The Mexican film No, Gracias, Ya No Fumo, the debut feature by director Diego Toussaint, was announced as the winner of the Best Narrative Award at the 29th edition of the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City. Shot in Guadalajara, this coming-of-age comedy explores the turmoil of one’s twenties and the challenge of asking for help in young adulthood.
The film follows Nuria—played by Esmeralda Soto—a young woman who gets fired and has just one day to come up with her rent money, or she’ll have to move back in with her mother. As she scrambles to gather the cash, she also struggles to go a full day without smoking, facing obstacles like awkward interviews and absurd situations around the city. No, Gracias, Ya No Fumo had its world premiere at the most recent Guadalajara Film Festival, where it won the Award for Best Film from the Mexican State of Jalisco, and its U.S. premiere at Urbanworld.
Additionally, Miles Away, by Latina actor-director Jackie Quinones, received was the winner of the Best Female Narrative Director Award and an Honorable Mention for Best Narrative Feature. The film, also starring and executive produced by Luis Guzmán, follows Jess, a socially awkward driver with Hollywood dreams, as she navigates eccentric passengers and relentless family chaos, only to realize she’s become a spectator of her own unraveling life.
Founded in 1997, the Urbanworld Film Festival is an Academy Award–qualifying festival dedicated to empowering diverse storytellers across film, television, and digital media. For nearly three decades, Urbanworld has served as a launchpad for boundary-breaking films and creators who shape culture and conversation worldwide. Its 29th edition took place from October 29 to November 2, 2025, at the Regal Union Square.
