The World Premiere Screening of “Red Sands” took place on Friday, March 7 at 6:30 pm with a live intro and Q&A at the SXSW Film & TV Theater at the Hyatt Regency on the Main Screen. There was a Second Screening—Monday, March 10 at 11:00 am, on the Main Screen with live intro and Q&A at the Rollins Theater at The Long Center. It was entered in the SXSW Short Film Documentary (Texas Shorts Competition).
On this show you can watch the interview with the extraordinary filmmaker Romina Cenisio, and cinematographer/producer Sean Mattison (Emmy® award-winner, Oscar shortlisted Descendant, Tiger King, Netflix Sour Grapes, and Petro) who had their incredible SXSW Film Festival 2025 World Premiere – of the immersive documentary short film “Red Sands.” This is the directorial debut from filmmaker Romina Cenisio, who’s work examines the preservation of complex identities and subjects on the fringe of existence. The daughter of working-class immigrants from Southern Italy who found themselves as factory workers in Cd Juárez, she was raised in El Paso among three cultures: Italian, Mexican and Texan. In the red hued deserts of West Texas, an inter-generational Mexican-American off-roading community thrives in the border-town of El Paso—until a looming danger forces them to confront both their relationship to the land and their shared identity. 
On the notorious border of El Paso, Texas and Cd. Juárez, Mexico, an off-road culture thrives in the untamed dunes of the Chihuahuan desert. Red Sands is about the singular identity of an intergenerational community and the scene they’ve created in a desert known for its red hues. The Mexican-American population finds solace through off-roading, using the desert dunes as a canvas to imprint their unique identities. The film follows characters from the past and present reflecting on their journey while headlines of danger loom overhead, threatening the very space in which their identity is rooted. Red Sands pulls the viewer into an exhilarating never-before-seen world, highlighting the resilience and beauty in a place mostly unknown to outsiders. 
The Director said: The Wall. Refugee crosses. Cartel violence. Walmart shooting. The bordertown of El Paso is often in the news for headlines containing painful subjects. Everyone seems to know about the border, but what actually IS the border? Who resides here? Red Sands aims to begin answering these questions by bringing the audience into a subculture at the core of many El Pasoans’ lives. As someone who grew up in this area, I first went off-roading in Red Sands with my boyfriend in the year of 2000 as a teen, His Dad, Ramiro Bernal, found the dunes in 70’s and kept going as a way to stay connected to the desert after they migrated over from Mexico. My love for this area only increased as I’ve grown older, realizing that there really is no place like home, especially when you’re from the border. Over the past two decades, the once quiet spot has become a thriving off-road community with thousands of people.
An entire identity has been forged from these very dunes, providing a source of community for locals to connect to and feel proud of. However, as the scene has grown, so has the danger, which threatens the very existence in which their identity is rooted. It begs the question: what is danger in a place known for danger, and how fa are people willing to go to stake their claim? This film explores themes of identity, belonging, community, danger, and the human relationship o our environments. The desert itself is a living character: while often perceived as barren, as the sun sets the landscape awakens. Cacti bloom, creatures stir, and the stillness gives way to a vibrant nocturnal pulse. In much the same way, the people of Red Sands come alive, thriving in the resilience of their harsh environment. Going beyond the headlines that plague the area to tell a story that humanizes life on the border, this film is for every first generation kid who is torn between two cultures. For anyone who feels like they don’t belong. For those in the in- between, a reminder that there is room to not only exist, but to create your own space and thrive.
Director’s Bio: Romina Cenisio’s work examines the preservation of complex identities and subjects on the fringe of existence. The daughter of working-class immigrants from Southern Italy who found themselves as factory workers in Cd Juárez, she was raised in El Paso among three cultures: Italian, Mexican and Texan. Red Sands is her directorial debut. She is an accomplished art director and graphic designer with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, she has written for Atlas Obscura and Atmos, directed a digital nature therapy series for Soho House, collaborated with NatGeo, and created international editorial video campaigns for Claire’s and Rihanna. rominacenisio.com
Website: www.redsandsfilm.com Running Time: 20 minutes
“Red Sands” directed by Romina Cenisio; produced by Romina Cenisio and Sean Mattison (Emmy® award-winner, Oscar shortlisted Descendant, Tiger King, Netflix Sour Grapes, and Petro); cinematography by Sean Mattison; edited by Daniel Roman ( multiple CLIO and Webby winner, Impossible Town), and Andrea Cruz (Tribeca X and Gold Cannes Lion winner); with an original score by Aaron David Ross.
& Something else really special that you should put on your radar: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, by Lionsgate that will be released on 11/20/2026. The Synopsis is: THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
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