Natal is a short film inspired by my younger brother and our experiences growing up in a conservative Mexican environment. It is a story that touches on the pressing issues of machismo and homophobia within the Latine community, and showcases some of the ways by which these learned behaviors are passed from generation to generation. After watching, we hope our film inspires audiences to reflect on the number of issues that arise from binary gender roles and expectations and to welcome the understanding of gender beyond these.

Luisa Maria González is a Mexican immigrant and first-generation American writer, director and producer from Cd. Juarez and El Paso, TX. She seeks to uplift, advocate for, and challenge the Latine diaspora through compelling, Latine-led stories that have the potential to inspire positive social change. Her work has been showcased in festivals that include the LA Shorts Film Festival, the Official Latino Film and Arts Festival and the NALIP Media Summit, among others. She is a 20’ graduate from the Radio-Television-Film program at the University of Texas at Austin and is currently based in Austin, TX. Natal is her debut as a writer / director.