PAIFF 25 OFFICIAL SCREENING SCHEDULE (LATEST UPDATE: April 6, 2025, 8am)
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ACTUAL RUNNING ORDER & PROGRAM DETAILS
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IMPORTANT: SCREENING TIMES AND LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE: PLEASE RE-VISIT AND REFRESH THIS PAGE!
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From gripping documentaries and surreal comedies to historical dramas, experimental shorts, and global genre gems, PAIFF 25 offers a vibrant mix of films that challenge, inspire, and entertain. With screenings hosted across beloved local venues—including the scenic PA Beach Club, Dreams Resort, The Divot, Munchy’s, and The Nauti Burro—you’ll enjoy a walkable, intimate festival experience in the heart of Puerto Aventuras.
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Below you’ll find your guide to the official screening schedule, packed with unforgettable stories and meaningful connections. Let the films move you—this is where independent cinema comes to life.
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Wednesday, April 2nd:
KICK-OFF EVENT AND CHECK-IN AT NAUTI BURRO, @ 5pm
Random programming of music video, animation, short films and experimental screenings.
Beam You Up Scotty (New Zealand, 10 min), Directed by Hannah Samantha Simicic
Escape Room (Russia, 2 min), Directed by Vladislav Kovtunoskii
Illuminatus! (USA, 10 min), Directed by Chris Kalis
Mortem Obire (Mexico), Directed by David Canton Kosberg
Robofauna (Panama), Directed by Gerardo Escudero Samara
The Girl From The Wood (Russia), Directed by Alexander Mulumbator Ovsyankin
The Last Gunfight… yet! (France), Directed by Pablo Tréhin-Marçot
The Nightmare of the Running Ones (Bulgaria, 2 min), Directed by Ivan Kashlakov
Another Round - James Downham (Canada), Directed by AJ Astle, Jake Sauvee
It Sparks - Robert John Hope (Germany), Directed by Shane Serrano
Gin Lane Revisited - Robert John Hope (Germany), Directed by Merle Sibbel
JÓLAKÖTTURINN (Iceland, USA, 8 min), Directed by Dan Hertzog
KRYLA (Ukraine), Directed by Anastasiia Lapko
The Abyss (Argentina), Directed by Andres Aloi
The Elephants of Avalon Beach (Australia, 4 min), Directed by Jae Morrison
At Night Time (Iran, 15 min), Directed by Mahmood Arib
In-Half (Spain. 25 min), Directed by Jorge Morais Valle
Indefinitely (USA, 6 min), Directed by Aloha Lee
Ojichaag - Spirit Within (Canada), Directed by Rachel Beaulieu
The Story of a Colorful Day (Iran, 10 min), Directed by Mahmood Arib
Reflection (Iran, 3 min), Directed by Maedeh Abdi
Small Things (USA, 12 min), Directed by Angela Andronache
Snakes & Ladders (Iran, 10 min), Directed by Mostafa Rostampour
Unspoken (Poland, 60 min), Directed by Maciej Adamek –This inspiring short documentary follows 26-year-old Matthew, a young man who stutters, as he pursues his childhood dream of becoming Poland’s acrobatics champion, defying expectations and embracing his passion with determination and grace.
Chanting of the Dunes (USA, 90 min), Directed by Mokhless Al-Hariri –An extraordinary, award-winning documentary that traces the remarkable life of Wahbi Al-Hariri-Rifai—artist, architect, archaeologist, and author—through a sweeping visual journey across continents and decades, told through the intimate lens of his wife Widad and brought to life with stunning archival imagery and a powerful soundtrack.​​​
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Thursday, April 3rd:
EARLY SESSION AT MUNCHY'S, @ 10am–3pm
1. The Graceless Age: The Ballad of John Murry (Ireland, 90 min), Directed by Sarah Share –This intimate music documentary follows acclaimed American singer-songwriter John Murry as he journeys from exile in Ireland back to Mississippi, confronting a troubled past of addiction and trauma while rediscovering his voice through music and creative rebirth.
2. Love Hides In The Open (UK, 70 min), Directed by Brian Finucane –In this dark awkward comedy, a young man's misguided obsession with a woman after a first date spirals out of control when his secret surveillance leads to him being framed for a crime she commits.
3. The Uvalde Love Project (USA, 10 min), Directed by Dacia Saenz –This moving short documentary follows the Uvalde Love Project, a year-long art therapy initiative that brought healing and connection to the Uvalde community through the creation of a mosaic mural in the wake of the Robb Elementary tragedy.
4. Capacity In Reserve (USA, 30 min), Directed by Brandon Harrop VIRTUAL Q&A w. Filmmaker –In this inspiring documentary, Capacity In Reserve follows Rob Spencer’s extraordinary journey of rediscovery and purpose after a car accident erases 23 years of his memory, revealing the incredible strength of the human spirit and the hidden potential within us all.
5. Come Out Wherever You Are (USA, 30 min), Directed by Caitlin Presberg –In this dramatic character study, retired mayor Vernon Parrish seeks refuge from scandal in the quiet of rural Montana, only to find himself caught in an even greater upheaval—one that forces him to confront his past and adapt to a world transformed by unexpected events.
6. Out Of The Picture (USA, 100 min), Directed by Mary Louise Schumacher –A groundbreaking documentary that delves into the lives and work of today’s most influential art critics, exploring how they interpret a rapidly evolving cultural landscape and revealing the hidden power structures shaping the art world in the 21st century.
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LATE SESSION "SCREEN A" AT THE DIVOT @ 7pm–10:30pm
1. Conscious Co-Working (Mexico, 30 min), Directed by Matt Crowe Q&A w. Filmmaker –This uplifting reality series invites spiritual entrepreneurs to a visionary startup sanctuary in Playa del Carmen, where each day unfolds with creativity, collaboration, and soulful connection in a transformative co-working experience.
2. The Premiere (USA, 90 min), Directed by Jon Silver –In this surreal dark comedy, an anxious filmmaker unravels on the night of his first movie premiere as technical failures, family drama, and hallucinations blur the line between reality and paranoia—all under the shadow of a rumored celebrity guest.
3. Historias del Canal (Panama, 105 min), Directed by Carolina Borrero, Pinky Mon, Luis Franco Brantley, Abner Benaim y Pituka Ort Q&A w. Film Actor Keith Furones –Five shorts by five directors spanning a century of change, this sweeping historical drama interweaves five powerful stories—of love, resistance, identity, and legacy—tied to the building of the Panama Canal and the lives it shaped from 1913 to 2013.
LATE SESSION "SCREEN B" AT THE NAUTI BURRO @ 7pm–10:30pm
1. Somewhere Confidential (USA, 105 min), Directed by Casey Siegel –A dark comedy noir that follows eccentric detective Guthrie Hayward as he battles vice, paranoia, and a bizarre cast of allies—including a dingo accountant and a mystical Mennonite—to unravel a cryptic conspiracy threatening to upend society.
2. Some Kind of Justice (USA, 110 min), Directed by Brian Jervay –In this gripping revenge thriller, a heartbroken father teams up with another grieving parent to take justice into their own hands after their children are murdered and the system fails to deliver answers.
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Friday, April 4th:
EARLY SESSION AT MUNCHY'S, @ 10am–3pm
1. The Ninth Order (Australia, 112 min), Directed by Nick John A'Hern –When her estranged father is murdered, 18-year-old Jada is thrust into a hidden world of ancient secrets and supernatural danger, uncovering a powerful legacy tied to a mysterious order descended from the Knights Templar in this supernatural thriller.
2. By The Sea (Switzerland, 30 min), Directed by Stephan Eigenmann –In this poignant family drama, Irene and her sister-in-law Sophie confront shared grief and buried tensions as they navigate the emotional decision of whether to sell their beloved family home.
3. Children of Icarus (USA, 15 min), Directed by Gary Fieldman Q&A w. Filmmaker –A father invites his daughter to dinner to let her know that he has joined a cult.
4. Nowhere (Iran, 15 min), Directed by Erfan Parsapour –Peyman endeavors to locate Mahsa before time runs out in this thought-provoking mysterious short from Iran.
5. Nothing (USA, 20 min), Directed by Tom Miller Q&A w. Filmmaker –This satirical mockumentary blends fiction and reality to follow performance artist Tom Miller’s absurd yet thought-provoking quest to install a sculpture of Nothing in downtown Gainesville, Florida, challenging the very nature of art, space, and public reaction.
6. The Silver Lining (UK, 25 min), Directed by Mikey Altoft –In this tense techno-thriller, a determined journalist uncovers a lethal secret behind a groundbreaking smartphone and faces off against the company’s ruthless heiress, triggering a high-stakes battle that exposes buried truths and alters their fates forever.
7. MEOW! (UK, 15 min), Directed by Michal Vojtech, Ariel de la Garza Davidoff –In this absurdist dark comedy, a young toilet attendant embarks on a surreal quest to find her missing cat, selling feet pics to a deranged river hunchback and stumbling into a bizarre shadow puppet theatre retelling of her own life.
8. Doppel (Mexico, 10 min), Directed by Daniela Alejandra Hernandez Álvarez Q&A w. Filmmaker –In this psychological techno-horror, a businessman’s life unravels after downloading a viral app, plunging him into a sinister challenge where a digital entity exposes his darkest secrets and forces a reckoning with his own inner demons.
9. Quarantine (Iran, 20 min), Directed by Uranus Independent Company
10. Surete de Matar (The Act of Death) (USA, 15 min), Directed by Diego Rocha –In this passionate short drama, a young matador-in-training must choose between the thrill of bullfighting glory and the love of a captivating flamenco dancer who challenges his destiny.
11. Okhaldhunga (Germany, Switzerland, Nepal, 70), Directed by Marcel Weiß –Set in the remote hills of Nepal, Okhaldhunga is an inspiring documentary that follows young changemakers building a rural school while exploring deeper questions of purpose, connection, and the transformative power of shared love.
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LATE SESSION "SCREEN A" AT THE PA BEACH CLUB @ 7pm–10:30pm
1. Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Tale... (Denmark, 30 min), Directed by Shahbaz Sarwar & Erik Alejandro Gonzalez –An epic sci-fi fan film set 500 years before the Clone Wars, chronicling the daring retrieval of a Rogue Jedi from the Republic's infamous prison, The Citadel—while also representing a real-world cinematic mission to bring creator Shahbaz Sarwar’s visionary expansion of the Star Wars universe to the attention of Lucasfilm.
2. Guardians (USA, 75 min), Directed by Rick Walker Q&A w. Film Actress Taylor Armstrong –Starring Eric Roberts and Taylor Armstrong, a charismatic minister delivers sermons that transport his congregation to biblical times, all while secretly collaborating with guardian angels to save lives in today’s most perilous moments.
3. Sahara: End of Trip (Spain, 120 min), Directed by Antonio Rodriguez Cabal –Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of the 1970s Sahara, this sweeping adventure drama follows two young Spaniards whose quest for thrill and meaning leads them through danger, desire, and discovery—culminating in one man's encounter with the mysterious legacy of the legendary Tuareg princess, Tin-Hinan.
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LATE SESSION "SCREEN B" AT THE PA BEACH CLUB @ 6pm–10pm
1. FEAR (India, 120 min), Directed by Haritha Gogineni –A psychological suspense thriller based on true events, following Sindhu as she battles madness and sinister forces in a mental asylum, unraveling shocking truths about her past in a tightly woven, multi-layered screenplay designed to grip thriller lovers from start to finish.
2. The Brattt (Russia, 120 min), Starring Eric Roberts, Directed by Valeriy Pereverzev –Set in the gritty streets of Tambov, this twist-filled crime drama weaves together five interlinked novellas—featuring unlucky robbers, a general’s rebellious daughter, her street artist lover, and a ruthless gang of mercenaries—each story a standalone thread in a larger tapestry of chaos, connection, and consequence.
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Saturday, April 5th:
EARLY SESSION AT MUNCHY'S, @ 10am–3pm
1. The Michoacan File (Mexico, 90 min), Directed by Bernardo Arsuaga –The story on how Mexican cuisine became World Heritage.
2. The Food That Fuels (USA, 30 min), Directed by Ed Porter –An inspiring short documentary that explores the San Joaquin Valley’s essential role in global agriculture, amplifying the voices of local farmers while highlighting UC Merced’s commitment to preserving the region’s rich farming legacy for generations to come.
3. Fruitless (Portugal, 6 min), Directed by Orlando Solano –Set in a post-civilization world, this contemplative sci-fi short drama follows Faith, a resilient survivor clinging to the remnants of the past—until a mysterious stranger's arrival forces her to question everything she believed about the world she’s trying to rebuild.
4. The Fries Rebellion (USA, 33 min), Directed by Dan Hertzog Q&A w. Filmmaker –After moving to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, a teenage schoolgirl struggles with a local history report until she experiences immersive visions of the 1798-99 tax revolt first hand.
5. JOLAKOTTURINN (USA, Iceland, 8 min) Directed by Dan Hertzog Q&A w. Filmmaker –Set in the haunting winter of 1862 Iceland, this dark fantasy short follows a widowed mother’s bedtime story that comes chillingly to life, as her daughters must escape the monstrous Yule Cat with only the mythical goddess Freya to light their way.
6. Braiding Knowledge through breath... (Canada, 13 min), Directed by Jessica Barudin Q&A w. Filmmaker –This powerful short documentary highlights an Indigenous community wellness initiative that weaves together cultural and spiritual knowledge through a trauma-informed lens, following Indigenous and South Asian yoga teachers and learners as they gather on Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw territory to reconnect with their bodies, communities, and the land through yoga and language reclamation.
7. Return of the Black Madonna (Mexico, USA, 15 min), Directed by Kerra Bolton Q&A w. Filmmaker –In this powerful and poetic documentary, independent journalist Kerra Bolton confronts the haunting legacy of the transatlantic slave trade by learning to swim and diving into the depths where her ancestors’ voices call, tracing a visceral journey from Africa to the Americas through memory, water, and healing.
8. The End Was Just The Beginning (Portugal, 17 min), Directed by Antonio Aleixo –When Catarina finds out that she is pregnant, she questions the responsibility and consequences of bringing a child into this world and age.
9. Mahsoo (Iran, 24 min), Directed by Fatemeh Mehdipoor –Mahsoo is a poignant coming-of-age drama about a 7-year-old girl who is hard of hearing and resists wearing hearing aids, finding solace in the natural world as she struggles against her wood-smuggling father and societal expectations to uncover her true identity.
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LATE SESSION "SCREEN A" AT THE PA BEACH CLUB @ 7pm–10:30pm
1. An Old Friend (USA, 15 min), Directed by Nuk Suwanchote –An imaginary friend (Jason Faunt) finds out his sole purpose is to bring happiness to his child, only to discover his child is a 90 year old man (Tom Skerritt) on his death bed
2. The Power of One (Columbia, USA, 80 min), Directed by Alex Valdez, Pablo De la Fuente WORLD FESTIVAL PREMIERE Q&A w. Filmmaker –In this uplifting environmental documentary, a team of filmmakers journeys deep into the Colombian jungle to capture the remarkable story of a conservationist who planted 10,000 trees to restore a devastated ecosystem and transform it into a thriving nature reserve.
3. Greenpeace presenta: Vocas de la Selva Maya: Una batalla por la vida (Mexico, 60 min), Directed by Benjamin Soto y Carlos Samayoa WORLD FESTIVAL PREMIERE Q&A w. Filmmaker –This urgent environmental documentary exposes the escalating destruction of Mexico’s Mayan jungle—its vital "green lung"—while amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities and activists fighting deforestation, industrial expansion, and the controversial Mayan Train.
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LATE SESSION "SCREEN B" AT THE PA BEACH CLUB @ 6pm–9:30pm
1. Poyyamozi (India, 100 min) Directed by Sushi Anna –a moody psychological thriller that follows runaway Jayson into a mysterious forest guided by the enigmatic Chachan—only to discover a sinister hidden agenda and a haunting truth that echoes with a final, fateful gunshot.
2. Katabasis (Italy, 100 min), Directed by Samantha Casella –A haunting psychological drama that blurs the lines between reality and the underworld, following Nora—a woman shaped by childhood trauma—and her secret, tormented love affair with a young celebrity trapped in a life of illusion, as they navigate a shadowy world of sorrow, spirits, and emotional exile in search of redemption and truth.
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Sunday, April 6th:
Special panel discussion and special session at Nauti Burro @ 11am
Discussian: "Constructing Puerto" with special guest Roman Rivera Torres and film
Puerto Aventuras 1989 (Mexico, 9 min)
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Evening RED CARPET GALA and Awards Ceremony @ 6pm
at DREAMS Resort Riviera Maya
RED CARPET GALA, AWARDS CEREMONY AND RECEPTION
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PROGRAMA OFICIAL DE PROYECCIONES DE PAIFF 25 (ÚLTIMA ACTUALIZACIÓN: 30 de marzo de 2025, 6am)
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ORDEN DE PROYECCIONES ACTUAL Y DETALLES DEL PROGRAMA
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IMPORTANTE: LOS HORARIOS Y LUGARES DE PROYECCIÓN ESTÁN SUJETOS A CAMBIOS: ¡VUELVE A CONSULTAR Y ACTUALIZA ESTA PÁGINA!
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Desde documentales conmovedores y comedias surrealistas hasta dramas históricos, cortometrajes experimentales y joyas de género global, PAIFF 25 ofrece una mezcla vibrante de películas que desafían, inspiran y entretienen. Con proyecciones en sedes locales queridas—incluyendo el pintoresco PA Beach Club, Dreams Resort, The Divot, Munchy’s y The Nauti Burro—disfrutarás de una experiencia de festival caminable e íntima en el corazón de Puerto Aventuras.
A continuación encontrarás tu guía del programa oficial de proyecciones, repleto de historias inolvidables y conexiones significativas. Deja que el cine independiente te conmueva—este es el lugar donde cobra vida.
[Se mantiene el contenido específico de cada día tal cual, ya que es demasiado extenso para repetirlo aquí. Si deseas una traducción detallada de un día específico del programa, ¡házmelo saber y te lo traduzco completo!]