Campeón Gabacho by Jonás Cuarón
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival announced part of its lineup last week for its 40th edition, taking place March 12–18, 2026, in Austin, Texas. From highly anticipated Narrative Features to immersive XR experiences, this year’s program showcases a diverse group of Latin American and Latinx productions from different countries.
The Narrative Spotlight section will host the world premiere of the Mexican film Campeón Gabacho, the latest feature by Jonás Cuarón (Desierto). With an impressive ensemble cast including Juan Daniel García Treviño, Leslie Grace, Rubén Blades, Eddie Marsan, Rosario Dawson, Cheech Marin, Marvin Jones III, Carlos Carrasco, and Dolores Heredia, the film tells the story of Liborio, an endearing and mischievous young migrant whose only talent is taking punches. He crosses the Rio Grande to escape a harsh reality in Mexico in search of a better life in the United States, settling in a Latino barrio in New York City. Through his fists, his love, and his words, he confronts cultural walls and prejudice that threaten his hopes, ultimately becoming a hero in an unfamiliar land.
The Global section, dedicated to showcasing artful international films, will host the world premiere of the Mexican documentary Mickey by Dano García and the North American premiere of the Dominican documentary Scarlet Girls / Niñas escarlata by Paula Cury. Mickey—a journey through self-perception and an anti-punitive confrontation with the past—is a collage created by two friends over ten years in their bedroom that ultimately became a film. Through acting, re-appropriation, and play, they explore Mickey’s self-search and that of those who grew up with her. Scarlet Girls follows the testimonies of women and girls who speak about the consequences of the criminalization of abortion in the Dominican Republic.
The Visions section, dedicated to audacious, risk-taking artists who demonstrate innovation and creativity, will host the North American premiere of the Mexican documentary Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles / Hijas del bosque: Crónicas del micelio by Otilia Portillo Padua. The immersive sci-fi documentary follows two young scientists from Indigenous communities that have long lived in symbiosis with the mushrooms in their regions, as they seek to reconcile past and present while reimagining the future for themselves and the changing world they inhabit.
The 24 Beats Per Second section, featuring vibrant films showcasing the sounds, culture, and influence of music, will host the world premiere of Los Lobos Native Sons by Doug Blush and Piero F. Giunti, the definitive chronicle of the global Latin rock ’n’ roll legends Los Lobos. Offering an unparalleled 50-year musical journey through exclusive access to the band’s personal archives and extraordinary legacy, the film features testimonies from Cesar Rosas, Louie Perez, David Hidalgo, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits, George Lopez, and Cheech Marin, among others.
Midnighter, the festival’s genre section, will host the world premiere of the Mexican film Fifteen, directed by Jack Zagha and Yossy Zagha. Set in Mexico City, the film reimagines the iconic quinceañera as a chaotic mix of comedy and creature horror. Through Mayte and Ligia’s unbreakable bond, the film explores class divides, the illusions of adolescence, and the fear of growing up—wrapped in kitsch aesthetics, blood-soaked humor, and biting social critique.
Three Latin American shorts will also premiere at SXSW. A Fragile Vessel, by Colombian-born filmmaker Samuel Díaz Fernández, will world premiere in the Documentary Short Competition. The film follows a local community organization in Austin, where residents work alongside researchers from the University of Texas to install sensors that collect data on extreme heat.
The Narrative Short section will feature the Texas premiere of Marga en el DF by Mexican filmmaker Gabriela Ortega and the U.S. premiere of Imago by Puerto Rican filmmaker Ariel Zengotita. Marga en el DF is a slice-of-life film set in the aftermath of Selena Quintanilla’s death in 1995, capturing the experience of Marga Salinas, a Dominican woman whose life unravels at 21 weeks pregnant during a surprise visit to Mexico City. Blending psychological horror with Caribbean cultural elements, Imago explores the complicated and codependent relationship between a young woman and her mother.
The Music Video Competition will screen “Fogata,” a collaboration between Venezuelan band Rawayana and Colombia’s Bomba Estéreo (directed by Colombian filmmaker Paola Ossa), and “Blue for You,” by California-based band This Lonesome Paradise, directed by Guadalajara-born filmmaker Sebastian Ortiz Wilkins. The Brazilian XR project Fabula Rasa: Dead Man Talking will also be featured in the XR Experience category.
