The GuadaLAjara Film Festival (GLAFF) will return to Los Angeles for its 14th edition, running from November 1-3, 2024. This year’s event promises a dynamic blend of films and events featuring a stellar lineup of talent, including Zoe Saldaña, Rooney Mara, Raúl Briones, Dylan O’Brien and Nava Mau.
The festival will open with “Sujo,” a Spanish-language drama from directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez. Selected as Mexico’s official submission for the Oscars’ best international feature category, “Sujo” delves into the life of a young man growing up amid the violence that looms over rural Mexico. The film is set for a U.S. theatrical release in Dec. by indie distributor The Forge.
GLAFF’s short film selections will include standout projects such as “All the Words but the One,” directed and starring recent Emmy nominee Nava Mau (“Baby Reindeer”), and “Dovecote,” produced by and starring Zoe Saldaña, who is generating Oscar buzz for her role in Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez.” The festival will also feature “Ecstasy,” the directorial debut of celebrated cinematographer Carolina Costa, starring Mabel Cadena and Natalia Solian.
Other festival highlights include screenings of “La Cocina,” directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios and starring Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones, and “Ponyboi,” a queer drama by Esteban Arango featuring River Gallo and Dylan O’Brien. “Rent Free,” a Tribeca-premiered comedy directed by Fernando Andres, will also be showcased.
The festival will conclude with the premiere of Prime Video’s anticipated series “La Liberación,” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alejandra Marquez Abella. The series follows three women who band together to persuade a young actress to drop a sexual harassment allegation against a prominent director. Starring Ilse Salas, Cassandra Ciangherotti, and Diego Boneta, the series offers a sharp reflection on the complexities of the post-#MeToo world.
In collaboration with Gloria Molina Grand Park, GLAFF will host its signature Día de los Muertos gala on November 2. This free public event will feature the world premiere of “Monstruo de Xibalba,” directed by Manuela Irene, and the short film “The Mourning Of.” The screenings will honor Mexican cultural traditions and invite the community to reflect on themes of life and death.
GLAFF will spotlight films from the Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara (FICG), including “La Arriera,” which earned Isabel Cristina Fregoso a Best Director award, and “Tratado de Invisibilidad,” directed by Luciana Kaplan. Notably, 57% of the films at this year’s GLAFF are directed by women and 38% feature LGBTQ+ narratives.
Tickets for GLAFF 2024 are now on sale through the festival’s website.
