The 2026 Sundance Film Festival, running January 22 through February 1, once again offers space for Latino and Latin American filmmakers to tell stories that feel personal, political, and deeply human. This year’s lineup includes films that move between documentary and fiction, memory and history, intimacy and resistance. From Mexico and Puerto Rico to Colombia and Japan, these selections reflect the range of experiences shaping contemporary Latino cinema today. Here are five Sundance 2026 films worth keeping on your radar.
Jaripeo
Directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig
Set within the rodeo culture of Michoacán, Jaripeo explores queer identity inside a traditionally masculine world. The film blends observation and memory to create an intimate portrait of desire, belonging, and the complicated emotions tied to home.
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
Directed by David Alvarado
This documentary traces the life and impact of Chicano theater and film pioneer Luis Valdez. From El Teatro Campesino to Zoot Suit and La Bamba, the film shows how Valdez reshaped American storytelling by insisting that Chicano stories belong at the center.
The Huntress (La Cazadora)
Directed by Suzanne Andrews Correa
Set in Ciudad Juárez and inspired by real events, The Huntress stars Adriana Paz as a mother pushed to the edge by violence and injustice. The film centers fear, rage, and determination as she fights to protect her daughter in a city where women are rarely protected.
TheyDream
Directed by William David Caballero
After years of filming his Puerto Rican family, a filmmaker and his mother turn to animation to process loss and memory. Using home videos and motion capture, TheyDream becomes a tender meditation on grief and the act of remembering.
Ha Chan, Shake Your Booty!
Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka
This character-driven drama follows a ballroom dancer grieving the loss of her partner in Tokyo. When she returns to dance, new relationships and emotions begin to surface. Starring Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, and Damián Alcázar, the film blends movement, romance, and healing.