Future Traditions

** FRIDAY WARM UP ** 6PM
DJ Ke Mala (Austin/Wichita Falls/Ithaca) welcomes us to the festival with a pre- and post-screening social hour at Friday’s experimental video showcase. DJ Ke Mala will be spinning blends of vintage salsa, cumbia, and more.
Come early, stay late. Maybe dance a little.

Un Abrazo del Otro Lado
by: Trucha (Omar A. Casas Jr & Laura Daniela Martinez) (RGV)
A young Mexican woman who is feeling lost goes on an arduous journey across harsh terrain catching the attention of her ancestors who help guide her. "My vision for this film was to be as relevant as I could while still being able to capture the creativity of how my story is told. With recent events hitting the Mexican/Latino community hard in the LA protests to the No kings protest here in the valley. I wanted to make a film about the journey and the spiritual aspects of what our community is facing. We show our protagonist on a journey, where is she going, where is she etc. My intention is to leave that narrative open to the viewers. I also wanted to use as much symbolism as I could to help shape the story. Including filming at one of our crews old family cemeteries. Using La Lomita as a visual sense of hope and guidance which is also a huge hotspot for people crossing over from Mexico. To them that is hope.
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Flowers and Friendship
by: ENTRE & Friends (RGV)
A 35mm direct animated film made by participants at Camp La Afinidad in March 2025. La Afinidad is a youth art and forest therapy camp where participants cultivate deep connection to nature, themselves and others through relational learning opportunities including: Exploring the Japanese practice of Shinrin- Yoku, multi-media art and stewardship. ENTRE was invited to lead a workshop for participants to collectively make a camera-less film using native plants found at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, TX. La Afinidad was designed and facilitated by Taylor Zavala, Quinta Mazatlan's Environmental Education Supervisor, and the workshop was facilitated by C. Díaz, filmmaker and co-founder of ENTRE Film Center. The soundscape was recorded over the course of the camp, and includes participants' commentary and the sounds of Quinta's nature refuge.