The Guadalajara Film Festival, held in Los Angeles, will set Guillermo del Toro’s gothic horror drama Frankenstein as its opening night film, with Elegance Blatton’s musical documentary Move YA Body: The Birth of House closing the festival.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Glaff has assembled a lineup centered around diverse voices from across America and Latin America. The film, which comes from the director of Oscar-winning The Shape of Water (2017), rethinks the classic story of Mary Shelley starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goss and Christophe Waltz. The film will debut on November 6th at the historic United Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, one day before its global release on Netflix.
Closing the festival on November 8th is the LA premiere of Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, directed by Elegance Bratton and executives, directed by Elegance Bratton and Executive, produced by Academy Awards and Emmy winner Roger Roth Williams. Screened at the Linwood Dunn Theater, the documentary traces the rise of house music, from underground dance clubs on the south side of Chicago to their explosion as a global cultural movement.
The 2025 edition, held at the Los Angeles venue from November 6th to 8th, was the theme of the quinceañera. Official choices include filmmakers from Latino, black, Asian Americans, Indigenous, queer, Filipino and Arab backgrounds, with 55% of the projects being led by women.
ya Move your body: the birth of the house
Vince Lawrence
The festival’s lineup includes US, West Coast and international premiers, featuring productions from emerging and established filmmakers reconstructing cinematic landscapes.
Directed by Fernando Eimbcke, “Olmo” explores the bicultural identity through US-set bilingual adult stories produced by Plan B’s Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner, and US-set bilingual adult stories produced by Brad Pitt, created by executives Teorema Teorema, created by Eréndiranez Larios and Michel Franco. “Vainilla,” premiered in Venice earlier this year, marks Mayra Hermosillo’s directorial debut. Set in Mexico in the 1980s, the film tells the story of an eight-year-old girl who lives in the home of all women who struggle to save their homes from debt. The US premiere will be held at Glaff. “Juan Gabriel: Debo, Puedo Y Quiero” screens two episodes in a Netflix docusary directed by María Hosé Cuevas. The homage to the legendary Mexican singer and cultural icon features unusual archival material and intimate storytelling. Directed by Walter Thompson Hernandez (West Coast Premiere) “Kite (Pipas)” – a magical, realistic story in Faberus, Rio, where a young gang finds red with the help of his guardian angel. “Move Ya Body: The Birth of House” was directed by an executive produced by Elegance Bratton and Roger Roth Williams (LA Premiere). “Twelve Moons (Doce Lunas)”, directed by Victoria Franco (West Coast Premiere) – a deep, personal drama following an architect navigating sadness, fertility struggles and self-identity. Star Ana Dela Regala and Enricare Rola. “Forge” directed by Jing Ai Ng (LA Premiere) – a stylish crime drama about siblings pursued by FBI agents. “Molusco,” directed by Mauricio Bidault (International Premiere) – a rebellious comedy about freedom of speech and humor as resistance. “Esta Isla” directed by Lorraine Jones Molina and Christian Carretro – a love story set in the mountains of Puerto Rican where two young lovers from different social classes escape the constraints of society. “The Great History of Western Philosophy” directed by the late Aria Covamonas (US premiere) – a surreal animated satire where animators of the universe are asked by President Mao Zedong to make a philosophical film. “Depeche Mode: M,” directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra (Special Screening) – a cinematic exploration of Mexican culture and death.
The Spotlight of Short Films Emerging Talent
“She Raised Me” by Ben Lewis, starring Rosie O’Donnell and Zane Phillips “Houston, We Have a Crush” by Omer Ben Shachar “Thin Places” by Britt Hensel, starring Quannah Chasinghorse and Shelby White “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 I’m Fine “Karina Dandashi” De Ayer a Luego”
“Fifteen years ago, Glaff tried to build a bridge through film between two cultures that share roots, values and most important stories,” said festival director Ximena Urutia. “As we celebrate Quinceañera, we look back at the bonds we have built, reminding us of the importance of coming together as a community.
In addition to screenings, Glaff’s 15th edition will feature red carpet premieres, filmmakers panels, industry masterclasses, and community events designed to induce intercultural dialogue.
More programming and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
