Short Film Oranges Will Premiere Friday in El Paso
The local production will debut at the Plaza Theatre as part of the El Paso Film Festival.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Documentary
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The short film Oranges will premiere Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Plaza Theatre in El Paso. The free public screening is part of the El Paso Film Festival's El Paso Shorts program.
Why it matters
Directed by Valeria Contreras, the film explores Borderland identity through a story inspired by the historic streetcar system that once linked El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. The narrative centers on two sisters sharing their final moments before one departs for Mexico City.
The film will screen at 3 p.m. as part of the El Paso Shorts program. The production features cast and crew members recruited specifically from the Borderland region.
The players
Valeria Contreras
Valeria Contreras is the writer and director of the short film Oranges.
Plaza Theatre
The Plaza Theatre is a historic landmark and performance venue located in downtown El Paso.
El Paso Film Festival
The El Paso Film Festival is an annual cultural event that showcases independent cinema from the Borderland and beyond.
The details
Set in 1972, the film was shot on location in El Paso to capture the local atmosphere of the era. The production highlights the cultural connectivity of the region through its focus on the historic transit systems connecting the neighboring border cities.
Timeline
The story is set in 1972.
The premiere is scheduled for September 25, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Industry Dynamics
This screening follows the tradition of local filmmaker spotlighting established by the El Paso Film Festival's annual shorts competition. Such events serve to sustain regional independent cinema against the dominance of major studio franchise releases.
Residents can attend the screening for free, as the event is open to the public at the Plaza Theatre. Attendees should plan to arrive by 3 p.m. to catch the start of the El Paso Shorts program.
The takeaway
Supporting locally produced films helps preserve regional storytelling traditions that reflect the unique history of the border. Audiences interested in local culture can utilize this screening as a window into the 1970s history of the Borderland region.
Further reading
Discover more regional cinema coverage in the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTSM 9 News.
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