MANO × aluCine: The Shape of Belonging

MANO is delighted to co-present the program The Shape of Belonging: Latin Canadian Shorts as part of the 26th annual aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival.‍

Date: Friday, October 2, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Location: Spadina Theatre, 24 Spadina Rd., Toronto
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Program description

Belonging is rarely fixed. It shifts and evolves through memory, family, culture, language, and the places that shape us. Bringing together six fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films by Latin Canadian filmmakers, The Shape of Belonging explores the many ways we search for connection to ourselves, to others, and to the worlds we inhabit. Through intimate stories of immigration, coming of age, childhood memories, intergenerational bonds, cultural heritage, and our relationship with place and nature, these films reflect on how we find and redefine a sense of belonging across cultures, generations, and landscapes.

Films in the program

Lessons on Flight. Dir. Cecilia Araneda | Canada | 2024 | 4 min | Experimental
‍An experimental exploration of the flight patterns of the green-backed firecrown hummingbird, filmed on 16mm in rural Chile using an innovative eco-processing and hand-colouring technique.

S.A.D. Dir. Vanessa Sandre | Canada | 2025 | 15 min | Fiction
A Latina immigrant diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder confronts the deeper challenges of adapting to life in Canada and finding a sense of home.

Fuga 22. Dir. Jonathan Varela Gonzalez | Canada/Honduras | 2026 | 15 min | Documentary
A vibrant, poetic portrait of growing up in Tegucigalpa and immigrating to Canada, told through the intimate lens of a camcorder.

Crayons. Dir. Gabriella Maruta | Canada | 2026 | 4 min | Animation
A journey through childhood memories and lost colour, as an adult reconnects with the creativity and wonder of her inner child.

ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᑦ / Living Waters. Dir. Felippe and Taloyoak Umaruliririgut Association | Canada | 2025 | 15 min | Documentary
An intimate journey into Inuit life and traditions, following an elder as he repairs a traditional fishing dam while passing ancestral knowledge to the next generation.

Before the Dawn. Dir. Tiago Gerbasi | Canada/Brazil | 2026 | 11 min | Toronto Premiere
A young man living with his ailing grandfather navigates an important day, guided by his grandfather’s wisdom, love, and quiet optimism.

For more information about the program and to purchase tickets, please visit alucinefestival.ca.