The incomparable, award-winning Katra Film Series returns in two weeks for its fall iteration—its grandest festival of the year! The four-day festival runs from Tuesday, October 11th to Friday, October 14th at Regal Cinemas Union Square in Manhattan. This festival is a hybrid format featuring a grand total of 44 multicultural, eye-opening, and socially significant selections from underrepresented voices across various genres. We are screening 39 selections in-person and 5 selections virtually throughout the week through our partner, XerbTV. This year’s festival is home to several premieres featuring four world premieres (“Cape Carl”, “DOSE”, “June 22nd,” “Where The Light Enters” ), one East Coast/NY premiere (“Kang Blue”), and one NY premiere (“Build-A-Girl”).
The festival occurs at the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month, and we are proud to showcase several selections that break the mold of Hispanic and Latinx representation on and off the screen. Our world premiere, “June 22nd,” written by Trey Malik Cruz and Evan Perez is a timely story following a group of Black and Brown teenagers’ beach day outing and the precarious situations they end up in. Director Michael T. brilliantly tells a story of misadventure, memorable moments, and dangerous adolescent fun featuring a cast full of on-screen Black and Latinx representation. “Morning After” is a somber, completely Spanish-spoken film co-directed by Aisha Donker and Panamian director/actress Ana Solis. Ana also plays the main character Alex who struggles to remember and accept what happened to her the night prior. Puerto Rican filmmaker multi-hyphenate Ramuel Galarza’s “She’s Fine” displays Hispanic/Latinx representation within the horror/thriller genre. His short features an all-female cast and focuses on the relationship between two women after one uncovers a dark, bloody secret about the other. Anthony Vasquez’s “Build-A-Girl” takes its viewers into the scientific reality of the latest app called Build-A-Girl that helps you discover the best version of “you”. One of our virtual features “UNDIAGNOSED,” directed by Katia Mortiz, Ph.D., ABPP, and Nicolas Miller showcases remarkable cutting-edge science and compelling human drama to shine a light on a widespread but little-known issue devastating families across the world: undiagnosed illnesses. The film is the culmination of 9 years of work by Dr. Katia Moritz— an undiagnosed patient herself — supported by an extraordinary team that includes Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmakers, world-renowned scientists, and leading genetic technology companies.
Viewers can also expect to see spirited, evocative narratives that speak to the everyday human experience. Our festival opener, “Yellow Balloon,” directed by newcomer Kirby Gamel, follows the sentimental journey of a young man’s internal thoughts as he fantasizes about the ways he wishes he could’ve said goodbye to his friend. Tess Paras’ “Meantal Health Girls” is a comedy that follows a run-in with the popular girls in high school that turns out to be helpful. Emily Billig’s directorial debut, “The Big 3-Oh” follows a young woman’s journey to achieving her first orgasm after her 30th birthday begins on a dour note.
Outside of traditional narratives, viewers will be wowed by the fantastical and unconventional stories from our filmmakers. Phillip Russell’s “Sally” is an experimental short that follows a man’s encounter through a “seemingly” abandoned mansion after his car breaks down. “The White Stuff” directed by John Kellar follows Syd, a “color-blind” individual that can’t see race. We follow his journey with his love interest, Fara, to obtain surgery to remedy the problem. Ghost Whisperer’s creator and Katra Film Series alum John Gray returns to Katra for the second time this year with his latest short “The Third Defector.” This short follows a spy navigating a complicated game of cat and mouse with an Iranian defector in the streets of Paris.
Tickets can be purchased on the Katra Film Series website. In-person ticket options include admission per block, day passes, and all-access passes. Virtual ticket options include all-access passes and tickets per block. In-person showings will take place in two blocks, running from 6:15 PM to 8:15 PM and 8:45 PM to 10:45 PM each day. Doors open at 6 PM. The full schedule lineup with film synopsis can be found on the Katra Film Series website.
Major Festival Partners and Sponsors:
Digital Ocean, Freelancers Union, UKW Media, Urbn/TV, GPop TV, JMR Rentals, BKLYN Commons, Brooklyn Brewery, Media Makers, ReelWorks, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment