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NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival Announces Star-Studded Miami Debut

The NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival announces its film lineup and first round of programming for its highly anticipated Miami debut, taking place September 5-6, 2025, at Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami, the official inaugural venue partner. After 10 successful years in New York and Palm Springs, NVISION makes its move to Miami with a bold slate of feature films, panels, and special events spotlighting the future of Latino storytelling. 

This year’s programming will feature conversations and appearances from some of the most exciting voices in Latin music, film, and digital culture — including Mexican pop sensation Kenia OS, who will appear at the festival for the East Coast premiere of her new documentary, KENIA OS: LA OG; iHeartLatino President and on-air personality Enrique Santos, as the festival’s official host; viral creators Calle y Poché and Marko as panelists — with additional talent, panels and notable screenings to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Miami is the epicenter of Latino culture, and bringing this festival home where it belongs allows these films and conversations to come to life before an audience that clearly sees themselves reflected on screen. These filmmakers aren’t just telling stories; they’re preserving our history, challenging stereotypes, and paving the way for the next generation of Latino voices in cinema,” said Lex Borrero, CEO of NEON16 and co-partner of NVISION Latino Film and Music Festival. “The caliber of work we’re showcasing proves that Latino filmmaking has reached a new level of artistic excellence and industry recognition.”

Enrique Santos, President of iHeartLatino and On-Air Talent, joins as the Community Advisor and Official Host of the NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival. As a celebrated radio personality and influencer, Santos brings a wealth of experience and passion for Latino culture to the event. Partnering with iHeartRadio, the official media partner, Santos will set the tone and play a role in engaging the community and amplifying the festival’s reach. “I am honored to be a part of an event that celebrates and elevates Latino voices through film and music,” said Santos. “Together, we will create an unforgettable experience that highlights the richness and diversity of our stories.”

FEATURED FILM HIGHLIGHTS:

The festival will showcase an impressive lineup of 10 feature-length films and 12 short films,  representing a diverse range of countries, including the United States, Chile, Italy, Brazil, and Colombia. This compelling selection includes highly anticipated titles such as “Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon,” a documentary about Sesame Street’s beloved “Maria” starring Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; “Take It Away,” exploring the rise of Tejano and Regional Mexican music through Johnny Canales’ legendary career; and “Serious People,” a Sundance Official Selection from music video director Pasqual Gutierrez of the duo Cliqua. The lineup also features two Tribeca Official Selections: “Cuerpo Celeste” from Chile and Italy, and “Pipas” from Brazil, alongside the Colombian thriller “Uno.” These films represent groundbreaking stories from emerging and established Latino filmmakers, offering audiences a rich tapestry of cultural narratives spanning documentary, narrative fiction, and cross-cultural collaborations.

  • STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon (USA, 2025) – An inspiring documentary tracing Sonia Manzano’s groundbreaking journey from the South Bronx to becoming “Maria” on Sesame Street, featuring Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
  • ESTA ISLA (Puerto Rico, 2025): A Tribeca Official Selection film directed by Cristian Carretero and Larraine Jones. In coastal Puerto Rico, Bebo and his brother turn to illegal activities to survive. When a job goes wrong, Bebo flees to the mountains with his girlfriend Lola and must decide if redemption is possible, or if the sea will be their final escape.
  • LA OLA (Chile, 2025): A Cannes Official Selection directed by Oscar-winning Sebastián Lelio.  This new feature film is about a feminist student uprising. 
  • SERIOUS PEOPLE (USA, 2025): 2025 Sundance Official Selection – Music video director Pasqual Gutierrez (Bad Bunny, Rosalía) makes his feature debut exploring work-life balance in the entertainment industry.
  • CUERPO CELESTE (Chile/Italy, 2025): 2025 Tribeca Official Selection – A coming-of-age drama set during Chile’s transition from dictatorship, following a fifteen-year-old girl searching for her place in a changing world.
  • PIPAS (Brazil, 2025): 2025 Tribeca Official Selection – A complex portrait of a drug dealer from Rio’s favelas, guided by a guardian angel through questions of fate and reality.
  • UNO (Colombia, 2025): A thriller following a grieving woman and a farmer uncovering corruption in Colombia’s gold-mining industry.

To see the complete list of films, please click www.nvisionfestival.com/films

“This year’s film lineup represents the evolution of Latino storytelling in its most authentic and innovative forms,” said Danny Hastings, Festival Director. “From intimate documentaries that celebrate our cultural pioneers to bold narrative features that push creative boundaries, these films capture the diverse experiences and perspectives that make our community so rich and dynamic. Each selection offers something unique while contributing to the larger conversation about Latino representation in cinema.”

Adding to the festival’s prestigious lineup, NVISION will mark the North American premiere of “LA OLA,” the highly anticipated new film from Academy Award-winning director Sebastián Lelio, as the closing film and major highlight of the event. Fresh from its Cannes Official Selection, this Chilean production represents a major coup for the festival, bringing one of the year’s most celebrated international films to Miami audiences. Produced by the acclaimed Larraín brothers (Juan de Dios and Pablo Larraín), known for their work on films like “Jackie” and “Spencer,” “LA OLA” continues Lelio’s tradition of crafting deeply personal narratives that resonate globally, following his Oscar-winning success with “A Fantastic Woman.” The film’s North American premiere at NVISION underscores Miami’s growing importance as a gateway for world-class Latino cinema, offering festival-goers an exclusive first look at what promises to be one of the year’s most talked-about films.

FEATURED PANEL HIGHLIGHTS:

Rounding out this cinematic experience, NVISION 2025 presents a dynamic lineup of panels exploring a variety of conversations in music, film, sports, and entertainment. From exploring how sports culture is revolutionizing content creation in “The New Playbook,” the festival creates a dynamic intersection where industry evolution meets creative authenticity. These forward-thinking conversations feature major industry players and rising stars, an exclusive Q&A session and intimate conversation with global sensation Kenia OS, and insights from digital creators like Calle y Poche and Marko who are redefining audience engagement. More than complementing the film screenings, this programming positions NVISION as a strategic gathering where the future of Latino entertainment is both discussed and created, with each panel offering invaluable insights into the evolving landscape that these filmmakers and creators are actively shaping.

Spotlight Conversation with Kenia OS

  • Kenia OS, Mexican singer, songwriter, and multifaceted artist and entrepreneur, will join NVISION for a candid, in-depth conversation at Take A Seat, the festival’s female-focused VIP brunch event, offering an intimate look at her creative journey and rise as one of Latin music’s most influential voices. Later that evening, Kenia will attend the red carpet screening and East Coast premiere of her film, KENIA OS: LA OG, and take part in a live Q&A moderated by iHeartRadio’s Enrique Santos, NVISION’s official host. The screening marks a major cultural milestone for both the artist and the festival, highlighting the expanding role of music-driven storytelling in contemporary cinema.

The New Playbook: How Sports Culture Is Driving Film, TV, and Streaming Content

  • From F1: Drive to Survive to NFL dramas and untold Olympic sagas, sports have evolved from a backdrop to a powerful content engine. This conversation explores how sports culture is driving demand in film and television, how leagues are transforming into studios, and what creators should consider when bringing real-life sports stories to the screen.

The Creator Economy: Owning Your Platform, Your Brand, Your Audience

  • Digital-native creators are building global empires from their phones. This panel explores strategies behind today’s most powerful creator-led businesses, from TikTok to YouTube, examining how creators balance out authenticity with strategic control.

Scoring the Story: Music Makers Behind the Screen, Presented by BMI 

  • From soaring orchestral scores to genre-bending fusions, music is the emotional heartbeat of visual media. This dynamic panel brings together leading composers, songwriters, and producers to discuss their creative process, navigating the industry, and redefining the sound of the big and small screen.

The Miami Lens: Amplifying the City’s Essence, Presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

  • Diverse industry leaders reflect on Miami’s creative energy through personal stories and behind-the-scenes insights, exploring how the city’s culture shapes their work and Miami’s growing role as an entertainment hub.

For the complete panel lineup and film schedule, visit https://nvisionfestival.com/

Attendees can purchase regular 2-day admission passes at $84.99 and individual day passes starting at $49.99 for Friday and Saturday. VIP tickets can also be purchased for $129.99, allowing exclusive access to both days of the festival. For more information on the lineup and to purchase tickets, visit https://nvisionfestival.com/ or follow NVISION on Instagram @nvisionfestival.

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Mike Rynart

Mike Rynart