Mon, Sep 15, 2025 – Wed, Oct 15, 2025
… because it is the anniversary of the “Cry of Dolores” (El Grito de Dolores) in 1810, which launched Mexico’s war for independence, and it also coincides with the independence days of five other Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This chosen date also allows the observance to continue through October 15th, which includes Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16) and the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
HIGHLIGHTING SIFTers Kristal Sotomayor & Iliana Pagán Teitelbaum
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Sotomayor Productions is raising $1,000 to ensure that Latinx and immigrant voices are not only heard, but celebrated as part of the larger struggle for justice and representation in the U.S.
As a queer, Latinx, and immigrant focused production company, our mission goes beyond making films — we build spaces where stories fuel action, memory, and resistance. From immigrant rights campaigns in Expanding Sanctuary to queer and Latinx fairy tales in Las Cosas Que Brillan, our work grows directly out of community movements and contributes to national conversations on immigrant justice, cultural resilience, and collective liberation.
This fall, we’re part of the $1K Challenge. If we raise $1,000 by October 31, we’ll qualify for matching funds — amplifying your support. With your help, we can:
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Host community screenings that spark dialogue and connect audiences to immigrant justice organizing.
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Hire an impact producer to deepen partnerships with grassroots groups and expand our reach.
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Seed new films that tell the untold stories of Latinx and immigrant communities, linking art to national movements for equity and belonging.
Your support sustains more than films; it sustains a movement. At a time when immigrant rights are under attack, when Latinx communities face surveillance and repression, and when queer and trans voices are being silenced, your gift affirms that our stories matter and deserve to be told.
Iliana’s short film MULBERRY TREE (originally part of SIFT’s Good Grief Project) has been shown in 7 Film Festivals on its own merit. Winning “Best Experimental Short Film by a Female Director” at the Short Way International Short Film Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil!
In addition, Iliana’s book is now available! Violencia Invisible: Narrativas de la exclusión en América Latina (“Invisible Violence. Narratives of Exclusion in Latin America”) In Spanish to be translated soon. It’s delves into how film and literature portray urban violence to generate empathy regarding exclusion and inequality as forms of violence in Latin America.
Synopsis “Violencia invisible. Narrativas de la exclusión en América Latina (in Spanish)”
