San Antonio, October 9, 2025
News Summary
The fifth annual Raza Cósmica film festival is set to celebrate stories of migration and science fiction from October 9 to 11, showcasing the Uruguay-directed film A Bright Future as its opening film. The festival, featuring diverse films from multiple countries, is free and open to the public, focusing on Latinx and BIPOC filmmakers and aiming to explore immigration themes through engaging narratives. Events include screenings, podcasts, and discussions intended to foster civic conversations.
San Antonio — The fifth annual Raza Cósmica film festival opens under a spotlight on science fiction and stories about migration, running from October 9 to 11, 2025 and featuring the Uruguay-directed film A Bright Future as its opening title. The festival will present screenings and events across San Antonio venues, including the Arthouse at Blue Star and the Central Library, and is free and open to the public with reservations recommended.
Key event and opening film
A Bright Future (Un futuro brillante, 2025) serves as the opening film for the fifth annual Raza Cósmica film festival in San Antonio. The film is the second feature from Uruguayan director Lucía Garibaldi, following her coming-of-age work The Sharks (Los tiburones, 2019), which previously won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance. A Bright Future won the Viewpoints Award at the Tribeca Film Festival and is presented at Raza Cósmica as a dystopian sci-fi drama centered on a place known as “the North”, a mysterious destination for people living in an area devoid of dogs and where youth is nearly extinct.
Film themes and reception
The opening film presents a critique of capitalism and questions the worth of pursuing a so-called paradise, featuring a memorable concept referred to as the “smell dance.” It blends inventive visuals and strong performances to create a deliberately magical journey that fits the festival’s focus on genre work and cultural storytelling.
Festival focus and lineup
Raza Cósmica showcases independent cinema from a broad international slate that includes films from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The festival maintains a special emphasis on Latinx and BIPOC filmmakers and on work that engages audiences with films addressing the migrant experience and challenging traditional narratives around immigration.
Other films in the program explicitly tackle immigrant issues, with entries such as Illegal Alien, which depicts the journeys of Venezuelan women, and M.A.M.O.N. (Monitor Against Mexican Over Nationwide), a comedic take on the consequences of immigration bans designed to invite dialogue.
Organization, sponsors and mission
The festival was created by the non-profit organization MonteVideo and is sponsored by the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI) and American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM). Festival founder Manuel Solis aims to present a range of Latinx and BIPOC narratives, with a deliberate focus on the sci-fi genre because of its historical significance in Latino households and its capacity to reframe social and political issues.
Events, venues and access
Raza Cósmica’s program across October 9 to 11, 2025 includes screenings, a live podcast, and a short film program focusing on Afrofuturism, with events staged at the Arthouse at Blue Star and the Central Library in San Antonio. Festival organizers recommend reservations for events that are free and open to the public.
Background and cultural context
Raza Cósmica has grown as a platform for underrepresented voices, particularly Latinx and BIPOC filmmakers, and seeks to build on broader cultural legacies of imaginative television and film such as early genre anthologies and space-centered series. By foregrounding migrant narratives and sci-fi frameworks, the festival aims to expand the range of stories available in independent cinema and to create civic and cultural conversations around immigration and representation.
Practical information
- Festival dates: October 9 to 11, 2025
- Opening film: A Bright Future (Un futuro brillante, 2025)
- Venues: Arthouse at Blue Star; Central Library (San Antonio)
- Admission: Free and open to the public; reservations recommended
- Organizers: MonteVideo; sponsors MACRI and AIT-SCM
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film serves as the opening film?
A Bright Future serves as the opening film for the fifth annual Raza Cósmica film festival in San Antonio.
Who directed the opening film and what is her previous notable work?
Uruguay’s Lucía Garibaldi is the director of the coming-of-age film “The Sharks” (Los tiburones, 2019), which won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance.
What award did “A Bright Future” win?
Her second feature, “A Bright Future” (Un futuro brillante, 2025), won the Viewpoints Award at the Tribeca Film Festival.
When does the festival run?
The festival runs from October 9 to 11, 2025, with various screenings and events, including a live podcast and a short film program focusing on Afrofuturism.
Which countries are represented in the festival lineup?
The Raza Cósmica film festival showcases independent cinema from various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Who created and who sponsors the festival?
The festival was created by the non-profit organization MonteVideo and is sponsored by the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI) and American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM).
What themes does the festival emphasize?
Raza Cósmica seeks to engage audiences with films addressing the migrant experience and challenging traditional narratives around immigration.
Where are screenings taking place?
Screening locations include the Arthouse at Blue Star and the Central Library in San Antonio.
Are festival events free?
Reservations are recommended for festival events, which are free and open to the public.
Key features table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Festival name | Raza Cósmica |
| Dates | October 9 to 11, 2025 |
| Opening film | A Bright Future (Un futuro brillante, 2025) |
| Opening film director | Lucía Garibaldi |
| Organizers and sponsors | MonteVideo; Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI); American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM) |
| Venues | Arthouse at Blue Star; Central Library (San Antonio) |
| Admission | Free and open to the public; reservations recommended |
Timeline
| Date/Time | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| October 9 to 11, 2025 | The festival runs from October 9 to 11, 2025, with various screenings and events, including a live podcast and a short film program focusing on Afrofuturism. | Scheduled |
| October 9 to 11, 2025 | A Bright Future serves as the opening film for the fifth annual Raza Cósmica film festival in San Antonio. | Scheduled |
Simple visual statistics
Number of countries represented in the festival lineup: 11
Program emphasis: visual indicator of focus on Latinx and BIPOC filmmakers.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- KSAT News
- Wikipedia: Raza Cósmica Film Festival
- San Antonio Express News
- Google Search: Lucía Garibaldi
- San Antonio Current
- Google Scholar: Latinx Sci-Fi
- San Antonio Culture Map
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hispanic Heritage
- San Antonio Current
- Google News: A Bright Future Film
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