La Vida Es Cortos / Life Is Shorts

A unique festival that presents short plays and short films to celebrate and showcase the Latinx community, its artists, and its stories. Short films and short plays are seldom seen by the general public but even more rare is seeing Latinx artists in Houston's prominent theatre and film scene. Our annual short play and short film festival celebrates its 6th year with an inspiring lineup of award-winning Latinx playwrights and filmmakers. PLUS, two performances for young audiences ages 5 and up!

October 4-6, 2024

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The Sponsors

Films were selected with an open call for short films through Film Freeway.

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2023 Festival

The Plays

Following a nationwide search TEATRX chose 7 plays to be produced at LVEC 2023!
Congratulations to the playwrights!

Arpilleras by Justin P. Lopez
Cafecito by Marielle Vizcarra
Jarabe by Adriana Domínguez (Postponed until 2024)
La Ley De La Vida by Valeria Pacheco
Like a Jet-Feuled Mariposa by Mabelle Reynosa and Alvaro Saar Rios
The Hummingbirds Wedding Ramón Esquivel

The Films

As summer comes to a close, kung-fu obsessed Ursula discovers she’s not the only outcast at an exclusive country club summer camp. With the kids’ golf tournament looming, Ursula hopes to win and prove her worth with the help of Chef Cormac, the transmasculine former ladies golf pro.

14 Days

Directed by Angel Contreras
A young woman is confronted by her darkest fears during the mandatory 14 day quarantine, after testing positive for Covid-19.

Abuelo's Ashes

Directed by Jacqueline Guido.
While visiting her daughter Valentina, abuela Natalia plays lotería with her grandson Santiago, but she soon reveals her ulterior motives.

Alas de Alegría

Directed by Juan Pablo Copello & Nicolas Oviedo.

Lupita busca a sus 4 años la forma de salir de la explotación laboral y el maltrato de su propia familia. La adicción de su madre y el abandono marca dramáticamente la historia de su vida, escapando y encontrándose con la esperanza y el amor.

Amongst The Myrtle Trees

Directed by Yisel Tapia, Carson Stringer.

Amongst The Myrtle Trees is a 2D animated short film that centers around Camellia, a reverend's daughter in 1880's Mexico, and her struggle between following her heart and appeasing her father and his superstitious congregation. Magic thrives in the nooks and crannies of the woods surrounding her hometown, where Camellia meets in secret with Myrtle, the girl she loves.

Aria

Directed by Diego Munoz.

A young woman finds herself at odds with the world but aims to find solace on her new path.

Blocked

Directed by Alina Calderón.

This comedy follows a writer as she battles with writer's block and her own character.

Cuanacaquilitl (Dandelion)

Directed by Lorena R. Valencia.

A teenage girl living in a small town in Mexico is helped by her best friend in her search for home remedies to stop an unwanted pregnancy, undeterred by the health risks that she may face.

Culantro Fino

Directed by Fernando Lopez.

The fallout of deportation leaves a mother and her biracial daughter searching for connection through the power of food.

Farewell

Directed by Nicole Valencia.

A troubled actress stumbles upon a mysterious photo gallery exhibition of which she is the main subject.

Gabriela

Directed by Evelyn Lorena.

An undocumented young Guatemalan woman dreams of joining a Country Club swim team in the American South.

Hablando de Cosas Serias

Animated documentary of little kids speaking about serious topics.

Heritage

Directed by Sebastian Rea.

Based on the director’s own life, this queer, coming-of-age story follows Rumiñahui, “Rumi”, as he navigates his future with the guidance of his Indigenous Andean ancestors, ultimately finding the strength to succeed in a world seemingly working against him.

Key Lime Pie

Directed by Allen Delgado.

Sergio, a hardworking Hispanic busser at an NJ diner, is wrongfully accused of stealing a watch due to his limited English, line of work, and rugged appearance.

La fiancée

Directed by Giovanni Princigalli.

On a summer Sunday in Montreal, an eighty-year-old Italian named Carolina meets Yolaine, a thirty-year-old Cuban.

Luke and Oscar

Directed by Antoine Priou.

A fox is preparing to meet an opponent for a boxing match. But he will have a surprise.

Marimacha

Directed by Cami Cruz Thomas.

When an illicit pic outs the daughter of two conservative Black/Afro-Panamanians on their way to a family wedding, they must finally confront the queer elephant in the room and decide who will dictate the terms of love in and outside the family.

Pulso:/Impulse

Directed by Niurca Marquez.

Pulso:/Impulse is an exploration of the moment, the pulse and impulse of the space and the body.

Sleepless

Directed by Gabriela Elena Gaona.

A young girl struggles to sleep despite her best efforts.

Strawberry Picker

Directed by Eugenia Renteria.

From a little boy growing up in labor camps to a world-class artist, a look at generations of struggle and resilience in the Chicano Art Community through the experiences of Juan R. Fuentes.

The Funky Latina

Directed by Ernie Bustamante.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement, a young Afro-Latina blogger, produces Arizona's first Latin indie music festival. And ultimately, a safe space.

Vela

Directed by Esteban Powell.

Young Xime hopes to restore her family by arranging a Día de Los Muertos altar - meanwhile a looming presence closes in.

2022 Festival

The Plays

Three Triple Six Four oh Five Three by Franky D. Gonzalez

Panzonas
by Sylvia Chavez

The Films

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Mystified by her first period, Ceci calmly concludes she's dying. Yet she doesn't want to bother Dad with it, so she prepares a bucket list (including her first real kiss) and her funeral, because death should be an art.

Directed by Maria Victoria Ponce

Cuban American Gothic

Directed by María Teresa Rodríguez

the fix

Directed by Emilio Miguel Torres

Fuego

Directed by Edwin FrankO

Al Final de la Calle

Directed by Victor Luis Grullón

What We Just Don't Tell Our Girls

Directed by Monica Crystal Ocegueda

Lodo / Mud

Directed by Alessandro Gentile

Arriesgate / Take a Risk

Directed by Alfonso Santillán

La Mision Encantada/The Enchanted Mission

Directed by Maria Torres

Game Point

Directed by Anthony Najera

Junto Al Agua

Directed by Elías Rosario

The Lifers Network

Directed by Michael Steves

Pete Hates the Dodgers

Directed by Maceo Montoya and Tomás Montoya

Soñadora

Directed by Stacy Pascal Gaspard

Dream Carriers

Directed by Esmeralda Hernandez

La Vida Es Cortos 2021

The Plays

Adrienne Dawes - "The Future is F******"

Ángela Estela - "Breaking the Binary"

Josie Nericcio - "Carlotta Learns to Whistle"

Rebecca Dominguez - "Don't Quit"

The Films

Aster has two goals: hike the Appalachian Trail and eat. These seem like possible goals until you realize Aster has never been camping before and has struggled for years with an eating disorder.