Experiencing Interruptions?

Losing Lalo

A soldier grappling with post-war normalcy makes a decision that devastates his family and fellow veterans as they must imagine the unimaginable, a life without him.

  • Cedric Thomas Smith
    Director
  • Cedric Thomas Smith
    Writer
  • Cedric Thomas Smith
    Producer
  • Rick Medina
    Producer
  • Juan Carlos Montalvo
    Producer
  • Johnny Rey Diaz
    Key Cast
    "Lalo"
    Primo, Grey's Anatomy, Pam and Tommy, Narcos : Mexico
  • Alyssia Rivera
    Key Cast
    "Stephanie"
  • Christine Longoria
    Key Cast
    "Patricia"
  • Javier Medellin
    Key Cast
    "Eduardo"
  • Marvin Ritchie
    Key Cast
    "McEntire"
  • Erik Andersoh
    Key Cast
    "Richards"
  • Patty Corres
    Key Cast
    "Jess"
  • Tam Jackson
    Key Cast
    "Barbra"
  • James Brown
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    33 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 28, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • San Angelo Revolution Film Festival
    San Angelo
    September 29, 2023
    World Premiere
    The Revolutionary Filmmaker Award (Cedric Thomas Smith)
  • South Texas Underground Film Festival
    Corpus Christi
    United States
    December 2, 2023
    Nominee : Best of Fest Short
  • Austin Revolution Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    February 16, 2024
    Best Actor in a Texas Film, Eric Adair Award for film by/about Veterans, Filmmaker of the Year.
  • Rhode Island Black Film Festival
    Providence, Rhode Island
    United States
    April 5, 2024
    Rhode Island Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Las Vegas Black Film Festival
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    United States
    April 18, 2024
    Nevada Premiere
    Nominee: Best Short Film, Best Actor in a Short (Johnny Rey Diaz), and Best Director of a Short Film
  • Indie Vegas Film Festival
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    United States
    April 25, 2024
    Best Supporting Actress in a Short Film - Alyssia Rivera
  • Bare Bones Independent Film & Music Festival
    Muskogee, Oklahoma
    United States
    May 4, 2024
    Oklahoma
    Winner - William McCullum Award for Acting (Johnny Rey Diaz), Nominee - Best Lead Actor in a Short Film (Johnny Rey Diaz) and Best Short Drama Family
  • Top Indie Film Awards

    Winner : Best Actor (Johnny Rey Diaz), Best Actress (Alyssia Rivera), Best Message Nominee : Best Director, Best Short Film, Best Writing
  • Long Island International Film Expo
    Bellmore, NY
    United States
    July 14, 2024
    New York Premiere
    Jury Award -Best Social Awareness Film
  • Panther City Film Festival
    Hurst, TX
    United States
    July 20, 2024
    Nominated: Best Lead Performance in a Short (Johnny Rey Diaz), Best Supporting Performance in a Short (Marvin Ritchie, Alyssia Rivera), Best Texas Short WINNER : Best Drama Short, Best Supporting Performance in a Short (Erik Anderson), and Filmmaker of the Year (Cedric Thomas Smith)
Director Biography - Cedric Thomas Smith

Multi-award winning, writer, director and producer, Cedric Thomas Smith, is a San Antonio native whose journey into film began in 2010 with a short film on LGBT domestic violence that he’d written, “Unimaginable”. Cedric began directing his own works with films that have won over 40 film festival awards including “The Symphony of Silence” and “Melissa” (both examine the epidemic of teen bullying), the feature film version of “Unimaginable” and “Breaking Brokenness”, which is about the pattern of abuse wrapped up in secrets and lies within a family. Cedric continues to write, direct, and produce films that entertain yet give voice to those that feel voiceless including his latest film, "Losing Lalo" which examines the loss of a veteran to suicide and the impact it has on his family and fellow veterans..

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Director Statement

If we are lucky, a project presents itself that will leave a major impact on us. "Losing Lalo", a film on veteran suicide, is that film for me. As creatives, it is important that we make art that feels right for us from inception to reception. Everything else is a beautiful bonus. That is the lesson I learned from "Losing Lalo".

Award-winning actor, Johnny Rey Diaz (“Primo”. “Grey’s Anatomy”), came on board to play Lalo. His embodiment of “Lalo” is heartbreaking and haunting. He leads a diverse cast that at any given moment can break your heart. It was an absolute honor to direct this talented cast.

Thank you so much for your consideration!