Discoveries from Puerto Rico World Cinema

Two friends have a discussion about their day and the restaurant's service while they wait for their order.

Live concert from Puerto Rico recorded in 1985.

This documentary redefines Puerto Rican history in this update of the classic Puerto Rican short story "Seva". It mixes fictional elements with actual archival footage and real interviews with historians to discuss the significance and impact of the short story today. But, most significantly, "Seva Vive" deconstructs the sociopolitical debate of the facts and myths surrounding the history of Puerto Rico and explores the issues that arise when fiction meddles with recollections of the past.

Short horror film directed by Angel M. Sanjurjo.

In the midst of the silenced 1950s Puerto Rican revolution for independence, 16-year-old Celia is kept in the dark by her family. As she ruminates about the oppressive status of the Island, her questions are left unanswered. The family of three women are forced to face the fatal reality of their surroundings after Celia's classmate, Matías, arrives at their home with his father, Emilio, who is gravely injured from a gunshot. After realizing the boy and his father are active members of the revolution, tensions arise as they decide to hide them from the police. Matías lights a spark in Celia, who rebels against her family and becomes part of the revolution.

Franco Júpiter has lived an extraordinary life. Abandoned as a child, he grew up wondering about the mysteries of the universe. This curiosity about life has made him capable of achieving powers one could ever dream of. Now an adult, Franco Júpiter discovers something that had been missing all his life... love.

This documentary explores how art and beauty serve as a path to recovery and social contribution in the lives of four Puerto Rican artists diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Those living with these conditions are often stigmatized, as their circumstances—which are not their choice—affect how they cope with daily life and integrate into society.

Olivia suffers from OCD, a mental condition that manifests itself through a voice in her head that compels her to brush her teeth constantly. During Christmas Eve festivities in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, the voice comes back after being dormant for a year. Not having Health Care, she desperately searches for the pills that will control her OCD without a prescription. Through her friend Jessica, who she met years ago in a mental institution, she meets David, the town’s pharmacist’s son, who agrees to sell her the pills. Trapped inside David’s apartment by a rainstorm, two strangers start uncovering truths about each other and start a healing process that doesn’t necessarily involve pills.

Short film from David Aponte

Compilation of 18 animated short films made by Spanish-speaking artists from around the world for the Filmoteca Maldita Short Film Festival. This collection contains very diverse works, both in technical and thematic aspects, although they all share a genuine spirit of dedication and creativity.

María marries Macho, a wealthy landowner who happens to be impotent. She decides to run away with her ex-lover Jorge, but they are pursued by Macho's men.

Behind-the-scenes special for the Abdiel Colberg feature film 'Aventura verde'.

A professional rum-taster must negotiate the paths of love, superstition, and magic to regain his lost powers.

A musical tribute to Puerto Rican poet, Luis Palés Matos. His poems are set to Caribbean and Latin American rhythms, including drums, guitars, and melodies.

When two young friends go out to a nightclub for drinks, they are followed by a very sultry vampire.

The end of a friendship between two fellow musicians torn by the harsh realities of adulthood in the Puerto Rican art scene.

In Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, a group of environmentalists have occupied Camp Pa'l Pueblo Beaches for over six years to prevent the expansion of a hotel chain from limiting public access to the beach and impacting the region's natural resources.

A woman with a suitcase and a Caribbean fairy tale about a love undone by tragedy intertwine in this music video by queer artist Ana Macho.

A Puerto Rican seamstress ponders leaving her island to go live with her daughter in the United States.

At least we're alive. Humberto.

A story of power and courage ready to captivate everyone.

A repetitive and boring life, there is no way to change or break the cycle, or is there?

Maria and Luis, two painters, are tormented by her nightmares that seemingly come to life.

Documents the life and musical production of Puerto Rican music composer, Tite Curet Alonso. Includes Tite Curet's last interview before his death.

A man on his worst day of his life is kidnapped by an odd guy, who is a kareoke fan. His life depends on his musical knowledge.

Homage to the Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández.

This short film celebrates the social legislation of wage reform for cane laborers.

A fairy gives a young man three wishes. He has already used two, but does not remember in what. Only one wish is left. What will he choose?

A mother and her son Esteban, who is split into multiple personalities, converge in the locus amoenus. Set in a heavenly and hellish place, where reality and hallucination are one in search of self and its future. This is a surreal story, full of metaphors, religious allusions, symbols, and poetry.

The story of a group of people that suddenly find themselves in an unknown place. Etreum's waiting room... But what are they waiting for? As they get to know one another they soon realize they can't escape this place.

A short documentary that reviews the work of research, digitalization and photographic documentation of the files of the people monitored by the Intelligence Division of the Puerto Rico Police and the FBI.

Luis Raúl takes over the arena stage for his final stand-up show, recorded live at Puerto Rico's renowned José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan on September 14, 2013. Many jokes include being the first stand-up comedian to perform at the venue and his comparative to other artist's demands when visiting a venue opposed to his demands, to the importance of one's eyes (theme of the show), traditional Puerto Rican remedies, his own mother, television infomercials, marijuana, his fiscal problems with past-due back taxes, and, of course, sex. Marking his last unplanned curtain call in his career, "Qué OJOnes" ("What BIG EYEs!") was brought to the big screen as an posthumous homage to one of Luis Raúl's final wishes before his death.

Presents general shots of the central mountain range of Puerto Rico.

Horror film directed by Kev V.

20-something René has an obscure learned behavior, an unhealthy relationship, and the need to fit as what he thinks is a man.

A father must survive what seems to be the zombie apocalypse via an alien invasion just the weekend that he had to take care of his children, and when the neighbors decide to have a big party.

A romantic comedy of the story of Lourdes, a woman that has survived making robberies and scams with her partner Miguel. Both decide to make a last robbery in Puerto Rico before moving for good to New York.

Guided by a map, four children decide to embark on a fascinating adventure to find a magical treasure. While their parents search for them, the children find the meaning and magic of the nature they promise to protect and care.

A man obsesses over the woman who comes to visit his neighbor.

In the midst of the African American civil rights struggle, protests to end the Vietnam War and the women's movement for equality, Puerto Rican and Latino communities fought for economic and social justice. From Chicago streets to the barrios of New York City and other urban centers, the Young Lords emerged to demand decent living conditions and raised a militant voice for the empowerment of the Puerto Rican people in the United States. Palante, Siempre Palante documents the history with on-camera interviews, archival footage, photographs and music. The documentary surveys Puerto Rican history, the Young Lords' activities and philosophy, the torturous end of the organization and its inspiring legacy.

Documentary on Pablo Casals' visit to Puerto Rico in 1956.

The Cordillera de Puerto Rico is presented while Gala Hernández and his group, together with Juaniquillo, perform melodies as part of a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas party.

A lonely doctor takes a wounded vagrant to his house only for the man to experience the manifestations of the doctor's dark past.

Shot in the Guaniquilla Lagoon in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, the film explores its textures and atmospheres.

When cornered by a police lieutenant, Eddie Randall advises the officer that he has a gun, then tells him how he came to this moment: Eddie relocated to New York's Spanish Harlem and was seduced by Rita Felton, who offers him work in her import/export business.

The blacklisted American documentarian Willard Van Dyke filmed this tale about tobacco workers in the heart of the Puerto Rican countryside. Heeding their wives’ advice, individuals join forces in a cooperative so they can sell their crop of tobacco leaves at fair market value.

A women on death row is offered a way out of her sentence. There is only one condition... she must survive a test.

A short film about a taxi driver who is struggling to make a living, until his unexpected last passenger takes his life in a different direction and makes him rethink his priorities.

After years trying to conceive, Carmelo and his wife learn there’s a problem with Carmelo’s sperm. To escape this humiliation and bruised sense of manhood, Carmelo hastily accepts a work assignment in Puerto Rico, where he can forget his 'problem', at least, for the moment. The assignment, however, brings Carmelo into a strange and surprising world that changes him, and his family, forever.

Short film directed by Uzziel Faris.

The Puerto Rican Hero, Luisa Capetillo, arrives dressed in her "Men's" outfit for the first time to her job as a reader in a tobacco factory. The factory boss summons her to his office, demanding that she change clothes and Luisa resists, causing a heated argument between them.

A girl cornered by her fears must confront them.

A musical journey through the genres that developed in different regions of the island and are now part of the Puerto Rican culture. We get to experience these genres through the eyes of five friends that go on a road trip around the island during the Christmas holidays. They go to concerts, parrandas, family gatherings, a New Year's celebration and get to enjoy performances by some of the great Puerto Rican artists.

The role that women should play in the modern-day Puerto Rican family is discussed. The discussion is dramatized by a rural husband and wife involved in a domestic dispute.

A man believes all the advertising he hears.

In 2025, the island of Puerto Rico is experiencing one of the worst moments in its history. Following a series of experiments conducted on the island, the laws of time and space have been broken, and thousands of people are suffering from a strange disease. Amid this chaos, a young fugitive receives the task of traveling back in time to deliver the antidote for the disease in the right hands. Her situation gets worse when the disease symptoms begin to manifest in her body and mind. She will be forced to face her past in order to save the future.

Melanie spends a summer day at her grandma’s house. As the day goes on, she becomes altered by her surroundings.