Short Hybrid Film
Director and Writer
Solo la Luna comprenderá (2023)
Distributor and Sales Agent Flavio Armone
at Lights On lightson@lightsonfilm.org
The Moon Will Contain Us
Costa Rica/ USA ★ 18min
In the small coastal town of Manzanillo, Costa Rica, local teens share their stories, lies, and fantasies on the cusp of a cataclysmic event. Together, they engage in a collective fabulation, finding strategies for building a new world from the old.
Building a community.
After more than a decade visiting Manzanillo, I connected with the community, involving over 30 local youths in creating the film. With a tight budget and a small crew, we embraced playfulness and experimentation, capturing our vision on 16mm film. Following screenings in 20+ countries, including prestigious festivals like Locarno, NYFF 61, Mar del Plata, and Reykjavik Film Festival, the short had its local premiere in Manzanillo. A community-driven event that sparked dialogue among all ages, exploring the hopes and needs of the town's youth for a brighter future.
Festival selections
Locarno Film Festival 2023, Switzerland - World Premiere
New York Film Festival 2023, USA
Reykjavik International Film Festival 2023, Iceland
Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival 2023, Mexico
Festival Internacional de Cine de Valdivia 2023, Chile
CinéMartinique Festival 2023
GuadaLAjara Film Festival 2023, USA
Balsas Film Festival 2023, Mexico
Leeds International Film Festival 2023, UK
Mar del Plata International Film Festival 2023, Argentina
Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2023, Switzerland
ZINEBI - Festival Internacional de Cine Documental y Cortometraje de Bilbao 2023, Spain
L'Alternativa, Festival de Cine Independiente de Barcelona 2023, Spain
Linea d'Ombra Festival 2023, Italy
Festival Internacional de Cine de Viña del Mar 2023, Chile - Best Short Film Award
Laceno d'oro International Film Festival 2023, Italy
BOGOSHORTS - Bogotá Short Film Festival 2023, Colombia
Festival de Cine de La Habana 2023, Cuba
Hainan Island International Film Festival 2023, China
Sanfici - Santander Festival Internacional De Cine Independiente 2024, Colombia
ZOOM - ZBLIZENIA International Film Festival 2024, Poland
Antofacine - Antofagasta International Festival 2024, Chile
KINO Athens International Independent Film Festival 2024, Greece
Ismailia International Film Festival 2024, Egypt
Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay 2024
Los Angeles Festival of Movies 2024, USA
É Tudo Verdade / It's All True International Documentary Film Festival 2024, Brazil - Best Documentary Short Film Award
Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival 2024, Vietnam
Chicago Latino Film Festival 2024, USA
Beirut International Women Film Festival 2024, Lebanon - Special Jury Mention
PriGlobal International Film Festival 2024, Kosovo
Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg 2024, Germany
Frontera Sur, International Non-Fiction Film Festival 2024, Chile
Bali International Film Festival 2024, Indonesia
Ficmec - Festival Internacional de Cine Medioambiental de Canarias 2024, Spain
Leiden Shorts 2024, Netherlands
The Norwegian Short Film Festival 2024, Norway