When Gio, a Black trans man, calls his best friend Lazette for help burying a body, the two are pulled into an unexpected confrontation with the past. As whispers of family wounds and unresolved trauma echo through the night, Gio must face a surreal encounter with his pre-transitioned self. What begins as a desperate mission transforms into a journey of acceptance, love, and self-forgiveness, reminding us that healing comes from embracing every part of who we are.
Filmmaker Bio: Manuel Villarreal is an award-winning queer, first-generation Mexican-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. His short film Deep Dish Dimples, created through Film Independent’s Project Involve, premiered at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. His AFI thesis film, La Bruja, has screened at over 20 festivals across the country and won the Audience Award at the Hola Mexico Film Festival. In 2024, he directed El Colibri as part of the mitú x Walmart Filmmaking Mentorship Program, which has reached over 30,000 views on YouTube. Through his work, Villarreal weaves Latinx and LGBTQ+ narratives to remind audiences of the enduring power of magic.
When Gio, a Black trans man, calls his best friend Lazette for help burying a body, the two are pulled into an unexpected confrontation with the past. As whispers of family wounds and unresolved trauma echo through the night, Gio must face a surreal encounter with his pre-transitioned self. What begins as a desperate mission transforms into a journey of acceptance, love, and self-forgiveness, reminding us that healing comes from embracing every part of who we are.
Filmmaker Bio: Manuel Villarreal is an award-winning queer, first-generation Mexican-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. His short film Deep Dish Dimples, created through Film Independent’s Project Involve, premiered at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. His AFI thesis film, La Bruja, has screened at over 20 festivals across the country and won the Audience Award at the Hola Mexico Film Festival. In 2024, he directed El Colibri as part of the mitú x Walmart Filmmaking Mentorship Program, which has reached over 30,000 views on YouTube. Through his work, Villarreal weaves Latinx and LGBTQ+ narratives to remind audiences of the enduring power of magic.