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UCLAxFilmFest 2025

Above the Desert with No Name is a short film that begins with the real-world issue of women fleeing into the United States to escape domestic violence in their own country. The story is seen through the eyes of twelve-year old, Silvia, who has already witnessed how sexual violence can shape the world around her.&nbsp;She is joined by her eight-year-old brother, Hector, and her young mother, Maria. After illegally crossing the border the trio end up at a cousin's apartment for safety and hopefully a new start. But soon old patterns begin to emerge around them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Silvia finds solace sitting alone on the balcony of their apartment building.&nbsp;One day Silvia secretly spies on a neighbor doing strange, poetic movements synchronized with breath-work.&nbsp;Silvia has an incandescent experience watching this Medicine Woman in what she and the audience learn to be a spiritual yoga practice.&nbsp;After mimicking along with the Medicine Woman on several occasions something awakens within Silvia that connects her beyond the limitations of her reality and syncs her with the magic realism of the natural world.&nbsp;The awakening of her divine femininity resonates on full display in the film's dramatic climax.&nbsp;This story at its core is about the intersection of trauma, yoga and mysticism and the profound effect on young girls who find self-realization and have the ability to break familial patterns for their future.&nbsp;It is story of hope. Director's Statement Finding a good script that evokes emotion is like finding gold.&nbsp;After my first reading of Above the Desert With No Name, I felt deeply moved. I was stuck by its sense of inspiration and hope.&nbsp;The story is rooted in the brutal reality that so many illegally immigrated Latina women experience.&nbsp;From within this reality, the story shows the experience of enlightenment through the eyes of a 12 year old girl.&nbsp;I knew immediately I had to direct this important story and share it with the world. Above the Desert With No Name is primarily a movie about a truth seeker, a child in no man's land who finds radiance - or does it find her?&nbsp;Young Silvia is thrust from a troubled past into a troubling future.&nbsp;At the center is a completely apolitical and disoriented antihero searching for love, stability, and self-empowerment. I want to work as much as possible in the recesses of the plot to observe the characters carefully.&nbsp;The life experiences of the people surrounding our protagonist have caused them to exist in survival mode.&nbsp;They are removed from their divine nature and their connection to their inherent animal spirit in the natural world.&nbsp;But Silvia is still pure and curious and is able to observe divinity and use it as a superpower to avoid repeating a life of misery. She is able to awaken the power of her femininity and break the pattern of abuse for her life going forward.&nbsp; During the violent, dramatic scenes of the film, I chose to avoid an invasive camera that would focus on the pain of each situation, allowing it to become a story unto itself. Instead, I had the the camera serve as a compassionate, personal gaze, focusing tightly on Silvia and her emotional journey of awakening; from darkness to light. Crew

English

Above the Dessert with No Name

After arriving illegally in the United States, a young Mexican girl is inspired to address her troubled life after spying on an incandescent neighbor.

A young woman, Nikki, asks the guy she’s been dating if they’re exclusive, to which he responds with a yes, but a ‘polyamorous’ yes. Taken aback and confused, Nikki walks away to ponder the concept of polyamory and searches to identify her own feelings around the subject.She seeks counsel from friends who have varying sexual orientations and identities. Roaming the streets of New York, she struggles to come to terms with what to do next. The following morning Nikki is offered a new perspective from her polyamorous roommate, which opens her mind to explore.

Amorous

When a hetero-monogamous Nikki discovers the guy she's dating is polyamorous, she turns to her friends for perspective.

Arrowhead

When a corrupt local sheriff’s deputy is called to take care of a body found on his patron’s land development, he instead finds the remains of a legendary warrior and a dark power that will change him forever.

Just as a dad and his teenage daughter arrive at the park to play basketball, Dad’s work lures him away via an endless text conversation, forcing his daughter to shoot hoops by herself. Thankfully, the mystical powers of the universe step in to create an impossible scenario: no matter where the daughter shoots the ball on the court, it always goes in. Intrigued, Dad finally places his phone down and joins his daughter on the court, discovering that the magic works for him too. Unfortunately, Dad’s phone isn’t quite done with him - setting up an epic choice: tending to that important text conversation - or connecting with his kid.

Buckets

A workaholic dad joins his basketball-obsessed daughter at the park. They discover the court is a physical impossibility when every shot - no matter how ridiculous - goes in.

Echoes in the Dark follows Sarah, a woman who is struggling to come to terms with the recent loss of her fiancé, Josh. As she battles with grief, her mind becomes plagued by twisted and distorted memories from her past, causing her mental health to deteriorate rapidly. Feeling as though the darkness of her mind has taken control of her, Sarah must confront the demons within and find a way to survive before the darkness consumesher completely.

Echoes in the Dark

A woman struggling to to come to terms with the loss of her fiancé, must confront her distorted memories and inner demons in order to survive.

Jason arrives in the crumbling Suba District, determined to find his missing sister, Dayana. His search leads him to a rundown bar called Oasis, where he reunites with his estranged brother, John. John reveals that Dayana is trapped under the control of Michael, a ruthless gangster who rules the district. The only way to confront Michael and save Dayana is through the brutal gauntlet of a high-stakes street fighting tournament.

Fighter

A stubborn ex-special forces operative must infiltrate an underground street- fighting ring to rescue his sister from a ruthless promoter's deadly human trafficking scheme.

Johnny, a devoted single father, battles to make ends meet while raising his young daughter. Fate intervenes when he crosses paths with Ron, his former agent, who tempts Johnny with an offer to return to the adult film industry and reclaim the fame and fortune of his past. Torn between his paternal responsibilities and the allure of a second chance at glory, Johnny must navigate thecomplexities of his identity and his aspirations for a better future.

Johnny Malibu

A dedicated single father struggling to provide for his daughter is invited to return to his glory days as a porn star.

Nervous newlyweds Rachel and Eddie hope that they can show that their marriage is real under the scrutiny of the US government during their green card interview, only to find that their relationship is far from perfect.&nbsp;

Marriage Interview

Newlyweds Rachel and Eddie must prove their love is real to a U.S. immigration officer during their green card interview.

Set during the 1990s Korean IMF economic crisis. Min, a 6-year-old girl who yearns to be loved for her good behavior, obediently listens to her mom, her teachers, and her pastor in her quest to be a good girl. One day, on her way to church, she encounters a stranger who asks for help in finding a restroom.

Min, a 6-year-old girl, on the way to church, meets a stranger who asks for desperate help.

Ronnie's daily work life as a physical therapist on house calls can be a bit of a struggle. Today is no different as he visits Leonard, his young patient with cerebral palsy. With no room available to run through the exercises with Leonard, Ronnie gets permission from Olga to do the physical therapy exercises at a nearby park. At the park, Leonard has a minor accident, paramedics are called, and he gets in trouble with his employer. Ronnie is placed on unpaid leave.&nbsp;The following day, Ronnie interviews for a job at an exclusive rehabilitation center for children of the mega-rich. Ronnie loves the facilities, the well-behaved patients, but quickly learns that bad parents exist everywhere despite their socio-economic status. Ronnie is offered and accepts the job, but his start day is the same day as Leonard's career day at school. The film ends with Ronnie having to face the tough ultimatum: choosing between starting the new job or showing up to career day at Leonard's school.

Physical Therapy

A gay Latino doctor must decide between keeping his low-income clients or taking a job at a private practice for the kids of the mega-rich.

In ancient times, there was only Sema and Kara in the world. And their love was the beginning of everything we know as the world today.

Sema and Kara

Emma used to be an outgoing and adventurous grandma. But ever since her husband died nine years ago Emma has increasingly isolated herself from others. When Landon, her outspoken and often times raunchy gay grandson stops by for a visit, he challenges her to start online dating. Stubbornly Emma resists, as a secret from her past still haunts her. Will Emma be able to confront and overcome a painful truth, or be doomed to a life of self imposed seclusion.

Sexy Grandma

When a widowed grandmother is challenged by her gay grandson to start online dating, she must reignite her passion for life and overcome a painful secret if she hopes to find love once again.

A large corporation sets up an industrial plant in a remote area. Experts say that the plant is toxic. The corporation denies this. A local resident starts an experiment to test their claims.

The Experiment

After a large corporation denies toxicity of its industrial plant, a local resident starts an experiment to test their claims.

In a piano bar, Noah has a chance encounter with Claire, the woman who, ten years earlier, broke his heart.

The Velvet Kiss

A chance encounter between old lovers is bittersweet.

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