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AFI Latin American Film Festival: MAD BILLS TO PAY (or DESTINY, DILE QUE NO SOY MALO) + Q&A with filmmaker Joel Alfonso Vargas and actors Juan Collado and Destiny Checo In the sweltering heat of the Bronx summer, 19-year-old Rico (Juan Collado) sells his homemade alcoholic concoctions, affectionately called “nutties,” down at the beach. His carefree days turn into endless nights until his exasperated Dominican mother (Yohanna Florentino) and pugnacious sister (Nathaly Navarro) harsh his vibe when he finally makes it home. But when Rico invites his pregnant girlfriend, Destiny (Destiny Checo), to move into their house, he will be forced to face adulthood head-on. Desperate to be the father he never had, Rico finds his endless charm wearing thin as he struggles to live up to the expectations of those around him. Bronx native Joel Alfonso Vargas’ brilliant meditation on masculinity is affectionately crafted, filled with moments of humor, brutal realities and the endless love of family. Vargas’ debut feature premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival where it deservedly won the NEXT Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast. –Josh Gardner
U.S., NOT RATED
MAD BILLS TO PAY also screens on September 24 (no event)
Part of the AFI Latin American Film Festival. For the full lineup visit: http://AFI.com/Silver/LAFF
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3916, United States
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