This week, Chroma Art Film Festival proudly features Lovely Bastards, A.L. Carrillo’s gripping psychological thriller. The film immerses viewers in a surreal, high-stakes card game where reality and illusion blur, forcing its protagonist to confront the shifting identities of those around him.

With a striking mix of black & white and color, Lovely Bastards challenges perception and explores the fine line between certainty and chaos. Carrillo’s bold storytelling and raw visual style mark the arrival of an ambitious new voice in independent cinema.

Don’t miss this intense and thought-provoking journey into the mind’s deepest uncertainties.

Overview

He may not know the difference between reality and illusion, but one thing is certain—he’s sitting down to play cards with faces that seem eerily familiar. Lovely Bastards is a tense, psychological thriller that immerses audiences in a game where identities shift, secrets unravel, and perception is pushed to its limits.

This visually striking short, presented in both black & white and color, is a bold student film from emerging Mexican filmmaker A.L. Carrillo. With a minimal budget and a maximum creative vision, Lovely Bastards showcases a raw, gripping storytelling style that signals the arrival of a promising filmmaker.

Credits

• Director & Writer: A.L. Carrillo
• Producer: Tatiana Alejandra Carrillo
• Key Cast:
  • A.L. Carrillo as Nobody
  • A.L. Carrillo as Darkwin
  • A.L. Carrillo as Devine
  • A.L. Carrillo as Abandando
  • A.L. Carrillo as Capone
  • A.L. Carrillo as Whispers

Specifications

• Genre: Thriller
• Runtime: 10 minutes 13 seconds
• Completion Date: May 23, 2024
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Country of Filming: Mexico
• Language: English
• Shooting Format: Digital
• Film Color: Black & White and Color
• First-Time Filmmaker: Yes
• Student Project: Yes – American School Foundation

Director Biography: A.L. Carrillo

A.L. Carrillo is an emerging Mexican filmmaker with three short films to his name. His first recognition came from a school film festival, where he adapted a poem by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz into a short film. Determined to carve a path in the industry, Carrillo believes in starting small but dreaming big—seeing each film as a step toward greater success.

Director Statement

“The film industry is not an easy path, but I am determined to perfect my craft and become one of the best filmmakers of my generation. Even the greatest had to start somewhere. These short films are my voice, and I hope that one day, they reach the right ears.”

🔗 Follow A.L. Carrillo on Social Media:
Instagram:@lovelybastardsfilm