Unbound: Stories from LALIFF

This virtual series presents bold, boundary-crossing films that were part of the 2025 official selection of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF). These stories explore the richness of Latino culture, life, talent and imagination. Featured titles include La Raya, Stay Still, Trans Los Angeles, and The Unexpecteds. Each film includes a post-screening conversation to give audiences further insight into these groundbreaking narratives.  

This program is co-presented with LALIFF.

Film Program

La Ray
Directed by Yolanda Cruz, 80 min.

When a refrigerator magically appears out of nowhere in a small, forgotten village in Mexico, 11 year old Sotera seizes it as a business opportunity and attempts to sell it. However, the fridge is more than it seems, and soon starts revealing mysterious apparitions to the townsfolk. Meanwhile, Sotera’s dream of joining her mother in the U.S. faces a reality check, and she must decide whether she is ready to leave La Raya after all. 

Stay Still
Directed by Joanna Lombardi, 76 min.

Hilda and Cristina cross a cemetery, they have been told that a settlement will begin nearby. They are young and want to have their own home. Hilton, an illegal gravedigger, watches with concern as the settlement begins to form. If they invade, he will have no place to continue digging graves. The settlement and the cemetery are close, and the dead seem to have achieved what they desire: a home. 

Trans Los Angeles
Directed by Kase Peña, 82 min.

An anthology film of four stand-alone short films. Each of the segments features a Trans character in the lead and they all take place in a different part of Los Angeles. These character driven slices of life center the stories, challenges, and triumphs of L.A.’s diverse Trans community.  

The Unexpecteds
Directed by Alejandro Montoya Marin, 90 min.

After falling for a bogus crypto scheme, Gary (Matt Walsh, The Hangover/Veep) and his misfit friends team up with a mysterious operative, Mauricio (Alejandro De Hoyos, Man from Toronto), to take down the scammer who conned them.  The Unexpecteds is a fast-paced, feel-good caper about revenge, redemption, and the power of unlikely heroes.

How to Watch

This screening is hosted by Slipstream, a FILM at LACMA–approved third-party screening platform. If you have not previously registered with Slipstream, you will be asked to provide a valid email address and set a password to create an account. After you register or log in to your Slipstream account, you will then be prompted to enter your password.