All filmed in Puerto Rico, these three sun-soaked shorts evoke the taste of sea salt and the feeling of sand between your toes, alongside the nostalgia of leaving/coming home, and how place shapes who you are.
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Drifting Tides (Mareas a la Deriva)
Maite, a young graffiti writer in Puerto Rico, faces a life-altering choice: leave the island for a promising career opportunity abroad or stay and navigate the challenges of a nation in crisis.
Director bio: Camila Rodríguez López is a Puerto Rican-Venezuelan filmmaker, writer, and cultural organizer from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her work blends fiction, documentary, and community engagement to build cultural archives, expand access to the arts, and tell stories centered on women, migration, inequality, and the enduring legacies of colonialism.
Falling White Leaves (Caen Hojas Blancas)
A long-estranged father and son reunite for a photographic road trip through the south of Puerto Rico, unaware that their scenic journey will lead them to the unexpected discovery of a new branch in their family.
Director bio: Puerto Rican director Alejandro D. Orengo Colón creates intimate dramas rooted in everyday life on the island. His minimalist, documentary-laced approach emphasizes emotional authenticity and human connection. His films have screened internationally, including at San Diego Latino, Philadelphia Latino, and Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival.
Chulo
While visiting family in Puerto Rico, Gael forms an unexpected connection with a handsome local that reshapes their understanding of love and belonging. Set against the island's breathtaking landscapes, the film is a tender portrait of queer romance, heritage, and the places that define us.
Director bio: Joshua Hernandez is a filmmaker/actor of Puerto Rican descent, born and raised in Miami, Florida. Their films have screened worldwide and they are a recipient of the 2023-2026 Miami Artist Grant, 2025; 2021 New York Foundation for the Arts Grant; 2026 Out on Film Filmmaker Fund; and 2026 Puerto Rican Film Commission Sponsorship. Joshua can be seen on "The Walking Dead: Dead City" on AMC.
Shorts Block Sponsored by the Cuban and Caribbean Studies Institute