The film tells the story of a group of volunteers who rescue migrants in the border desert.
The film tells the story of a group of volunteers who rescue migrants in the border desert.
The U.S. documentary short “Águilas” won the Fotokem Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
The film follows the Águilas del Desierto, a volunteer group that searches for missing immigrants in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. Once a month, the Aguilas’ members — including construction workers, gardeners and domestic laborers — set out to investigate the potential tragedies of immigrants who risk their lives in hopes for a better life in the United States.
Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, an associate professor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television directed the film. She has been making documentary films on gender, death and the Latino community for nearly two decades.
The Fotokem Award jury members were actress/singer Jackie Cruz of “Orange Is the New Black,” HBO and HBO Max Director of Content Acquisition Amanda Trokan and actor/writer/director Edson Jean (“Grown,” “Moonlight”).
Shorts were granted a total of four awards at the 20th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
The Fotokem Award for Best Direction of a Live Action Short Film went to Gabriela Ortega for “In Case I’m Next,” a story about systemic racism and attacks on black lives in the name of law and order.
Kristian Mercado’s “Nuevo Rico” took the Best Animated Short Film Award. The film revolves around a brother and sister who discover a secret that propels them to reggaeton stardom only to discover the hefty price of fame.
Victor Orozco Ramírez received the Special Jury Recognition for Innovative Storytelling for his film “Revolykus,” a German/Mexico co-production.
Twenty-four shorts competed at the film festival, hailing from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Spain and the United States.
Immigration Doc ‘Águilas’ Wins LALIFF Short Film Competition first appeared on LatinHeat Entertainment.
(Edited by Gabriela Alejandra Olmos and Kristen Butler)
