Calexico will hold first ever short film festival

A group of young people are presenting the city’s first short film festival ever this Saturday. Organizer Angel Esparza said they have over a dozen entries from both sides of the border. Ten minutes is the average length of the films. All the films had to be related to life in Calexico in some way. Two winners will be selected to win a $100 prize each.

Esparza says the project was inspired by the success of the local “Artwalk by the Border” bimonthly events that showcase works from local artists. He hopes to make the short film festival an annual event.

“There’s a lot of talented people in Calexico and I feel they don’t have a medium to express their talent. And in this case filming. So, hopefully we get little by little this starts growing and we get more filmmakers involved. And ideally they pursue a career in film,” Esparza said.

“Right now I’m submitting a love film. So, it’s focused on love, drama and it’s sort of a surprise. So, yeah, love is what you’re going to see in my short film,” local filmmaker Esteban Flores said. The film festival is this Saturday, August 20, at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center in Calexico from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.