SLATED’S GUIDE TO:
The Houston Latino Film Festival
MArch, 20 2026 - BY ELI FISCHER
Houston is often noted
as a city where there’s “not much going on,” especially as it pertains to the arts and film scene. Cities like Austin have South by Southwest (SXSW) and the Austin Film Festival (AFF), and as much as we’re a fan of both - Houston, sadly, has always been perceived as the younger industry sibling trying desperately to catch up. Well, to all the naysayers (read: schmucks) who are making such claims, I would like to offer a rebuttal in the form of a gloriously jam-packed film festival weekend; The Houston Latino Film Festival, a kaleidoscopic collision of art, culture, and community, takes place this weekend, March 18-22nd at the Midtown Arts and Theater Center, Houston (MATCH), and you do not want to miss it!
The festival, created by David Cortez, Pedro Rivas, and Dave Cebrero, is celebrating its tenth year (!) and while it’s unlikely that you’ll see KPRC or The Houston Chronicle advertising this milestone, we hope you’ll allow your friends at Slated Cinema to be your guide to the festival this year. This year’s lineup is bigger than ever, so while we are going to highlight a few screenings, we encourage everyone to check out as many things as they can. As frequent attendees, it is our guarantee that you will have a good time, and if you attend everything, then you’re having nothing but good times. It’s simple math really.
Wednesday’s opening night and Thursday’s festivities are behind us, but fear not, there is still a full weekend ahead. So, here we go!
Friday March 20th:
Boy hey howdy, what a loaded day! There are a couple blocks for short films - which you never want to miss, feature-length screenings with filmmaker Q&A’s to follow, and a Tejano DJ set to end the night. So, where do you start? We’re glad you asked.
Let’s kick things off with a cool experimental documentary-hybrid with Un Techo Sin Cielo or A Skyless Roof.
Un Techo Sin Cielo | 5:30 - 7:00 PM @ MATCH - Box 3
Written, directed, edited, and starring Diego Hernández, tells the story of Diego and his struggles with severe fatigue after opening a shoebox. This fatigue renders him bedridden and unable to perform his daily activities. Meanwhile, his friend Liz suffers from a mysterious insomnia while working on a stage production. Now, if you know me (Eli) or have spoken to me for more than 1-3 minutes, you’ll know that one of my favorite films from the Houston Cinema Arts Festival (HCAF) last year was Debut, or, Objects of the Field of Debris as Currently Catalogued. I found it so invigorating and vivacious. It spoke with a contemporary voice and did so in a way that made it feel present. Un Techo Sin Cielo accomplishes this same feeling and finds a way to make the experience more filmic. There’s a tremendous history of art from Mexico utilizing “magical realism” to tell stories. People like Guillermo Del Toro or Gabriel Gael Marquez wield these fantasy elements to create wholly authentic experiences, and it is, at least in my belief, that Diego Hernández is honed into this same feeling. A truly passionate picture that eviscerates the line between documentary and narrative to create a fully unique viewing.
It is a can’t-miss to help you kick off the weekend. Next up:
Shorts: Animo for Animation! | 7:00 PM @ MATCH - Box 2
Animation, as a medium, is more often than not the disregarded category. Either it’s being programmed at a festival that only highlights animation, or it’s getting skipped over on the schedule for something more “grown-up” but that is not the case at HLFF. Animation, like any type of craft, can help translate a wide range of genres and experiences. This screening block at HLFF certainly does, it is an eclectic collection of animation styles all come together to create something really special. Here’s what the full schedule looks like:
Affredo (2024) Dir. Esteban Azuela
Amissa Amina (2025) Dir. Raquel Carolina Borjas, Kory Valeria Montúfar
Saq Nikte and the Spirit of the Mask (2025) Dir. Ester Weiner
Something with Plutonium (2024) Dir. Raoni Assis
Todos Los Futuros (2024) Dir. Barbara Cerro
Luz Diabla (2025) Dir. Gervasio Canda, Paula Boffo, Patricio Plaza
Como Si La Tierra Se Las Hubiera Tragado (2025) Dir. Natalia Leon
You’re going to be there for the whole block (you better) so you’re going to get to check all of these out, but if we were going to highlight one in particular it would be Amissa Amina (2025) Dir. Raquel Carolina Borjas, Kory Valeria Montúfar, which tells the story about Amissa, a small wooden doll. She seems to be stuck in some sort of limbo for all of eternity and for her soul to finally achieve peace, she has to let go of whatever is binding her to this existence. If you read that and already felt your eyes start to well, that’s probably the appropriate reaction. A beautiful blend of stop motion animation and hand drawn computer graphics. Amissa interacts with the real world in a similar way to something like Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021), but there’s this incredible spirituality behind the film that helps to give it a really hopeful but also existential edge. It’s really lovely and it should go without saying, mindblowingly impressive.
TAKE IT AWAY | 8:00 PM @ MATCH - Box 4
Now, if you can’t make it to the animated short film block or maybe if you hustle to Box 4, you can catch TAKE IT AWAY, a wonderfully shot documentary about the rise of Tejano and Regional Mexican music and the man at the center of that rise, Johnny Canales. Told through archival footage and what the industry calls “talking head” interviews. There is a real sense of the past colliding with the present in this film. This is achieved, in no small part, with the combination of archival and contemporary footage. This choice helps to communicate to the viewer that this history was not too long ago. It reminds you that a lot of the people around you listened to Tejano music on the Johnny Canales show. They might have seen their neighbors and friends taking a shot and being given a platform to play their music. While it does feel like a celebration of history, it also provides you this everpresent question: what happened? Terrifically shot, wonderfully authentic, and there’s archival footage of Selena, so it’s your duty as a Houstonian to see this film.
Saturday March 21st:
Finally, it’s arrived! Your day off! And now it’s time to fill it up with movies and events! Normally, a workshop is a no-brainer recommendation, especially a workshop titled “Directing in Practice! A Live Workshop with Kristian Mercado” however, at the time of writing, that workshop is sold out, so you might have to swindle your way into some tickets. Workshops at the HLFF are always stand-out events so be sure to secure tickets for future workshops ASAP.
Now, let’s pivot to a noon screening of Gala & Kiwi
Gala & Kiwi | 12:00 - 1:50 PM @ MATCH - Box 2
Written and directed by Axel Cheb Terrab this film is an example of one of my favorite types of movies: one crazy night that feels akin to a play. A little bit Almodavar, a little bit Cassavettes. Gala & Kiwi tells the story of once inseparable high school friends that reunite after six years. Over the night they dance, act, share stories of sexual affairs, all while a slow build up of tension leads them to the forgone conclusion. This film is absolutely stunning to look at, there’s framing and camera usage that will blow your gourd, however, what I think makes this film so special, is its setting. Films are at their best when they are manipulating time, or at their most magical at least. Whether it’s the 30 minute dance sequence in Singin’ in the Rain that feels outside of every timeline, or the presentness of Cleo from 5 to 7 - filmmakers that use time as a storytelling tool can hone in on a very specific set of stakes. Gala & Kiwi certainly hones in on specificity and it really helps to make the film so special.
The Next Step: Turning Your Short Film Into a Feature Film | 2:00-2:45 @ MATCH - Box 1
That’s right, I told you we were getting eclectic. While it’s always great to see films at a festival, one of the most important and underrated aspects is the sense of the community and the overflowing wisdom that exists in every room. This discussion panel, moderated by Sharon Arteaga and showcasing Jenny Waldo and Sommer Garcia Saqr, is going to help you or the filmmaker in your life take their short film to the next level. Sharon Arteaga is an award winning filmmaker from Corpus Crisiti who worked on When You Clean a Strangers Home and In Tow, which have screened at prestigious film festivals such as HBO Latinx Short Film Competition, Austin Film Festival, and New Orleans Film Festival. Jenny Waldo’s directorial debut, Acid Test, was adapted from her short film of the same name. The film premiered at the Austin Film Festival and was nominated for the Texas Independent Film Award by the Houston Film Critics Society. Finally, Sommer Garcia Saqr is a Mexican-American and first generation Palestinian-American filmmaker from our neck of the woods. She is a graduate of USC and has a masters degree in Film and Media Production from the New York Film Academy in LA. Safe to say, there is an infinite well of knowledge in this room and you would be remiss to skip this workshop.
Shorts: Lucha Contra El Poder | 4:45 - 6:20 PM @ MATCH - Box 2
Alright, now let's use our newfound knowledge to see some short films that could potentially be turned into features. The short film block Lucha Contra El Poder is, as the name implies, fighting against the powers that be and the man. Films of resistance that are empowering and endearing. In a world that’s dominated by cynicism, these films stand out and remind you that your community is worth fighting for and it is always worth the fight.
The films in this block are:
Helado (2025) Dir. Oliver Weston Cunningham, Sol Guerrero
The Art of Inflation (2025) Dir. Brett Wietecha
Avem (2025) Dir. Luis Quijano
A City Fights Back (2025) Dir. Brandon Tauszik
Barrio (2025) Dir. Alexander Ibarra
Bigote or (The Happy Anarchy of Bureaucracy) (2025) Dir. Rafael A. Lopez
Ballad of an Immigrant with Memory (2025) Dir. Sergio Eduardo Muñoz Esquer
Not much for us to say here other than watch these films and F**K ICE.
Quince (Fifteen) | 9:00 - 10:45 PM @ MATCH - Box 4
A SXSW selection and soon to be cult-classic body-horror comedy, Quince is set in Mexico City and it reimagines the iconic quinceanera as a chaotic mix of comedy and creature-horror. Written by Andrzej Rattinger and Ricardo Alvarez and directed by Jack and Yossy Zagha, this film adds to the long lineage of comedic body-horror films with kitsch aesthetics. Films like this one are wildly important in the cultural zeitgeist because they peel back layers of subtext to discuss important themes. They do a great job of creating this sense of urgency, really drawing attention to societal practices that should be recognized the same way they feel. Quince places you at the center, showing you the importance of quinceaneras, while forcing you to contextualize and actualize the inner feelings of the characters. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you might even hurl.
Sunday March 22nd:
You’ve made it, and you can't believe two things. One: that you almost let this weekend slip away in favor of day drinking in Montrose. And two: there is so much talent all around you, and you’re lucky to be in a place where great artists are sharing great art.
Shorts: Houston, Te Queremos | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM @ MATCH - Box 4
If you’re familiar with Slated, then you’ll know this is our bag, and if you’ve read the first issue then you might even recognize a few of these names. Amplifying independent Houston voices was the catalyst behind that first issue we released last year, but if those amplifications fall on deaf ears then it’s useless. This is your chance to purify your ears and eyes and leave them wide open. This short film block features films from Houston based filmmakers and the lineup looks like:
String Theory (2024) Dir. Jerry Carranza
An Analog Moment (2025) Dir. Lionel Christopher Pinon
BAG (2025) Dir. Andrew Madonio
Gaslighters (2024) Dir. Joaquin Vargas
Dende Agrestino: Between Here and There (2025) Dir. Amanda Borva
A Fistful of Cereal (2025) Dir. Hector Adonay
Subject (2025) Dir. Rafael Elorza
Everything I’m Not; Everything I Am (2025) Dir. Xavier Alexander
This Station is My Father (2025) Dir Timoteo Cortez
Pretension (2025) Dir. Ruben Aranda
Finn and The Odd Girl (2025) Dir. Kiko M
So much good stuff! Dare we say too much good stuff? No, there’s no such thing. It’s hard to highlight any of these films over the other, so you’re gonna have to see all of them. If you picked up our first issue then you’ve already heard from Rafael Elorza, the fantastic and seemingly omnipresent director behind the beautifully tragic Subject. Also keep an eye on This Station is My Father which is a marvelous poetry film from, in the opinion of this humble writer, one of the finest film minds in the greater Houston area: Timoteo Cortez. Finally, and this is a statement that I believe with every nerve in every fiber of my being, Finn and The Odd Girl is one of the most impressive directorial debuts from a Houston filmmaker. Kiko created something so special.
Espina | 3:30 - 5:00 PM @ MATCH - Box 4
After you finish the shorts, take a breather without going too far. Espina, written and directed by Daniel Poler is our next highlight. The film is about Jonathan, a Venezuelan expat, and his holiday to Panama City before his spinal surgery. Jonathan is paraplegic and unable to travel on his own, so he recruits a few disparate travelers as makeshift aids for his journey. He is able to lavishly fund the trip after taking the donations that were intended to be used for his surgery and, quite quickly, the picture spirals into a tale of revenge most foul. Daniel Poler is a filmmaker that understands the mis-en-scene of a scene. It’s perhaps through his work for Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ that he is able to visually communicate interesting set pieces and even character emotion. A beautiful looking film from top to bottom and start to stop, this stylish and darkly comedic odyssey is bound to have you buying a plot of land at the edge of your seat.
The Dog, My Father, and Us | 6:00 - 7:45 PM @ MATCH - Box 4
The closing feature for the festival is a special one. The Dog, My Father and Us tells the story of Sebastian, an architect going through a midlife crisis. It’s a classic set up of everything being out of whack. He is having an affair, his father almost died of a heart attack and is addicted to pornography, his son wants to drop out of school to become a YouTuber, and his dog is dying. Everything is out of control and I couldn’t help but feel the connection to Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind from last year. There’s an off-beat comedic timing and rhythm to the whole film, but it never loses its melancholic edge. The whole thing almost plays like a live action Spanish-language Charlie Brown cartoon. It’s really a wonderful way to close out this year’s festival.
Well, it almost closes it out, we still have…
Closing HLFF Party: DJ Set with Hiram | 8:30 - 10:30 PM @ Winnie’s Bar & Grill
Of course you have to indulge in this free event! DJ Hiram is on the track, spinning records all night. So go close out the festival the only way Latinos know how - dance yourself silly!
These are just a few of the many events loaded into this year’s HLFF. Be sure to check out the
full lineup and schedule HERE.
And as they say, we’ll see you at the movies.
We would also like to thank the organizers at HLFF for permitting us to screen these film in advance so that we may help inform audiences like you.
