GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP FOR THE 46TH CINEFESTIVAL SAN ANTONIO
Festival spotlights Tejano legends Selena and Johnny Canales, runs July 9–13, 2025
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center proudly announces the complete lineup for the 46th CineFestival San Antonio, the nation’s original and longest-running Latinx film festival. The festival will take place July 9–13, 2025, across several San Antonio venues, including:
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Carver Community Cultural Center (226 N Hackberry St)
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Little Carver Civic Center (FREE screenings)
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Jo Long Theater (Nightly premieres)
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Santikos Mayan Palace (1918 SW Military Dr)
🎟️ Festival passes will be available starting Monday, June 23
👉 www.guadalupeculturalarts.org/cinefestival
🎟️ Individual tickets go on sale Friday, June 27.
🎤 Leading the Spotlight: Selena and Johnny Canales Documentaries
This year’s festival opens with two highly anticipated Tejano-focused documentaries:
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“Selena y Los Dinos” — Directed by Isabel Castro, this film explores the life and legacy of the late Queen of Tejano Music through never-before-seen archival footage from the Quintanilla family. Selena’s siblings, Suzette and AB Quintanilla, serve as executive producers.
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“Take It Away” — Directed by Adrian Alejandro Arredondo and Myrna Perez, this powerful doc celebrates Johnny
Canales, the iconic TV host who helped launch stars like Selena, Ramon Ayala, and Intocable.
🎬 Director Isabel Castro and some cast members are expected to attend the premiere.
“These two documentaries set the tone for a program that proudly reflects the diversity of American culture,” said festival director Eugenio del Bosque.
🎥 FEATURE FILMS
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Carnalismo (José Luis Cano) – A cumbia-loving community in Durango battles discrimination through unity.
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Hola Frida (André Kadi, Karine Vézina) – A whimsical animated look into Frida Kahlo’s early life.
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Prodigal Daughter (Mabel Valdiviezo) – A touching reunion story exploring immigration and identity.
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Spring of the Vanishing (Andrew Glazer) – A haunting doc on a mother’s search for her missing son.
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The Ladder (Emilio Miguel Torres) – A sci-fi tale of morality and second chances from a rising Texas talent.
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The Place In Between (Laura Perez) – A road trip drama with a 100% women-led San Antonio-based crew.
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Uvalde Mom (Anayansi Prado) – The gripping true story of Angeli Gomez’s heroic act during the Robb Elementary tragedy. -
Valentina or the Serenity (Ángeles Cruz) – A tender Oaxacan tale of love and loss rooted in Indigenous storytelling.
🎞️ PROGRAM SECTIONS
🎬 Mesquite Award Nominees – Best Texas Short Film
Featuring 13 narrative and three documentary films that highlight Latinx culture and regional voices.
📽️ Vistas de San Antonio
A celebration of San Antonio’s film talent, featuring My Rocking Chair by Alejandro Aldana and 17 short films from local universities:
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Northwest Vista College
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St. Mary’s University
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UIW
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UTSA
🎥 Texas Showcase
15 short films by rising and established Texas filmmakers, including student work.
🌎 U.S. Latinx Shorts
Award-winning shorts by Latinx directors across the U.S., including several with San Antonio ties.
🎒 Youth Films
Created by artists aged 18 and under, this section features work from San Antonio and beyond.
🙌 Made Possible By:
The 46th CineFestival San Antonio is supported by:
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City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture
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San Antonio Film Commission
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Texas Commission on the Arts
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National Endowment for the Arts
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Ford Foundation
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San Antonio Area Foundation
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H-E-B
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AARP
📍 Note: This production is not a presentation of the Carver Community Cultural Center or the Carver Development Board.
📞 Public Contact:
📧 info@guadalupeculturalarts.org
📞 210.271.3151
🌐 www.guadalupeculturalarts.org
📸 PRESS KIT: Download Logos & Images
🎞️ About CineFestival San Antonio 2025
Established over 40 years ago, CineFestival San Antonio is a premier showcase of Latinx, Chicano, Indigenous, and Texas-made films. Previous guests include:
Guillermo del Toro, Edward James Olmos, Gina Rodriguez, Jesse Borrego, Raúl Castillo, and many others.
Since 2017, the festival has prioritized regional and Latinx filmmaking, focusing on works from Texas, Puerto Rico, and Latin America—highlighting cultural, social, and artistic narratives that shape today’s communities.
🏛️ About the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
Founded in 1980, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is a multidisciplinary nonprofit in San Antonio’s Westside dedicated to preserving, promoting, and cultivating Chicano, Latino, and Native American arts and culture.
