The Sundance Film Festival announced today the winners of its 2025 edition, highlighting a handful of U.S. Latinx talent. Isabel Castro’s Selena y Los Dinos won the Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling in the U.S. Documentary competition. Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) by Joel Alfonso Vargas received the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast in the NEXT competition. Trokas Duras by Jazmin Garcia won the Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction, while Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado by Natalia León took home the Short Film Jury Award: Animation. Additionally, as previously announced, Sally by Cristina Costantini was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Award.
The second feature film by Mexican-American director Isabel Castro uses personal archive footage to chronicle Selena Quintanilla's journey from performing at local events to becoming the "Queen of Tejano Music" with her family band, culminating in sold-out stadium tours.
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), the debut feature by Dominican-American director Joel Alfonso Vargas starring Juan Collado, Destiny Checo, Yohanna Florentino, and Nathaly Navarro, follows Rico, who’s summer involves pursuing girls and selling homemade cocktails at Orchard Beach. His girlfriend Destiny stays with his family, leading to complications that disrupt his carefree lifestyle.
Trokas Duras, by Jazmín García, of Mexican and Guatemalan descent, follows a Jornalero in Los Angeles who navigates his dreams and daily life while he and his fellow day laborers strive for personal growth and spiritual fulfillment amidst their challenging work circumstances. The animated French production shirt Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado tells the story of Olivia, a young woman living abroad, returns to her hometown in Mexico in the hope of reconnecting with her past.
Cristina Costantini’s documentary feature Sally tells the story of Sally Ride's groundbreaking journey as the first American woman in space concealed a deeply personal story. Her life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, unveils their covert 27-year romance and its accompanying sacrifices.
The 2025 edition of the Sundance Film Festival took place January 23-February 2 in Park City, Utah.
