Official Selections:7th Latinx Film Festival
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
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This Land Is
Short - Narrative Drama
"This Land Is" follows Jesse as he’s rescued from a life of squalor with his mother, to the loving arms of his grandmother – and then back again, to the harsh reality of neglect. At the heart of this story is young Jesse, a character whose life illustrates the abrupt turns fate can take, turns that narrow the scope of choices available. His grandmother, Mercedes, wants to save her grandson but will her love be enough to rescue him? And his mother, Lena, will do whatever it takes to get her son back even though she is in the throes of addiction. Through Jesse’s eyes, we explore the complexities of a system that seems designed to fail those it claims to support. The film delves into the lives of the estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults facing homelessness in our country, a staggering figure that underscores the urgency and relevance of Jesse's story.
Director: Bunnie Rivera
Executive Producer: Bunnie Rivera,
Producers: Robert Amico, Amy Hamilton
Writer: Bunnie Rivera
Cast: Gloria Laino as Mercedes/Abuela, Trisha Casteneda-Guevara as Lena, Hunter Rocha as Jesse, Bastian Siler as young Jesse, Edward Padilla as Mr. Gutierrez, Jack Lohse as Rudy; Salvador Norman as Beto.
Cinematographer: Ian Tilson
Editor: Ian Tilson
Any awards, accolades or additional details: Made with a budget of $12,000. We have won Grand Prize - Best Narrative Drama, Grand Prize - Panavision $15K Camera Pkg Grant, Audience Choice, 3rd Quarter Winner, Winner - Inspirational Short, Winner - 1st Time Director, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit, Finalist, 2x Honorable Mention
Website: gofundme.com/f/this-land-is-film
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thislandismovie