Mataron a Pedro is short film directed by Kristian Mercado (Puerto Rico). Starring Juana Burga, Ismael Cruz Cordova, and David Koechner, it will premiere at the 25th edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (laliff) on May 28, 2026, at 7:00pm.
Seed&Spark writes, “Mataron a Pedro is the untold story of Pedro Albizu Campos. In the 1930s, farmers turned to a young Black Harvard educated lawyer, to fight for them, despite a political machine in Washington determined to silence them. What happens next will forever alter the course of a colonized island.”
Mission Statement: Mataron a Pedro is a pressing film that speaks to reclaiming our history. Based on real events, we want to capture a love story during one of the most turbulent eras in Puerto Rican History, with local cast/crew. The film asks the question: for whom is democracy crafted for?
Pedro & Laura: A Love Story
It’s the 1930s: Pedro Albizu Campos is first Black Puerto Rican to go to Harvard, graduating top of his class, and his wife Laura Meneses is the first Latina at Radcliffe College. They meet and fall in love in Boston but return to the island with their two children.
When he’s asked by farmers to confront the white Chief of Police, and white governor, over island wide strikes, he wonders how they will protect their family from the storm that’s surely coming. We follow Pedro and Laura’s relationship amidst the fiery campaigns and political upheaval that threaten to separate them forever.
Will Laura and Pedro’s love be strong enough?
Director’s Statement: Pedro and Laura are hidden figures in history, and their story is not only an arresting statement to the time, but a fascinating study of a man willing to fight the most powerful military force, for their freedom.
The visual style of this film will be intimate and poetic but also make way for the wide epic scenes of the farmer’s strike. The audience will feel that they’ve stepped into a wild moment, as it was an Era just after the Great Depression began with wide starvation and poverty across the world.
The film will lean on quiet moments that show his love for his wife, and the difficult choice he ultimately makes.
Pedro is an almost mythical hero in Puerto Rican history, but we express his humanity by focusing on his commitment to his wife, and people. This is a love story that will highlight a revolutionary voice, willing to stand up to any power for their freedom.
Director’s Description (by the University of Buffalo): Kristian Mercado Figueroa is an award-winning Puerto Rican filmmaker [. . .]. Mercado’s distinct voice addresses issues of identity, family, and systemic oppression across race and class. His work is celebrated for its portrayal of working-class struggles, highlighting love and loss. Mercado has directed content for Billie Eilish, Awkwafina, Bad Bunny, and Adult Swim, among others. He’s also directed comedy specials for Hannibal Buress, SNL’s Sam Jay and London Hughes for Netflix. Kris’s music driven short film Pa’lante won the 2019 SXSW Film Festival Jury Award. His [. . .] work was part of the Official Selection at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival with the Grammy-nominated music video ‘Colors’ by Black Pumas and Hannibal Buress’s comedy special ‘Miami Nights’. His short film Mariposa toured the 2020 film festivals with high acclaim. [. . .]
Excerpt from https://krismerc.tv/kris-bio: As a leading voice in the emerging Puerto Rican cinematic movement, Mercado infuses his projects with a distinctive blend of nostalgia and poetry while authentically representing his cultural heritage. His work often explores themes of identity, belonging, and intergenerational connection, creating a bridge between traditional storytelling and contemporary narrative techniques.
Mercado’s influence extends beyond conventional filmmaking; he crafts immersive cinematic experiences that challenge audience expectations while maintaining emotional authenticity. Through his unique visual style and commitment to meaningful storytelling, he continues to push the boundaries of modern cinema, establishing himself as a vital voice in the evolution of contemporary film. [. . .]
For more on the director, see https://krismerc.tv/ and https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/media-study/alumni/meet-our-alumni/KristianMercadoFigueroa.html
For more information, see https://seedandspark.com/fund/mataronapedro#story and https://laliff.org/
Also see https://www.imdb.com/title/tt41606879/