A Cycle One Exercise for the American Film Institute Conservatory

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Set in present-day Sun Valley, amidst the on-going pandemic where a methane gas leak has been polluting a predominantly Latinx neighborhood nearby, this short film is about making connections when and where we least expect it.

 

Mama Cuervo is a motherly sex worker, and a staple to the community, and Matt is a young skateboarder who’s not very good at skateboarding nor at confronting his anger issues. Their paths converge when Matt and his friends come across a raunchy video of Mama Cuervo. This chance meeting leads Matt's curiosity straight to Mama Cuervo's home where he learns more about her role as a healer and his own need for healing. 

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Directed by Malik Cherifi - Produced by William Serri - Screenplay by Liz Vazquez - Cinematography by Ellin Aldana - Production Design by Cyrum Aytana Ramirez - Edited by Guanqing Lin

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Starring Lili Bernard, Andi Meza, Kristian Karl Flores, Bastien Vegas

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