Laredo Film Society (LFS) welcomes home Laredo-native filmmaker Alejandro Montoya Marín for a two-day event celebrating independent cinema and Latino voices in film.
The program will feature an in-depth Q&A discussion at Texas A&M International University and a special screening at Alamo Drafthouse of his latest film, The Unexpecteds, which was produced by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Red State).
The Q&A Discussion is set for Friday, October 24, at Texas A&M International University, AIC Building, Room 128 (5201 University Blvd.) Doors open at 3:30 p.m. for the forum that begins at 4:00 p.m. There is no cost for attendance, but an RSVP is required for this intimate conversation with Montoya Marín (@alejandromontoyamarin). The Q&A will be moderated by Cliffe Killam. This session will explore Montoya Marín’s journey from Laredo to the international film circuit, his creative process, and the making of The Unexpecteds.
Aspiring filmmakers, students, and cinema lovers alike are invited to attend and draw inspiration from Montoya Marin’s story and insight. For tickets RSVP at laredofilm.org/tickets.
The Red Carpet and screening of The Unexpecteds will take place Sunday, October 26 at the Alamo Drafthouse at 11210 East Point Dr. The doors open and red carpet begins at 5:00 p.m. The screening begins at 6:30 with a cast and crew Q&A afterwards. Admission is free. Seating can be secured through the Alamo Drafthouse app or website. For further information, write to hello@laredofilm.org.
LFS has partnered with Alamo Drafthouse Laredo to host the hometown premiere of The Unexpecteds, a heartwarming, action-packed film about friendship, second chances, and redemption.
About the film: When Gary and his quirky group of friends get duped by a shady internet scam, they turn to an unlikely ally — Gary’s estranged father, a former operative with a murky past. Together, they set out on a wild mission to bring down the con artist who fooled them. The Unexpecteds depicts a high-energy, heartfelt caper celebrating resilience, family, and the power of community.
About Alejandro Montoya Marín: Born in Laredo, Texas and raised in Mexico, Montoya Marín began his career in film by studying at the prestigious Vancouver Film School. In 2018, he was selected by director Robert Rodriguez to be a participant in his documentary series “REBEL WITHOUT A CREW.” The film he produced for that series, Monday, was screened at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival.
His follow-up feature film, Millennium Bugs, was crowdfunded and ultimately distributed by Indican Pictures. In 2022, he was inducted into the New Mexico Film Hall of Fame, and in 2023 he co-starred in Eva Longoria’s film Flamin’ Hot and joined the Directors Guild of America.
The Unexpecteds was selected by The Los Angeles Times as one of eight films to watch at the 2024 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. He is currently at work on his fourth feature film, 90 days in the 90’s, which is based on the novel of the same name.
