Descriptions:
🌈 A 91-year-old lesbian caring for her lifelong partner. A queer teenager struggling with identity. One unexpected moment connects their worlds.
ENCUENTRO is an Oscar-qualified, Ariel-nominated LGBTQ+ short film from Mexico that explores elderly queer love, gender identity, and intergenerational solidarity.
🎬 ABOUT THE FILM
Araceli devotes her days to caring for Lulu, her partner of many years. Meanwhile, Julián, a teenager navigating gender identity under the pressure of a conservative household, feels increasingly isolated. A sudden event brings their stories together in a deeply human and unexpected way.
This award-winning Mexican LGBTQ+ short film has received over 60 international awards and was officially Oscar-qualified at the Morelia International Film Festival.
🧓🏽🌈 Why this film matters
• Rare representation of elderly lesbian love
• LGBTQ+ seniors on screen
• Queer youth & gender identity
• Conservative family dynamics
• Caregiving and memory
• Latin American LGBTQ+ cinema
Starring Magda Vizcaíno (age 91) — the eldest actress to portray an LGBTQ+ character in cinema.
🏆 Selected Recognition
• Ariel Awards Nominee (Mexican Academy Awards)
• Oscar-Qualified Short Film
• 60+ international awards (Morelia, Houston, Reeling Chicago, Shorts México & more)
🎥 DIRECTED
Iván Löwenberg Sainz
Instagram & X: @aivanlow
Copyright © 2019 – All rights reserved.
🤝 If you enjoyed this film and would like to support the creator:
💸 Donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.me/IvanLowenbergSainz
🎭 CAST
Hoze Meléndez
Magda Vizcaíno
Martha Claudia Moreno
Martín Saracho
WINNER:
• Morelia International Film Festival – Best Narrative Short (Oscar Qualifying)
• Houston World Fest – Platinum Remi Award
• Humano Film Festival – Best LGBTQ+ Short Film, Best Actor
• Shorts México – Special Mention – Press Jury
• Festival de Cine de Tamatán – Best Director
• Queer Film Playa del Carmen – Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Mexican Narrative Short
• Premios Pantalla de Cristal – Best Actress
• Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival – Audience Award – Runner Up
• Hilltop Film Festival – Best LGBTQ Short
• WICA New York – Best Foreign Short, Best LGBTQ+, Best Social Awareness Short
• Arequipa Audiovisual – Best Screenplay, Special Mention Narrative
• Cinema Imaginarios – Best LGBTQ+ Short
• RNAB Festival & RENUAC Festival – Best Cast, Best Direction, Best Script, Best LGBTQ+ Short
• …and 60+ international awards in festivals across Latin America, Europe, Asia and the U.S.
📺 AVAILABLE
• Worldwide on YouTube
• In Mexico, also streaming on NuestroCineMx
• Subtitled in English & French (plus 15 optional auto-translated subtitle tracks)
ESPAÑOL
🌈 Una mujer de 91 años cuida al amor de su vida. Un adolescente explora su identidad de género en un entorno conservador. Un evento inesperado conecta sus mundos.
ENCUENTRO es un cortometraje mexicano LGBTQ+ nominado al Ariel y calificador al Oscar que aborda el amor en la vejez, la identidad de género y la solidaridad entre generaciones.
🎬 SINOPSIS
Araceli dedica sus días al cuidado de Lulu, su compañera de vida. Al mismo tiempo, Julián —un adolescente que cuestiona su identidad de género— enfrenta la presión de una madre conservadora. Un acontecimiento inesperado transformará la vida de ambos.
🧓🏽🌈 Temas que aborda:
• Amor lésbico en la tercera edad
• Personas mayores LGBTQ+
• Identidad de género en la adolescencia
• Familias conservadoras
• Cuidados y memoria
• Diversidad en el cine mexicano
Protagonizado por Magda Vizcaíno (91 años), la actriz de mayor edad en interpretar un personaje LGBTQ+ en cine.
cortometraje LGBTQ+
cine mexicano LGBT
amor lésbico
adolescente trans
Ariel 2020
calificador al Oscar
amor en la vejez
0:00 Breakfast
3:10 Eyebrows
4:23 Open the door!
6:59 watching TV
8:43 Bad news
10:34 Worlds cross
11:53 Closing a deal
13:45 Choosing sides
15:22 Encounter
16:15 Credits