Barrio
About the Film
In the heart of Portland's shifting landscape, a recent graduate confronts the enigma of her future while working as a cashier at her aunt's beloved Mexican bakery. As the scent of tradition intertwines with the winds of transformation, our protagonist and her aunt grapple with the imminent closure and bittersweet farewell of their bakery amidst neighborhood gentrification.
Director: Alexander Ibarra
Producer: Rose Chang
United States // 2025 // Comedy, Drama // Los Shorts
14 minutes
About the Filmmaker
ALEXANDER IBARRA was born and raised in southern Oregon in the small town of Klamath Falls. The youngest of three Chicano kids of Mexican immigrants, Ibarra grew up with a strong fascination with film both in English and Spanish.
In 2020, he graduated from Pacific University with a Bachelor’s in Film and Video with a minor in Spanish. There, his films and works were devoted to only feature underrepresented characters and stories with a strong focus on Latino characters. During his time at Pacific University, he wrote and co-wrote numerous short scripts, leading up to his thesis short film and directorial debut, BEACH NOISE. The short film was screened at the 2022 Gateway Film Festival in Forest Grove, OR.
After graduating, Ibarra moved to Portland, OR, where he slowly started his filmmaking career as a freelance editor, cinematographer, and production assistant. Over the years, he has become a frequent collaborator with the Portland-based film production companies ZP Productions and Watchanos Films, working mainly as a film editor on commercial and documentary works. His other film credits include working with such production companies and networks such as Paramount Pictures, Food Network, and PBS. Although Ibarra has worn many hats on films during pre and post-production, his main focus in film will always be screenwriting.
Ibarra’s films are heavily based on his own experiences growing up as a Chicano in the United States. While Chicano identity is at the core of his films, many other societal issues are at the forefront of his stories. Not only does he make it crucial to have underrepresented characters lead his films, but he actively collaborates with a diverse film crew of all racial, cultural, and sexual backgrounds. His main goal through his films is to feature underrepresented characters as humans and not just stereotypes.
