Me Miras
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
LGBTQ, Fantasy
Inspired by many lonely nights, ME MIRAS is a short film that explores what it means to find true connection in a place that's all about desire and performance. It’s a deeply personal story about the universal desire to be loved not just for how we look, but for who we are.
27 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,080
Goal: $7,500 for production
Inspired by many lonely nights, ME MIRAS is a short film that explores what it means to find true connection in a place that's all about desire and performance. It’s a deeply personal story about the universal desire to be loved not just for how we look, but for who we are.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It was a hot summer night. I was standing outside a bar when a stranger offered me a cigarette. Within minutes, we were laughing like old friends. For a moment, I felt chosen. But as quickly as it began, it ended and I was left wondering if what I felt was real, or if I had mistaken desire for something more substantial.
That moment stayed with me because it revealed how easy it is to confuse being desired with being seen. To chase connection without asking whether someone is truly choosing you for who you are.
Me Miras was born from that realization. Set within the world of queer vaqueros, the film explores spaces where visibility and performance blur, where being looked at is constant, but being truly seen is rare.
At its core, Me Miras is a queer ghost story about recognition, the difference between being wanted and being known, and the journey of learning to see yourself.
SYNOPSIS
Over the course of one night, a lonely romantic sets out with a simple goal: meet someone. But as insecurity and hesitation pull him in every direction, he struggles to feel seen in a space where everyone else seems to belong. When he connects with Marco, a magnetic stranger who sees through his defenses, Valentín is forced to confront what’s been holding him back before the moment, and the man, slip away. Told through a queer Latino lens, it honors the joy, grief, and magic of being seen.
 (1).jpg)
THE WORLD
Set in a queer vaquero bar, Me Miras unfolds in a space where performance and vulnerability collide. Beneath the music, the flashing lights, and the ritual of desire, there’s a quieter search happening, the need to be seen for who you truly are. As the night deepens, the line between reality and something more otherworldly begins to blur, transforming a fleeting encounter into something that’ll last forever.
.png)
THE VISION
Through a blend of grounded realism and subtle magical elements, the film captures the intimacy of queer nightlife while exploring the emotional weight beneath it. Visually, the film lives in contrast. Cool and warm, shadow and light, mirroring the tension between surface-level attraction and deeper connection. We want the audience to feel like they’ve stepped into a memory: fleeting, electric, and just out of reach.
.jpg)
FEATURING: "Todos Me Miran"
An anthem of visibility for the Latino Queer community. Gloria Trevi’s iconic song pulls Valentín into the rhythm of the night, no longer watching, but taking up space.
The film is slated for a major LGBTQIA+ festival premiere in the Fall of 2026.
MONEY BREAKDOWN
We are grateful to have initial funds for the film and are seeking help to cover the rest of our production costs. Your contributions will help cover our location fees, including permits and allow us to pay our Cast and Crew fair wages.
STRETCH GOALS
We would love to hit our initial 7k needed to go into production for ME MIRAS and if we surpass our initial goal the team would be able to:
$10k - If we are able to hit $10k, we would love to be able to expand our post-production budget in order to add original composing and additional edit/color sessions.
$15k - If we are able to get to $15k, we would be able to cover our film festival expenses, poster design, and marketing costs.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Manuel Villarreal
Writer / Director
Manuel Villarreal is an award-winning queer, first-generation Mexican-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. His short film Deep Dish Dimples, created through Film Independent’s Project Involve, premiered at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. His AFI thesis film, La Bruja, has screened at over 20 festivals across the country and won the Audience Award at the Hola Mexico Film Festival. In 2024, he directed El Colibri as part of the mitú x Walmart Filmmaking Mentorship Program, which has reached over 30,000 views on YouTube. Through his work, Villarreal weaves Latinx and LGBTQ+ narratives to remind audiences of the enduring power of magic.
Evelyn Angelica Martinez
Producer
.jpg)
Evelyn Angelica Martinez (she/her) is a queer first-gen Mexican-American producer based from Los Angeles. Her narrative focus is on heartfelt stories that intertwine with the surreal and fantastical featuring LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. She is a 2024 PGA Create Fellow, a 2022 Women In Film Mentee (Producing Track), and a 2021 Film Independent Project Involve Producing Fellow. Her projects have received support from the SFFILM Rainin Grant, Latino Public Broadcasting, and the Latino Film Institute. She has also produced content for clients such as Apple, Interscope, Warner Records, and TikTok.
Mon Castro
Producer
Mon Castro is an award-winning Mexican filmmaker based in Los Angeles, After earning her MFA at the American Film Institute Conservatory, she has produced numerous narrative films and music videos, including Yugo BAFTA Longlisted and Imagen Foundation Award Nominee BAJO LA TIERRA; Owen Roizman ASC Winner IM FINSTERN; and Spotlight Dorado Finalist CUANDO VOLVIMOS A LA TIERRA, Most recently, she coproduced the feature film ME, AFTER YOU, set to release next year. Mon holds a special affinity for all things horror, genre and camp. She is also interested in feminism, LGBTQIA+ stories, animals, and changing her hair color.
Edward Enriquez-Cohen
Executive Producer
Edward Enriquez-Cohen is a Latino/e LGBTQ+ producer, actor, publicist, and activist, and the Founder and CEO of Olive Productions and Publicity. His producing credits include the award-winning shorts Bibi and El Tesoro, both starring Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza. In publicity, he has supported the career of prominent and rising talent Latino/e talent such as Barraza, Patricia Riggen, Dolores Huerta and our filmmaker Manuel Villarreal. He has served as Talent Producer for NALIP's annual summit among others. As a survivor and advocate to stand against domestic violence for all, his passion is to be a voice for all who have suffered in silence within the LGBTQIA communities.
Eugenia Renteria
Executive Producer
Eugenia Renteria is an award-winning Mexican filmmaker whose work explores identity, culture, and social justice. She was selected as a mentee in the PBS Ignite Mentorship and as an inaugural fellow of the Cine Se Puede Fellowship, and she received the 2024 Nexties Award for Visual Artist of the Year. Her directing credits include PBS Chicano Theatre: The Act of Resistance, Amor en Cuarentena, Strawberry Picker, Tierra Fértil, Fake It ‘Till You Make It, and a PBS Sound Field episode on Sierreño music, which was nominated for the 36th Image Awards. Her films have screened at the Mill Valley Film Festival, New York Latino Film Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, ShortsMexico, and numerous others. She is a two-time winner of the New York Latino Film Festival’s Best Futuro Web Series Award. Eugenia is the founder of Inspira Studios and a proud alumna of Cal State Monterey Bay.
Alan Luna
Casting Director
Alan Luna is a Casting Director and Producer for television and film in live action and animation. His recent credits include "The Long Game" premiering at SXSW, winning the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award and premiering #1 on Netflix on its opening weekend, "Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" premiering at TIFF, which was produced by Lin Manuel Miranda, Eugenio Derbez and Kyra Sedgwick, "Jenni" a musical biopic about Jenni Rivera, the horror film "Rosario" directed by Film Independent Project Involve and USC alum Felipe Vargas in his feature debut.
Eli Cooper
Cinematographer
Eli Cooper is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, he grew up surrounded by free spirits, delicious food and a tight-knit community. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematography at Columbia College Chicago. After graduating from Columbia, he moved to Los Angeles where he received his MFA in Cinematography from AFI (American Film Institute).
Georgina Gutierrez
Production Designer
Georgina Gutierrez is a production designer from El Paso, Texas, with a background in architecture and an MFA in Production Design from the American Film Institute. She believes in using design as a tool to evoke emotion and deepen audience connection. Her recent work on La Bruja earned her Best Production Design at the 2024 Burbank International Film Festival, along with two additional nominations.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It was a hot summer night. I was standing outside a bar when a stranger offered me a cigarette. Within minutes, we were laughing like old friends. For a moment, I felt chosen. But as quickly as it began, it ended and I was left wondering if what I felt was real, or if I had mistaken desire for something more substantial.
That moment stayed with me because it revealed how easy it is to confuse being desired with being seen. To chase connection without asking whether someone is truly choosing you for who you are.
Me Miras was born from that realization. Set within the world of queer vaqueros, the film explores spaces where visibility and performance blur, where being looked at is constant, but being truly seen is rare.
At its core, Me Miras is a queer ghost story about recognition, the difference between being wanted and being known, and the journey of learning to see yourself.
SYNOPSIS
Over the course of one night, a lonely romantic sets out with a simple goal: meet someone. But as insecurity and hesitation pull him in every direction, he struggles to feel seen in a space where everyone else seems to belong. When he connects with Marco, a magnetic stranger who sees through his defenses, Valentín is forced to confront what’s been holding him back before the moment, and the man, slip away. Told through a queer Latino lens, it honors the joy, grief, and magic of being seen.
THE WORLD
Set in a queer vaquero bar, Me Miras unfolds in a space where performance and vulnerability collide. Beneath the music, the flashing lights, and the ritual of desire, there’s a quieter search happening, the need to be seen for who you truly are. As the night deepens, the line between reality and something more otherworldly begins to blur, transforming a fleeting encounter into something that’ll last forever.
THE VISION
Through a blend of grounded realism and subtle magical elements, the film captures the intimacy of queer nightlife while exploring the emotional weight beneath it. Visually, the film lives in contrast. Cool and warm, shadow and light, mirroring the tension between surface-level attraction and deeper connection. We want the audience to feel like they’ve stepped into a memory: fleeting, electric, and just out of reach.
FEATURING: "Todos Me Miran"
An anthem of visibility for the Latino Queer community. Gloria Trevi’s iconic song pulls Valentín into the rhythm of the night, no longer watching, but taking up space.
The film is slated for a major LGBTQIA+ festival premiere in the Fall of 2026.
MONEY BREAKDOWN
We are grateful to have initial funds for the film and are seeking help to cover the rest of our production costs. Your contributions will help cover our location fees, including permits and allow us to pay our Cast and Crew fair wages.
STRETCH GOALS
We would love to hit our initial 7k needed to go into production for ME MIRAS and if we surpass our initial goal the team would be able to:
$10k - If we are able to hit $10k, we would love to be able to expand our post-production budget in order to add original composing and additional edit/color sessions.
$15k - If we are able to get to $15k, we would be able to cover our film festival expenses, poster design, and marketing costs.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Manuel Villarreal
Writer / Director
Manuel Villarreal is an award-winning queer, first-generation Mexican-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. His short film Deep Dish Dimples, created through Film Independent’s Project Involve, premiered at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. His AFI thesis film, La Bruja, has screened at over 20 festivals across the country and won the Audience Award at the Hola Mexico Film Festival. In 2024, he directed El Colibri as part of the mitú x Walmart Filmmaking Mentorship Program, which has reached over 30,000 views on YouTube. Through his work, Villarreal weaves Latinx and LGBTQ+ narratives to remind audiences of the enduring power of magic.
Evelyn Angelica Martinez
Producer
Evelyn Angelica Martinez (she/her) is a queer first-gen Mexican-American producer based from Los Angeles. Her narrative focus is on heartfelt stories that intertwine with the surreal and fantastical featuring LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. She is a 2024 PGA Create Fellow, a 2022 Women In Film Mentee (Producing Track), and a 2021 Film Independent Project Involve Producing Fellow. Her projects have received support from the SFFILM Rainin Grant, Latino Public Broadcasting, and the Latino Film Institute. She has also produced content for clients such as Apple, Interscope, Warner Records, and TikTok.
Mon Castro
Producer
Mon Castro is an award-winning Mexican filmmaker based in Los Angeles, After earning her MFA at the American Film Institute Conservatory, she has produced numerous narrative films and music videos, including Yugo BAFTA Longlisted and Imagen Foundation Award Nominee BAJO LA TIERRA; Owen Roizman ASC Winner IM FINSTERN; and Spotlight Dorado Finalist CUANDO VOLVIMOS A LA TIERRA, Most recently, she coproduced the feature film ME, AFTER YOU, set to release next year. Mon holds a special affinity for all things horror, genre and camp. She is also interested in feminism, LGBTQIA+ stories, animals, and changing her hair color.
Edward Enriquez-Cohen
Executive Producer
Edward Enriquez-Cohen is a Latino/e LGBTQ+ producer, actor, publicist, and activist, and the Founder and CEO of Olive Productions and Publicity. His producing credits include the award-winning shorts Bibi and El Tesoro, both starring Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza. In publicity, he has supported the career of prominent and rising talent Latino/e talent such as Barraza, Patricia Riggen, Dolores Huerta and our filmmaker Manuel Villarreal. He has served as Talent Producer for NALIP's annual summit among others. As a survivor and advocate to stand against domestic violence for all, his passion is to be a voice for all who have suffered in silence within the LGBTQIA communities.
Eugenia Renteria
Executive Producer
Eugenia Renteria is an award-winning Mexican filmmaker whose work explores identity, culture, and social justice. She was selected as a mentee in the PBS Ignite Mentorship and as an inaugural fellow of the Cine Se Puede Fellowship, and she received the 2024 Nexties Award for Visual Artist of the Year. Her directing credits include PBS Chicano Theatre: The Act of Resistance, Amor en Cuarentena, Strawberry Picker, Tierra Fértil, Fake It ‘Till You Make It, and a PBS Sound Field episode on Sierreño music, which was nominated for the 36th Image Awards. Her films have screened at the Mill Valley Film Festival, New York Latino Film Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, ShortsMexico, and numerous others. She is a two-time winner of the New York Latino Film Festival’s Best Futuro Web Series Award. Eugenia is the founder of Inspira Studios and a proud alumna of Cal State Monterey Bay.
Alan Luna
Casting Director
Alan Luna is a Casting Director and Producer for television and film in live action and animation. His recent credits include "The Long Game" premiering at SXSW, winning the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award and premiering #1 on Netflix on its opening weekend, "Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" premiering at TIFF, which was produced by Lin Manuel Miranda, Eugenio Derbez and Kyra Sedgwick, "Jenni" a musical biopic about Jenni Rivera, the horror film "Rosario" directed by Film Independent Project Involve and USC alum Felipe Vargas in his feature debut.
Eli Cooper
Cinematographer
Eli Cooper is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, he grew up surrounded by free spirits, delicious food and a tight-knit community. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematography at Columbia College Chicago. After graduating from Columbia, he moved to Los Angeles where he received his MFA in Cinematography from AFI (American Film Institute).
Georgina Gutierrez
Production Designer
Georgina Gutierrez is a production designer from El Paso, Texas, with a background in architecture and an MFA in Production Design from the American Film Institute. She believes in using design as a tool to evoke emotion and deepen audience connection. Her recent work on La Bruja earned her Best Production Design at the 2024 Burbank International Film Festival, along with two additional nominations.