The Guadalajara Film Festival in Los Angeles (GLAFF) celebrates its Quinceañera this year with a dynamic program that highlights boundary-pushing storytelling and visionary filmmakers from across the United States and Latin America. Running November 6–8, 2025 at venues throughout Los Angeles, the festival reaffirms its role as a vital platform for cultural exchange and cinematic discovery. The festival is proud to share this year’s Official Selection is composed of directors ranging from Latin America, U.S. based Latinxs, Black, Asian-American, Indigenous, Queer, Filipino and Arab of which 55% are female filmmakers.
Opening the festival is the highly anticipated adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. A native of Guadalajara, del Toro has long been hailed as one of the most imaginative and influential directors of his generation. His return to Mary Shelley’s timeless tale is among the most talked-about films of the year, featuring an all-star cast led by Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz. The film will serve as GLAFF’s Opening Night presentation at the iconic United Theater in downtown Los Angeles on November 6th. The film will be available on Netflix on November 7.
Closing the festival on November 8th, is the Los Angeles Premiere of MOVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE, directed by Elegance Bratton and executive produced by Academy Award and Emmy winner Roger Ross Williams. The exhilarating documentary traces the rise of House music from the underground dance clubs of Chicago’s South Side to its explosion as a global cultural movement. Serving as GLAFF’s Closing Night Gala presentation, the film will screen at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, bringing the festival to a celebratory close with a story that embodies the spirit of community, creativity, and cultural innovation.
Among the festival highlights is a special presentation of Fernando Eimbcke’s OLMO, a coming of age film that spectacularly inhabits the U.S. bicultural/bilingual experience that is deeply resonant and speaks to the festival’s origins to amplify intersectionality between the U.S. and Latin America. The film is produced by Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardener of Plan B along with Eréndira Núñez Larios and Michel Franco of Teorema. It is executive produced by Brad Pitt.
VAINILLA which had its World Premiere at Venice this year is Mayra Hermosillo’s feature directorial debut. Set in late 1980s Mexico, the film tells the story of eight-year-old Roberta, who quietly witnesses the women in her all-female, multi-generational household fight to hold onto their home as mounting debt threatens their stability—a struggle that reshapes her view of herself and of those who raise her. The coming-of-age drama offers an intimate portrait of inheritance, resilience, and the ways entrenched expectations of womanhood are both endured and redefined across generations. The film will have its U.S. Premiere at the festival.
Also featured are two episodes of the long-awaited Netflix docuseries JUAN GABRIEL: DEBO, PUEDO Y QUIERO, directed by María José Cuevas. The series is a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel, whose artistry, charisma, and groundbreaking career made him an enduring icon of Latino culture. Through rare archival material and intimate storytelling, the series celebrates his unparalleled contributions to music and his lasting influence on generations worldwide.
The 2025 program further includes a multicultural array of acclaimed titles fresh from international festivals, showcasing talent that is redefining contemporary storytelling:
- KITES (PIPAS) directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez – A 25-year-old Rio gangster named Duvo seeks redemption through conversations with his guardian angel in this magical realist tale of life in the favelas. CAST Daniel Fernando do Prado Dorea Lima Phil. West Coast Premiere.
- TWELVE MOONS (DOCE LUNAS) directed by Victoria Franco – After a devastating loss, Sofia, a 40-year-old architect must navigate through her complex emotions while trying to stay true to herself. As she struggles with her fertility and identity as a woman, both her personal and professional life begin to deteriorate forcing her to look inward to find the light that will lead her forward. Stars Ana de la Reguera and Enrique Arreola. West Coast Premiere.
- FORGE directed by Jing Ai Ng – Siblings Raymond and Coco Zhang run a forgery ring. Coerced by a disgraced millionaire, they create counterfeit masterpieces for his family’s collection. FBI agent Emily Lee investigates a new string of art forgeries. LA Premiere.
- MOLUSCO directed by Mauricio Bidault – In times when humor and freedom of speech are under siege we have no choice but to bite the bullet and fight back with laughter. International Premiere.
- ESTA ISLA directed by Lorraine Jones Molina & Cristian Carretero.Follows two young lovers from different social circles flee and seek shelter deep within the labyrinthine mountains of Puerto Rico, biding their time to evade peril.
- THE GREAT HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY directed by the late Aria Covamonas – A cosmic animator is hired by the Central Committee of the People’s Republic to realize a philosophical film under the gaze of Chairman Mao who is displeased and sentences them to death right at the start. This is a special tribute to the late maverick. U.S. Premiere
- DEPECHE MODE: M directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra – A cinematic journey into the heart of Mexican culture’s relationship with death, framed by the iconic performances of Depeche Mode during their 2023 Memento Mori tour. Special Screening.
Additionally, the festival will have a selection of international short films which include She Raised Me from director Ben Lewis starring Rosie O’Donnell and Zane Phillips, Houston, We Have a Crush by Omer Ben Shachar, Heart of the Valley from Carlos Jaramillo starring Willy Chavarria, Thin Places from Britt Hensel, Dragfox by Lisa Ott, An Ongoing List of Things Found in the Library Book Drop, Usually Being Used as Bookmarks, by Kayla Abuda Galang, Loquita Por Ti by Greta Díaz Moreau, Baba I’m Fine directed by Karina Dandashi, De Ayer A Luego by Diego Solano Flores, Desdoblandome from Mexican animator Natalia Pájaro, My Gut Friend by co-directors José Mario Muñoz and Rodrigo del Oso.
“Fifteen years ago, GLAFF set out to build a bridge through cinema between two cultures that share roots, values, and most importantly, stories. We’ve seen our community grow and shape an identity that shines through the films presented at the festival each year.” said Festival Director Ximena Urrutia. “As we celebrate our “Quinceañera,” we reflect on the bonds we’ve built over these fifteen years that remind us of the importance of coming together as a community, something we need now more than ever.”
The 15th edition of GLAFF will feature red-carpet premieres, panel conversations, master classes, industry and community events. Additional programming will be announced at a later date.
For more information on tickets, passes, press credentials, and the full schedule, please visit https://www.glaff.org/
