5 Must-See Latinx Films From the Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival is the largest in the country with over 128 feature-length and 74 short films screening all in the span of just 10 days. This year’s festival had a large selection of Latinx and Latinamerican films. Even boricua Lin Manuel Miranda himself was featured in three different documentaries — We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Mucho Mucho Amor, and Siempre, Luis. The festival also collaborated with national Latinx organizations such as NALIP to bring Latinx representation to the forefront. This year was also the birth of The Latinx House that featured artists panels, networking events, and parties. With so much Latinx representation at Sundance, what films should we look out for this year?

Here are our top five films from the Sundance Film Festival to watch out for:

1. La Leyenda Negra directed by Patricia Vidal Delgado

A queer coming-of-age story, La Leyenda Negra follows teen Aleteia as she struggles with the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorian immigrants. Will the cancelation of TPS mean that she will lose her scholarship to UCLA? Aleteia must balance her anger toward the injustices affecting her and her need to rebel against the system. La Leyenda Negra derives its name from the legacy of the Spanish conquistadores’ violence toward the indigenous. Through the title and script of the film, Delgado makes a pointed commentary on the current political climate.

2. Mucho Mucho Amor directed by Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch

We all remember astrologer Walter Mercado from his daily show on Univision. He consumed our TV screens, radios, and newspapers but, suddenly, Mercado disappeared in the early 2000’s. Directors Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch document Mercado’s final years before his unexpected death. From Mercado’s life, to his legal issues, to his legacy, the film provides an intimate portrait of the charismatic spiritual leader. The title of the film, Mucho Mucho Amor represents not only Mercado’s famous catchphrase but also provides a look into the filmmaking produced con mucho mucho amor.

Mercado’s message of love and peace is coming soon to Netflix.

3. Charm City Kings directed by Angel Manuel Soto

While Charm City Kings doesn’t directly star Latinx actors, the Puertorican director Angel Manuel Soto brings the island to the streets of Baltimore. The film follows young Mouse who is torn between his love of dirt-bike racing and his connection to nature and animals. Rapper Meek Mills stars as MC Blax, the leader of the racing group the Midnight Clique. This coming-of-age story combines the sounds of the city with reggaeton and hip hop. After the screening, Soto explained his approach to the content, “Just like Puerto Rico is always stereotyped, so is Baltimore and this community, and we need to change that.” Co-written by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Charm City Kings was awarded the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.

It is being distributed by Sony Picture Classics with a theatrical release coming soon.

4. El Agente Topo (The Mole Agent) directed by Maite Alberdi

When was the last time you visited your parents? A hybrid film noir documentary, Maite Alberdi’s El Agente Topo follows 83-year-old Sergio who is hired by a private investigator to spy on a senior citizen home in Chile. Sergio hilariously struggles to use a cell phone and spy camera while trying keeping his identity a secret. His undercover mission is to figure out whether the home is mistreating the elders. Sergio’s ultimate discovery digs much deeper into family ties and abandonment of aging parents. Alberdi’s film is a charming, heart-felt look into loss of memory and loneliness of nursing homes.

Watch this film for free soon on the PBS documentary series POV.

5. Te Llevo Conmigo (I Carry You With Me) directed by Heidi Ewing

The final Latinx film from the Sundance Film Festival to watch out for is Te Llevo Conmigo. The story is based on the real life romance between chef Iván and teacher Gerardo in Puebla, Mexico. Director Heidi Ewing adapts the story into a hybrid narrative-documentary film. Scenes in Mexico of their early relationship are portrayed by actors Armando Espitia and Christian Vázquez. The present day is shown through documentary footage shot in New York City where Iván and Gerardo own several restaurants. Te Llevo Conmigo is a bittersweet film about queer romance and Iván’s struggle to re-connect with his son who he has not been able to visit for over 20 years.

This film has just been picked up by Sony Pictures Classic and will screen at theaters nationwide.

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Photos courtesy of the Sundance Film Institute.