THE IN BETWEEN
A film by Robie Flores and Alejandro Flores
(USA/Mexico, 2024, 96 min. In Spanish and English with English and Spanish subtitles)
Q&A with director Robie Flores

Following the death of her brother, director Robie Flores returns to her hometown of Eagle Pass, on the Texas-Mexico border, yearning to turn back time. Immersed in the unruly experiences of adolescence—quinceañeras, Selena, Rio Grande river excursions, teen makeovers, and more—she rediscovers the home her brother adored and she once overlooked. What emerges is a playful dance between personal and collective coming-of-age, as she reclaims joy in the aftermath of grief.

Through her family’s journey, Flores unveils a nuanced and unexpected portrait of the borderlands—one that transcends headlines to offer a deeply human perspective. In celebrating the resilience and spirit of this bi-cultural, bi-national community, the film reveals a place not defined by crisis, but by the vibrancy of those who call it home.

Wednesday, April 23, 7pm
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 West Congress St., Tucson, AZ
Tickets and more information: https://foxtucson.com/event/ct-apr-2025/

Watch the trailer:

WHISKY
A film by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll
(Uruguay/Argentina/Germany/Spain, 2004, 94 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
With Andres Pazos, Mirella Pascual, and Jorge Bolani

Jacobo owns a modest sock factory, the entirety of his monotonous life. Marta, his right hand, keeps their relationship strictly professional, defined by routine. Their fragile equilibrium is disrupted when Jacob learns that his brother Herman—whom he hasn't seen in over a decade—is coming from Brazil. Faced with this visit, Jacobo turns to Marta for help. Balancing absurdity and melancholy, this delightful deadpan comedy explores the unspoken tensions between these disparate characters. The second feature by the late Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll is a landmark of Latin American cinema, featuring Uruguayan talents like Fernando Epstein, Bárbara Álvarez, Gonzalo Delgado, Federico Veiroj, and Manolo Nieto in the production team.

Wednesday, April 9 at 7pm
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY

For tickets and more information visit:
www.bam.org

Watch the trailer:

UNDEFINED THINGS / LAS COSAS INDEFINIDAS
A film by María Aparicio
(Argentina, 2023, 81 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)

Winner — Cinema Tropical Award for Best Film

“In Sobre las nubes (2022), Maria Aparicio offered us a gentle, melancholic drift through lives that are dull and solitary, with a slow rhythm akin to the clouds invoked in the title. Las cosas indefinidas, which can be seen as an additional chapter, centers on Eva, an editor, and her interactions with her assistant, Rami. The two are working on editing a film about blind individuals, a project started by a recently deceased friend, as we learn at the beginning of the film.

Maria Aparicio’s precise, attentive camera follows Eva, with still frames capturing every subtle movement of the body, every hesitation, and even the faintest of silences, or allowing words to unfold directly in front of the camera, as in a monologue that seems almost directed at the viewer. Through this gesture, as Eva takes care of her friend’s film images, the intention is to care for each person, each face, each spoken word, and each being. It’s a care that finds refuge in both the image and cinema itself.

This mode of care, however, is ambivalent, as suggested by the bouquets that Eva places so much importance on: the flowers revive memories while also evoking loss. The film thus explores the delicate balance between gaze and sensation, memory and loss, in an effort to unfold a movement from the inside to the outside. It’s a tender ode to the attention given to beings engaged in undefined actions, a phrase borrowed from Robert Bresson, which gives the film its title.” —Nicolas Feodoroff, FIDMarseille

Saturday, April 5, 11:30am (in person and online!)
UnionDocs
352 Onderdonk Avenue, Ridgewood, NY
Presented as part of the series ‘Artistic Differences” hosted by Cíntia Gil.

For tickets and more information visit:
https://uniondocs.org/event/artistic-differences-maria-aparicio-2025-04-05/

Watch the trailer:

CORINA
A film by Úrzula Barba Hopfner
(Mexico, 2024, 96 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
Starring Naian González Norvind, Cristo Fernández, Ariana Candela, Carolina Politi)
Q&A with director

Set in her hometown of Guadalajara during the early aughts, the auspicious and quirky debut by Úrzula Barba Hopfner tells the story of Corina, a a young woman who has rarely left her home for the past 20 years except to work at a local publishing house. She finds herself in crisis after making a grave mistake in the final installment of the company’s most famous book saga. To save her job—and the company itself—she must face her fears and, with Carlos’s help, set off on a journey to track down a mysterious writer.

Starring the charming Naian González Norvind (New Order) in the title role and Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso) in a supporting role, Corina is an uplifting and endearing fable, reminiscent of Amélie, about stepping beyond one’s comfort zone to embrace the unknown.

Wednesday, March 26, 7pm
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 W. Congress St. Tucson, AZ
Tickets: $10
For tickets and more information visit: https://foxtucson.com/event/ct-mar-2025/

Watch the trailer:

The 2nd Annual Latinx Film Showcase

Presented by The Latinx Project at NYU and Cinema Tropical

The Latinx Project at NYU and Cinema Tropical present the second edition of the Latinx Film Showcase, a one-day series celebrating the remarkable work of U.S. Latinx filmmakers. This year’s program features three acclaimed debut features, all nominated at the 15th edition of the Cinema Tropical Awards, along with talkback sessions with select directors.

The lineup includes The In Between, Robie Flores’ lyrical documentary essay offering an unexpected portrait of the U.S.-Mexico border; Skin of Glass, Denise Zmekhol’s personal documentary and winner of the Cinema Tropical Award for Best U.S. Latinx Film; and In the Summers, Alessandra Lacorazza’s semi-autobiographical drama, winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Best Director Award at Sundance, starring René “Residente” Pérez Joglar in a powerful cinematic debut.

Saturday, March 15, 2025
Cantor Center at New York University
36 East 8th Street, New York City
Free Admission. Seating is first-come, first-served.

MACHUCA
A film by Andrés Wood
(Chile/Spain, 2004, 121 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
With Matías Quer, Ariel Mateluna, Manuela Martelli, Aline Küppenheim, Federico Luppi

Set in Chile in 1973, during the final days of President Allende’s life and leading up to Augusto Pinochet’s bloody coup, director Andrés Wood’s third feature is an astonishingly intimate and vividly painful coming-of-age story. Machuca follows two 12-year-old boys from opposite ends of society who forge an unlikely bond amid turbulent political times. Wood’s film was a blockbuster in its native Chile and sparked a renewal of public conversation about the Pinochet dictatorship, a topic which had been long pushed to the margins of mainstream discourse. Two decades later, Machuca remains as timely and poignant as ever.

Wednesday, March 5 at 7pm
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY

For tickets and more information visit:
www.bam.org

Watch the trailer:

Cinema Tucsón Presents

SUJO
(Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, Mexico/France, 2024, 125 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)

Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and selected as Mexico’s official entry for the Academy Awards, the latest film from Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez (Identifying Features) follows the chilling journey of a young boy named Sujo. Orphaned at the age of four after the murder of his father—a cartel gunman from a small Mexican town—he narrowly escapes death with the help of his aunt, who raises him in isolation amidst poverty, hardship, and the ever-present danger tied to his identity. As he reaches his teenage years, rebellion stirs within him, and he follows a grim rite of passage by joining the local cartel. As a young man, he strives to break free from the cycle of violence in his hometown and start anew in Mexico City. However, the shadow of his father’s legacy looms once again, forcing him to confront what seems to be his inescapable destiny.

Wednesday, February 19, 7pm
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ
For tickets and more information visit: www.foxtucson.com

Watch the trailer:

QUITE LIKE PARADISE / CASI EL PARAÍSO
(Edgar San Juan, Mexico/Italy, 2024, 113 min. In Spanish, Italian, and English with English subtitles)
Q&A with director

Quite Like Paradise is a dark satirical comedy about the art of deception. The story follows Ugo Conti, a charming young man who pretends to be a striking European aristocrat to lead a life of luxury. Arriving in Mexico City, Ugo quickly captivates the country’s high society. Reuniting with his former love, Frida Becker, he becomes entangled in a dangerous political power struggle. But when he falls from grace, the same society that once adored him turns against him with equal fervor. Shot in breathtaking locations across Italy and Mexico, and based on Luis Spota’s novel of the same name, this poignant debut feature by writer-producer Edgar San Juan offers a sharp critique of politics, class aspirations, and the influence of social media, bolstered by strong performances and stunning locations.

Wednesday, January 22, 7pm
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ
For tickets and more information visit: https://foxtucson.com/event/ct-jan-2025/

Tickets $10

FRIDA
(Carla Gutiérrez, USA, 2024, 87 min. In Spanish and English with English subtitles)

An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of Frida Kahlo, Frida tells the artist’s story through her own words for the very first time, drawing from her famed illustrated diary, revealing letters, essays, and candid print interviews—and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork. The feature directorial debut of acclaimed editor Carla Gutiérrez (RBG, La Corona), Frida posits a striking context as to why the artist—and her art—remains as powerful as ever.

Free screening, followed by Q&A and reception with director and editor Carla Gutiérrez

Monday, January 6, 7pm
NeueHouse Madison Square
110 East 25th Street, New York City

Important update: The guest list is now closed as we’re over capacity.

Mexico Now Festival Presents:
Morelia International Film Festival Selected Short Films

México Now Festival joins forces again with long-time collaborator Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) to present award-winning short films that have been shown as part of Mexico Now over the last 20 years. FICM is one of Mexico’s most renowned gatherings for contemporary cinematography, bringing to light the most compelling fiction, cutting-edge animation, and insightful documentaries.

Ivette Mercado, film editor and Mexico Now team member, has curated a special selection of FICM shorts for the festival’s run at Chelsea Factory. All shorts will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Following the screening, stay for a live Q&A with Mexican filmmakers and representatives of the Morelia Film Fest. Seize the opportunity to hear directly from the creative minds shaping Mexican moviemaking!

Thursday, November 21, 7pm
Chelsea Factory
547 West 26th Street, New York City

To reserve free tickets visit:
mexiconowfestival.org/event/morelia-selected-shorts/

Full Program:

THE SIXTH SECTION
(Alex Rivera, USA, 2024, 26 min. In English and Spanish with English subtitles)
The Sixth Section opens a surprising window on immigration in the twenty-first century. Following a group of Mexican immigrants from the tiny desert town of Boqueron who now work in upstate New York, the film documents their struggle to support themselves — and their hometown 2000 miles to the south. To do this, the men form a ‘union’ that raises money in the form of weekly donations of $10 or $20 from each of its members in New York. In the past few years, the group has brought electricity, an ambulance, and, most dramatically, a 2,000-seat baseball stadium to Boqueron. The Sixth Section is an intimate portrait of how ‘The American Dream’ is being redefined by today’s immigrants. 

VER LLOVER
(Elisa Miller, Mexico, 2007, 14 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
Ver llover tells the story of Jonás and Sofía, two inseparable friends who spend their days wandering around the small town where they were born; However, when Sofía decides to leave that small world, Jonás will be torn between familiarity and the unknown.

PRITA NOIRE
(Sofia Carrillo, Mexico, 2012, 8 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
Prisoners, two sisters share their lives in a strange place. Everyday life and curiosity will lead Prita to explore the limits of the safe zone.

LA MADRE
(Ernesto Martínez Bucio, Mexico, 2013, 16 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
Javier and Elisa have committed murder. María, Javier’s mother, has to decide whether or not to help her son.

LAS RANCHERAS
(Hermann Neudert, Mexico, 2019, 14 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
Oliver, a young man from northern Mexico, and his musical group (“melodic Beatles-inspired rock with a touch of South African sounds”) have signed up for a Battle of the Bands. His bad relationship with his father, the group’s inexperience, and the challenge of the competition will ultimately forge the bond in his father-son relationship that he has always longed for.

Cinema Tucsón Presents:

LA COCINA
A film by Alonso Ruizpalacios
(Mexico/USA, 2024, 139 min. In English and Spanish with English subtitles)

The latest film by acclaimed Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios (Güeros, A Cop Movie) stars Oscar-nominated Rooney Mara and Ariel Award-winner Raúl Briones and is set in the heart of a bustling Times Square kitchen, where dreams and desperation collide as the back-of-house staff each chase the elusive American dream. When money goes missing from the till, the spotlight falls on Pedro, a passionate dreamer entangled in a tumultuous love affair with Julia, a waitress grappling with her own commitments.

As tensions rise and shocking revelations unfold, the relentless pace of the kitchen threatens to shatter the hopes and aspirations of those who keep it running. It's a high-stakes drama that explores the intersection of the personal ambition and systemic exploitation of undocumented immigrant workers within the pressure-cooker environment of a New York restaurant.

Wednesday, November 20, 7pm
Fox Tucson Theatre

TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS / LLÉVAME EN TUS BRAZOS
A film by Julio Bracho
(Llévame en tus brazos, Mexico, 1954, 91 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)

Class conflicts and erotic torments come to a head in Julio Bracho’s formally daring masterpiece, one of the most important melodramas of the decade. Take Me in Your Arms follows a fisherman’s daughter (the incomparable Ninón Sevilla, also serving as an uncredited producer with brothers Pedro and Guillermo Calderón) through a nightmare of exploitation and misery—along the way becoming a famous soubrette—in order to erase her father’s debts while she tries, again and again, to reunite with her true love (Armando Silvestre). Bracho and esteemed cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa (Enamorada, The Pearl, Victims of Sins, Los Olvidados, Night of the Iguana) bring exquisite atmospherics to each shot with carefully calibrated lighting and meticulous compositions—on location in Veracruz or via stunningly designed and choreographed musical sequences—but the film equally belongs to Sevilla, whose unforgettable performance elevates this rapturous portrait of agitated desire into something far more complicated and ahead of its time.

A Janus Films release. 4K restoration by Permanencia Voluntaria and Cinema Preservation Alliance with the generous support of Academy Film Archive, Paso del Norte Community Foundation, FOCINE.

Co-presented with Cinema Tropical and OLA

Monday, November 11, 7pm
Sag Harbor Cinema
90 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963

For tickets and more information visit:
https://sagharborcinema.org/films/take-me-in-your-arms/

Anthology Film Archives Presents:
'Homage to Ricardo Nicolayevsky (1961-2023): Un poeta en New York'

Known for experimental work that delved into themes of gender and sexuality, Ricardo Nicolayevsky was an influential and multifaceted queer Mexican artist who pushed past cultural and formal structures at every turn to create his own style of transgressive lyricism. His creative endeavors spanned various disciplines, including music, cinema, video, literature, and cabaret.

Born in Mexico City in 1961, Nicolayevsky moved to NYC in 1982. There, he studied musical composition and musicology while earning a BFA in Cinema Studies from New York University. During this formative period, Nicolayevsky’s most significant work began to emerge through film. He used Super 8 and 16mm cameras to document the vibrant creative community around him—comprising young New York artists, friends from Mexico, and notorious New York luminaries of the era (hello Michael Musto!).

His films featured experimental in-camera techniques, innovative editing, and original musical scores, creating multilayered portraits that explored diverse personas, desires, and cinematic influences. His work drew from sources such as Lumière (if Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory were made while on mushrooms), the Surrealists, Warhol, Kenneth Anger, and beyond. The full impact of his work, later termed “Lost Portraits”, became evident only years later, receiving significant acclaim in the 1990s and 2000s.
This program, curated with Nicolayevsky’s close friend and creative partner-in-crime, media artist Ximena Cuevas, and organized by Kathy Brew, Carlos A. Gutiérrez, and Maria-Christina Villaseñor, honors Nicolayevsky’s enduring legacy by screening a selection of “Lost Portraits” alongside later works.

NYC 1983 (1983, 2.5 min, super-8mm-to-digital)
A Letter From Katia (1984, 2.5 min, super-8mm-to-digital)

From The “Lost Portraits” series (1982-85, Super-8mm-and-16mm-to-digital):
Ricardo 1 – Self Portrait Apt. 2B (6.5 min.)
Mariana 1 (1 min.)
Ted (Tv Eros) (1 min.)
Ula 1, (1.5 min.)
Ximena (2 min.)
Rosa 1 (1 min.)
Pajarita (3.5 min.)
Michael (1 min.)
Marilyn (1 min.)
Mark (11 min.)
Maribel (1 min.)
Ximena & Ricardo (2.5 min.)
Lily 1 (1.5 min.)
A Portrait of Billy Boy (1.5 min.)
Amie 1 (1.5 min.)
Eddie & Lyndell (1 min.)
Eddie & Lyndell 2 (1 min.)
Katia & Lula on Mushrooms (1 min.)
Katia & Ricardo on Heroin (1.5 min.)
Scratches on My Brain (1982, 1.5 min., 16mm-to-Digital)

From the series “Autorretratos eróticos”:
Histoire de l'oeil (2009, 1 min., digital)
Autoportrait dans un hôtel de putes (2005, 1 min, digital)

From the Series “Polipticos”:
The Parallel Lives of R.N. (2009, 1 min., digital)

From the series “La vie parisienne”:
La Mort d’Adonis (2005, 1 min., digital)
Mime Gaté (2005, 1 min., digital)
Le Bain du Comte (2005, 1 min., digital)
Julie! (2002, 13.5 min., 16mm-to-digital)
The Big Whack (2002, 2.5 min, 16mm-to-digital)

From the “Lost Portraits” series:
Juan Pablo & Enrique (1982-85, 1 min., digital)

Total running time: ca. 65 min.

Thursday, November 7, 7:30pm
Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street), New York City
For more information visit: www.anthologyfilmarchives.org

Cinema Tucsón Presents:

CARAS VEMOS / THE FAMILY
A film by Beto Gómez
(Mexico, 2024, 103 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
Q&A with director Beto Gómez

The latest film by director Beto Gómez (Private Pérez, Flying Low) is a delightful comedy that follows an unconventional family caught in a peculiar body-swap after a mystical encounter with an ancient god. As a result, each family member finds themselves in someone else’s body: Laura, the mother, becomes a teenager obsessed with her phone and boyfriend; Luis, the father, is trapped in the body of his son, Dante; and the younger daughter takes over her father’s body. Meanwhile, in the body of Mariana, the teenage daughter, is her lethargic brother, and little Zoe becomes the wise mother.

With a fantastic cast featuring Bruno Bichir, Mariana Treviño, Blanca Guerra, and Luis de la Rosa, the film balances comedic and heartfelt moments as the characters learn to appreciate and understand each other’s differences, realizing that love and family unity are what matter most.

Wednesday, October 23, 7pm
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 W. Congress St. Tucson, AZ
For tickets and more information visit: www.foxtucson.com/event/ct-oct-2024

Watch the trailer: