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El Gato Feo (The Ugly Cat)

Fleeing the violence of Pancho Villa’s revolution, a widow finds refuge with a unit of female freedom fighters known as soldaderas… only to discover her estranged sister among them.

  • Daniel Fabelo
    Director
    Lazer Team 2
  • Daniel Fabelo
    Writer
    Lazer Team 2
  • Daniel Fabelo
    Producer
  • Ezra Venetos
    Producer
    Marisol, Hermanos
  • Learda Shkurti
    Producer
  • Diana Guizado
    Producer
  • Esmeralda Camargo
    Key Cast
    "Adelita"
    Marisol
  • Natalia Villegas
    Key Cast
    "Luisa"
  • Emily Trujillo
    Key Cast
    "Xochitl"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    El Gato Feo
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Western, Drama, Spanish, War, Women, Historical
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.66:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival
    Mallorca
    Spain
    October 21, 2023
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Dallas International Film Festival
    Dallas, Texas
    April 30, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 25th Annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    June 10, 2023
    Austin Premiere
    Hecho En Tejas Official Selection
  • New York Latino Film Festival
    New York, New York
    September 23, 2023
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • El Paso Film Festival
    El Paso, Texas
    September 29, 2023
  • Hill Country Film Festival
    Fredericksburg, Texas
    June 1, 2023
    Hill Country Premiere
  • 44 CineFestival
    San Antonio, Texas
    July 16, 2023
    Mezquite Award Nominee
  • Philadelphia Latino Film Festival (Virtual)
    Philadelphia/Virtual
    June 27, 2023
    Official Selection
  • GTX Film Festival
    Georgetown, Texas
    September 30, 2023
  • Rockport Film Festival
    Rockport, TX
  • South Texas Underground Film Festvial
    Corpus Christi, TX
    November 29, 2023
    Best of Fest Short Nominee
  • Cinesol Film Festival
    Brownsville, Texas
    December 3, 2023
    Best Short Film
  • Houston Latino Film Festival
    Houston, Texas
    March 23, 2024
    Best Texas Short Film
  • ATX Short Film Showcase
    Austin, Texas
    Audience Winner, Best in Texas; Best Dramatic Performance
Director Biography - Daniel Fabelo

Daniel is a Latino filmmaker originally from Austin, Texas. He is the son of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents. For a time, he was a writer/director for online powerhouse, Rooster Teeth, co-writing and co-directing the sci-fi comedy feature, Lazer Team 2, for YouTube Premium. His latest project, "El Gato Feo", follows two estranged sisters during the Mexican Revolution.

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Director Statement

I was inspired to write about Mexican soldaderas because of my own family's history in Mexico and Texas, as well as the courage and strength these women exemplify. These women have been memorialized in Spanish corridos [songs], often depicted as either sexualized heroines or common maids for the soldiers. However, the reality of what they witnessed and accomplished is more commensurate with mythical warriors than simple stewards.

My goal is to combine the spirit of the Mexican soldadera with the harsh American Western, based on history that reflects our modern struggles along the Rio Grande River. "El Gato Feo" is just a small piece of a much larger story, with characters I want to see in the world. These are stories I think the Latines kids growing up today need to rediscover.