The 2025 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) is set to raise the curtain on its 24th year later this week. As in years past, the festival is shining a light on U.S. and International features, shorts, and episodics, with some music and a side of comedy too. The festival, powered by the Latino Film Institute (LFI), gives the Latino entertainment industry a home to show off. Latina Media Co got a sneak peek of a few of this year’s featured projects – and here is a look at what we think you’d be una tonta por perder.

American Sons

We are going to start off, like many of our tias and amigas do, with the real-life drama. American Sons follows a group of Marines a decade after one of the most physically and emotionally traumatic times of their lives. Anchoring the story is a video diary left behind by one of their own, Cpl. JV Villarreal. It offers an incredibly honest and vulnerable view of military life, including the trauma of not only his death, but the war at large.

“It was crazy to know that you could be that close to someone,” says Angel Rios in the documentary. “You know he’s Mexican. I’m Puerto Rican. Me and him built that connection – that brotherhood, the camaraderie, unconditional love for each other that we didn’t see at all. You know we were Hispanic. You know we are, we were the same.”

American Sons is far from the same ‘ol military doc. Rooted heavily in Latino culture, producer and director Andrew Gonzales’ film earned a spot in my top 10 2025 best docs in the first 2:21 seconds. What these men endured is painful, it’s gut-wrenching and it’s incredibly important to honor the healing that they dare to want for themselves.

Gonzales and other members of the cast and crew will be in attendance for a Q&A after the West Coast Premiere of American Sons at LALIFF 2025 on Saturday, May 31. You do not want to miss this phenomenal film.

Uvalde Mom

“I don’t want to be looked at as a hero because the only job I did that day was being a mom,” says Angeli Gomez in the documentary Uvalde Mom.

Uvalde Mom centers around the mother who risked her own life for her kids during the mass school shooting at Robb Elementary in May 2022. Gomez went viral after a video surfaced of her defying authorities by storming into the school where an armed gunman was roaming. Moments later, she emerged with her two sons. She instantly became a patron saint, if you will, and the poster mama for protecting her hijos. Simultaneously she came under heavy scrutiny – local authorities harassed and threatened her with jail time to silence her criticism of the Uvalde Police Departments for their failure to protect and serve. 21 people were killed during the incident, 19 of whom were children.

Gomez and Anayansi Prado, the director/screenwriter/producer of Uvalde Mom will be in attendance for the film’s Los Angeles premiere at LALIFF 2025 on Saturday, May 31.

All We Carry

Another new addition to my top ten docs of the year list, All We Carry follows a young family from Honduras as they trek through Mexico on their way to the United States to seek asylum. Their epic journey is just the beginning as the film follows them over two years as they await a final decision from government officials.

What sets All We Carry apart from countless documentaries in this same lane is how the Seattle community receives this young family with open arms, support, and love. In a time where the best an immigrant can hope for is to be treated with humanity and dignity, All We Carry demonstrates what can happen when humans are supported. The doc is full of hope and joy.

All We Carry has made the festival circuit and will screen at LALIFF 2025 on Thursday, May 29.

Papá Melissa

Gender identity is at the center of Papá Melissa. Director Sophia Stieglitz follows everyday life for Melissa and Claudia as they raise their five children in Mexico City. Though the couple have been married for over two decades, Melissa is beginning to embrace their authentic self and challenge binary thinking at large and in their family.

Papá Melissa shows Melissa’s struggles and the bravery as they spend half their time as “papa” and half their time in skirts and makeup as “Melissa,” all the while celebrating their humanity. The documentary is bold. It’s challenging. And at the foundation of it all is love.

Papá Melissa will premiere on Saturday, May 31 with the film’s director and Melissa and Claudia at LALIFF 2025.

20 Pounds to Happiness

And finally some levity, more love, and laughter thanks to 20 Pounds to Happiness. Director and actress Yelyna De León (Will and Grace) stars in this film about a big and beautiful Latina who considers the risk of a lifetime to go from flab to fab. At odds is a decision to gain 20 pounds to qualify for bypass surgery. Don’t know about you, but that is solid Latina math if I’ve ever heard of it.

20 Pounds to Happiness has all the ultra cheesy makings of a lighthearted and laughter-filled feature. It’s complete with a saccharine sweet syrupy sing-off, a group of gals who are also ‘large and in charge’ and the full-time friend zone who is dripping with nerdiness, but deep down is a hot, hot, hotty. Like I said, it’s cheesy.

20 Pounds to Happiness is fresh off its world premiere at Cannes and is courtesy of Josefina López (Real Women Have Curves playwright). It’s making its US premiere at LALIFF 2025 on Saturday, May 31 with cast and crew in attendance.

The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival opens with ASCO: Without Permission on May 28 and ends on June 1. Tickets for any and all events can be found at laliff.org/festival-2025.