Mexico, this documentary gives a glimpse into the nuances of the Afro “Mexpat” community — a community that lives at the crossroads between American privilege and racial subjugation.
This short documentary is a co-production with Latino Public Broadcasting and Third Root Media.
"Aguasal"
Camila Pardo Cerezo * 2025 * Mexico * 19 minutes *
“Aguasal” is a short documentary that tells the story of two swimmer brothers, Angel Reyes and Luis Baños, who live in the remote Afro-Mexican village of Corralero. Through their annual swimming competition, universal values of rivalry and sibling love emerge. In a place where water is everything, this competition is not just physical but emotional, reflecting the struggles, resilience, and deep connection to their land.
INTERMISSION ~ 10 MINUTES ~ INTERMISSION
FEATURE SHORTS
Farmers of the Sea
Juan Carlos Dávila * 2024 * Puerto Rico * 19 minutes
For the first time, this film unveils the ancestral practice of pot-fishing in Puerto Rico, which is under threat. In the Caribbean island of Vieques, climate change is making fishing more difficult. “Farmers of the Sea” follows the daily life of artisanal fishermen, as they navigate new challenges in pursuit of their catch amidst declining fish populations. Pedro and his crew of "pots-fishermen" find themselves risking their lives by going further into the sea to secure the lobsters that sustain their livelihood, while Cecilia and her partner endure longer hours at the pier to barely catch any fish. Even as this form of livelihood continues to face new challenges, younger generations of Viequenses dream of becoming fishermen, and maintaining the legacy of their fishermen ancestors.
Finding Pá
Enrique Lebrón * 2025 * United States * 20 minutes * World Premiere
Inspired by true events, Finding Pá is about a son sitting across from the man who hurt him most, his father, and realizing forgiveness isn’t simple, but sometimes, it’s the only way forward.
Miguel has lived most of his life with an empty space where his father should have been. When that father suddenly calls after decades apart, Miguel is torn between the anger he’s carried since childhood and the small hope for closure. Finding Pá unfolds in the quiet moments between them, the memories of what was lost, fragile laughter, and the weight of forgiveness. It’s a story about fathers and sons, about Puerto Rican roots, and about the complicated love that lingers even after years of absence.
