Join us for a selection of short and feature films that explore the complexities of LGBTQ+ relationships and offer nuanced portrayals of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experiences. The program will begin with a mercado, followed by a Q&A with participating filmmakers, moderated by Josslyn Glenn, a Belizean and Chicana producer, writer, director, entertainment journalist, and film curator.
At a time when violence against LGBTQ+ communities continues across Latin America, these films affirm the importance of visibility, representation, and stories that challenge erasure, recognizing the diverse experiences and identities within the community.
Event Schedule
6 pm – Mercado
7 pm – Film Screenings
8 pm – Q&A
9 pm – Program concludes
Filmmakers
Katherine Bahena-Benitez is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City and California. An actor, writer, and filmmaker, Katherine has trained at the American Conservatory Theater, 24 Hour Plays, the Juilliard School, Stella Adler, Shakespeare and Company, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, California State University Sacramento, and the Broadway Advocacy Coalition at Columbia University.
Jessica Garcia (she/they), aka Jesse, is a Queer Latina writer and director from Inglewood, California. Since graduating from UC Merced, Jesse has pursued her passion for storytelling as a writer and video producer at mitú and a creative producer at MyCode. In 2024, she wrote and directed her first short film, Quinceañera, and went on to direct the music video for Me Duele by Pardon Me Sir. She recently directed her second short film, La Tierra de Sueños, written by Katherine Bahena-Benitez. The content Jesse has produced and directed has garnered more than 20 million views.
Jonathan Del La Torre is a Mexican-born actor, writer, and producer, born in Mexico City and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is known for his lead performance in The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero. His film credits include Fiat Lux 5000, which premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), and Micks Out, where he portrayed ICE Agent Miguel Rodriguez (RIIFF, Newport Beach Film Festival.) He wrote, produced, and starred in the film Cartas Para Axél. On stage, he appeared in Valentina y La Sombra del Diablo at the Frida Kahlo Theater in Los Angeles.
Armando Ibañez is a filmmaker from Acapulco, Mexico, based in Los Angeles. He created Undocumented Tales (2016–2023), a web series exploring the lives of queer undocumented immigrants in the United States. In 2020, he founded Ibanez Productions to amplify stories from underrepresented communities. His subsequent work includes TransLatin@ Migrations, a documentary series highlighting the experiences of transgender women immigrants, and Her Last Day in the U.S., which follows an undocumented mother returning to Mexico after nearly 40 years in the United States.
Rodrigo Álvarez Flores directed the documentary Memín. Crónica de un boxeador (2014), which follows Carlos Carlson, a 23-year-old boxer whose career takes off after a stroke of luck. His directorial work also includes the short film Al otro lado (2016), the film Al final de la noche (2018), and his feature-length debut, Soy lo que nunca fui (2023), which explores the diverse identities and realities of the city of Tijuana.
Josslyn Glenn, a Belizean and Chicana producer, writer, director, entertainment journalist, and film curator.
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Admission Policy
While advance RSVP is recommended, entry is subject to capacity. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.
Parking
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Photo and Media Consent
By participating in this program, you consent to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes using photographs taken of you for advertising, promotional, and marketing purposes.
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