IUS of Time — the Spanish LGBTQ+ short film directed by Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, produced with support from the Government of the Principality of Asturias — has been selected for the 10th Out & Loud – Pune International Queer Film Festival (PIQFF), screening in Pune, Maharashtra from May 29 to 31, 2026. 

With over 60 international festival selections across four continents and 7 awards, the film marks its fourth appearance at an Indian film festival — a trajectory we hadn’t quite anticipated when it first screened in Asturias.

IUS of Time at the 10th Out & Loud Pune Queer Film Festival — Screening Details

🗓 Festival dates: May 29–31, 2026
📍 29 May — Pivo Garten, Upper KP Mundhwa, Pune
📍 30–31 May — Lokashahir Annabhau Sathe Rangamandir, Pune
🎬 Category: Best International Short Film (Narrative)
📱 Festival updates: @outloudpiqff

The selection places IUS of Time within one of India’s most established and community-driven LGBTQ+ film festivals, dedicated to showcasing queer cinema from India and around the world through screenings, discussions and public engagement.

An Asturian Short Film Produced with Support from the Principality of Asturias

IUS of Time was produced with the support of the Department of Culture, Linguistic Policy and Sport of the Principality of Asturias, which funded part of the film’s production, post-production and distribution. The Asturias Paraíso Natural Film Commission facilitated locations and permits during the shoot — including the cheese caves of Cabrales, the fields of Onís, and the Picos de Europa.

Those landscapes aren’t background. They carry the story. And the international circuit of IUS of Time is, in a very real sense, those landscapes traveling the world.

With over 60 international festival selections, the film has established itself as one of the most internationally circulated Asturian fiction short films in recent years. Its journey began at the XI CortoGijón Short Film Festival in April 2025, where it had its first public presentation. The international premiere followed at the 27th OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival in Miami, then its Northern European premiere at Manse Pride by the 56th Tampere Film Festival in Finland, and its Asian premiere at the 16th KASHISH Pride Film Festival in Mumbai — Asia’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival.

Since then, the film has screened at festivals including:

— 53rd Huesca International Film Festival (Oscar & Goya qualifying)
— 31st Chéries-Chéris Paris LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
— 43rd Reeling: Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
— 63rd FICX Gijón International Film Festival
— 16th Écrans Mixtes in Lyon (France)
— 42nd Schwule Filmwoche Freiburg (Germany)
— 10th FeCHA Athens (Greece)
— 11th Geelong Pride Film Festival (Australia)

A full account of the 2025 festival journey is available on our website.

Among its 7 awards and distinctions: the Director’s Choice Award at the 45th Thomas Edison Film Festival (USA), the Audience Award at the 24th Avilés Acción Film Festival (Spain), and Best Cinematography at both the 4th Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival (USA) and the 3rd Rural and Mountain Film Festival of Cervera de Pisuerga (Spain).

India, Four Festivals — the Unexpected Journey of IUS of Time

When IUS of Time was selected for KASHISH in Mumbai — for its Asian premiere — it felt like a strong signal. Then came the 13th Reel Desires Chennai International Queer Film Festival and the 4th Utsav International Film Festival, also in Mumbai.

Now Pune.

What makes this trajectory particularly meaningful is that it was never strategically planned. Different programmers, from different cities and festivals, independently connected with a story rooted in silence, memory, desire and emotional repression within rural northern Spain.

There is something deeply moving in watching audiences from very different cultural realities emotionally recognize themselves in landscapes, gestures and silences that initially seemed profoundly local.

Ten Years of Queer Cinema at Out & Loud Pune

Out & Loud PIQFF has a specific place in India’s queer cinema landscape. Founded in Pune in 2017 by the Mist LGBTQ Foundation — which has been building LGBTQ+ community spaces across India since 2009 — the festival has grown into one of the country’s most consistent platforms for international queer storytelling. This 10th edition is a milestone: a decade of films, discussions and community events shaped by the belief that cinema and solidarity aren’t separate things.

Unlike many larger industry festivals, Out & Loud maintains a strong community-oriented identity. In categories such as Best International Short Film, audience members themselves vote for the winning films during the screenings, creating a direct relationship between filmmakers and viewers.

The 2026 edition takes place across two venues in Pune. The Lokashahir Annabhau Sathe Rangamandir, which hosts the final two days, is named after the celebrated Dalit writer and activist whose work in Maharashtra centered questions of identity, dignity and belonging — a context that quietly resonates with what this film is about.

About IUS of Time

For anyone arriving here for the first time: IUS of Time is a 25-minute drama in Spanish and Asturian. Luca, a young photography student, arrives in a small mountain village in Asturias. He rents a room from Xuan — an older cheesemaker, solitary, carrying a past he has never spoken aloud. What develops between them is quiet and specific: desire deferred, emotional inheritance, the weight of a life shaped by silence and prejudice.

The project itself emerged through an extended creative process that also generated the companion short films Blow Down and Sunset in Paris, conceived as “Sketches of IUS” during the screenplay development stage.

“Each time IUS of Time screens in India, something in the response confirms that what feels most local in a story is often what travels furthest.” — Roberto F. Canuto & Xu Xiaoxi

More About IUS of Time

Information about IUS of Time→Complete festival selections and awards → IUS of Time approaches 60 selections at FeCHA Athens → IUS of Time 2025 Festival Overview →

With nearly 60 international festival selections across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, IUS of Time reaches a new international milestone with its inclusion in the 10th FeCHA – Festival de Cine Hispanófono de Atenas, Greece’s only festival dedicated exclusively to Spanish-language cinema.

The Asturian short film, directed by Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, has been selected for the Diversidad 2026 program, a curated LGBTQ+ section organized in collaboration with Athens Pride and focused on contemporary queer stories from the Spanish-speaking world. This year’s edition brings together only four short films from Spain and Latin America, highlighting works that explore identity, intimacy, memory and resistance through distinct cinematic approaches.

IUS of Time screening in Athens

🗓 Date: May 29, 2026
🕘 Time: 21:00
📍 Venue: Rooftop Terrace · Instituto Cervantes of Athens
🎬 Program: Diversidad 2026
🌍 Online screenings across Greece: May 29–31, 2026

The screening forms part of the closing activities of the 10th FeCHA and will also be available online throughout Greece for a limited period through the festival’s digital platform.

See the Diversidad 2026 program at FeCHA Athens Film Festival.

Founded in 2016, FeCHA has become a major cultural bridge between Greece and the Spanish-speaking world, attracting more than 30,000 spectators over the past decade through screenings, retrospectives, educational activities and collaborations with institutions including the Instituto Cervantes and the Hellenic American Union.

FeCHA and the international visibility of Spanish-language cinema

Over the years, FeCHA has established itself as one of the key platforms for contemporary Spanish-language cinema in southeastern Europe, presenting films from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Cuba and other countries across Latin America.

The 2026 edition features productions connected to major international festivals and awards including Cannes, Venice, San Sebastián, the Goya Awards and the Academy Awards. The lineup includes films and guests such as Helena Taberna, Albert Pintó, Asier Urbieta and Avelina Prat, combining auteur cinema, social narratives, documentary filmmaking and contemporary queer storytelling within a broader cultural dialogue.

Within this context, the inclusion of IUS of Time reinforces the growing international circulation of queer Spanish-language cinema and the increasing visibility of independent films rooted in local landscapes, identities and cultural memory.

Since its premiere, IUS of Time has screened at festivals including:

— 53rd Huesca International Film Festival (Spain)
— 31st Chéries-Chéris – Paris LGBTQIA+ Film Festival (France)
— 16th Écrans Mixtes Queer Film Festival in Lyon (France)
— 43rd Reeling: Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival (USA)
— 63rd FICX Gijón International Film Festival (Spain)
— 42nd Schwule Filmwoche Freiburg – Freiburg Gay Film Festival (Germany)

Earlier this month, the film celebrated its Australian premiere at the 11th Geelong Pride Film Festival, marking its first screening in Oceania and further expanding its international reach across five continents.

With its growing international trajectory, IUS of Time is emerging as one of the most internationally visible fiction short films to emerge from Asturias in recent years.

Rural Asturias, queer memory and landscape-based cinema

Set in rural Asturias in northern Spain, IUS of Time follows Luca, a young photographer who arrives in a small mountain village to work on an artistic project and develops an unexpected emotional connection with Xuan, an older cheesemaker marked by silence, rumors and prejudice from the past.

Blending rural realism with poetic and symbolic storytelling, the film explores queer memory, emotional inheritance, masculinity, landscape and intergenerational connection. Through Luca’s camera, photography becomes both a narrative device and a form of emotional archive linking past and present.

Shot in locations including the Picos de Europa and villages such as Cabrales and Onís, the landscapes of Asturias become central emotional and narrative elements within the film, reinforcing its atmosphere of intimacy, isolation and suspended time.

IUS of Time was also supported by the Department of Culture, Llinguistic Policy and Sport of the Principality of Asturias, with the collaboration of Asturias Paraíso Natural Film Commission during the film’s development and production process.

The project evolved through an extended creative process that also generated the companion pieces Blow Down and Sunset in Paris, conceived as “Sketches of IUS” during the screenplay development stage. These works allowed the filmmakers to further explore character psychology, visual language and fragmented memory before the final structure of IUS of Time fully emerged.

Through its combination of rural realism, queer storytelling, landscape-based cinema and poetic visual language, IUS of Time is becoming part of a growing body of contemporary queer rural cinema emerging from the Spanish-speaking world.

“The international journey of IUS of Time has shown us how stories deeply rooted in local realities can emotionally connect with audiences across very different cultural contexts.”

— Roberto F. Canuto & Xu Xiaoxi

More information about IUS of Time

Official page of IUS of Time with festival selections, awards and production details.

Watch the official trailer of IUS of Time.

Header image: analogue behind-the-scenes photograph from IUS of Time by photographer Elmer Guevara / Almost Red Productions.

The film will screen on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 21:00 as part of the Fabulous Shorts I — a curated program of 17 short films from Switzerland, Spain, the UK, the USA, Austria, Italy, and Slovenia, all competing for the Audience Award for Best Short Film.

The 42nd Schwule Filmwoche Freiburg runs from April 29 to May 6, 2026, across several venues in Freiburg im Breisgau, featuring a diverse program of international LGBTQ+ feature films, documentaries, and short film competitions. This year’s edition introduces a new structure for its short film section, divided into two curated blocks that allow audiences to engage more directly in the voting process for the Audience Award.

IUS of Time in competition at the 42nd Schwule Filmwoche Freiburg 2026

🗓 Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
🕘 Time: 21:00
📍 Location: Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
🎬 Program: Fabulous Shorts I

See the Fabulous Shorts I screening program

Official festival website

Schwule Filmwoche Freiburg: over four decades of queer cinema

The Schwule Filmwoche Freiburg is one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals in the German-speaking world. Now in its 42nd edition, the festival has built a reputation for programming that balances artistic quality with cultural and political awareness.

The 2026 program places a strong emphasis on contemporary LGBTQ+ storytelling, combining international premieres, European independent cinema, and socially engaged documentaries. In addition to film screenings, the festival includes live events, panel discussions, and collaborations with local cultural institutions such as Theater Freiburg, reinforcing its role as a multidisciplinary platform for queer culture and public discourse.

IUS of Time: an expanding international festival trajectory

With over 50 international festival selections and multiple awards to date — including the Director’s Choice Award at the 45th Thomas Edison Film Festival and Best Cinematography at the 4th Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival — IUS of Time is emerging as one of the most internationally visible independent queer short films from Spain in recent years.

The selection in Freiburg adds to the film’s growing presence within the European queer festival circuit, following screenings at the 31st Chéries-Chéris – Festival du Film LGBTQIA+ de Paris, the 16th Écrans Mixtes Queer Film Festival in Lyon, the 53rd Huesca International Film Festival (Oscar & Goya Qualifying Festival), and the 63rd FICX Gijón International Film Festival.

In North America, the film has been selected at major festivals including the 43rd Reeling: Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival (USA), one of the longest-running queer film festivals in the United States, strengthening its visibility within key international LGBTQ+ exhibition platforms.

Upcoming screenings include its Australian premiere at the Geelong Pride Film Festival, marking the film’s debut in Oceania.

A film shaped by memory, landscape, and emotional encounter

Developed through an extended creative process, IUS of Time combines naturalistic storytelling with a poetic and symbolic dimension.

The film evolved alongside a series of short pieces — Blow Down and Sunset in Paris — conceived as part of the Sketches of IUS, expanding its narrative universe.

Shot on location in Asturias, including the Picos de Europa and rural villages such as Cabrales and Onís, the film integrates landscape as an essential narrative element, reinforcing its thematic exploration of time, identity, and memory.

At its core, the film presents an encounter between two characters from different generations and worlds, unfolding as both a physical experience and an emotional reconstruction shaped by absence and connection.

IUS of Time within contemporary European queer cinema

Its inclusion in the Freiburg Gay Film Festival competition highlights the film’s relevance within the current landscape of European queer cinema, where intimate, character-driven narratives continue to gain prominence.

Within the European festival circuit, IUS of Time aligns with a growing wave of queer cinema that prioritizes personal narratives, cross-cultural perspectives, and visually driven storytelling, positioning the film among emerging independent works gaining traction in international LGBTQ+ festivals.

More information

For a complete and updated list of festival selections, visit the official page of IUS of Time

Watch the trailer

The short film has been officially selected for the Gay Shorts 2026 program, which brings together international short works exploring contemporary queer storytelling. The screening will take place on May 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM at The Pivotonian Cinema in Geelong, Victoria.

Founded as a non-profit, community-driven initiative, the Geelong Pride Film Festival runs from April 30 to May 10, 2026, and presents a wide program of feature films and short film sections across the Geelong region, celebrating diverse identities, experiences, and narratives within global queer cinema.

IUS of Time within the international queer festival circuit

Set in rural Asturias, northern Spain, IUS of Time follows an encounter between a young photography student and a reclusive cheesemaker, leading to an unexpected emotional connection.

The film continues to strengthen its international presence through its selection at the Geelong Pride Film Festival, expanding its connection with global queer audiences and international programmers.

Its subtle exploration of identity, memory, and emotional connection, combined with its rural setting, has helped the film resonate across diverse cultural contexts.

More about IUS of Time on its official page.

Its inclusion in the Gay Shorts 2026 program highlights its place within contemporary LGBTIQ+ cinema and a broader dialogue on queer storytelling that transcends geographical boundaries.

An expanding international festival journey

This latest selection marks a new milestone in the international journey of IUS of Time, extending its presence to Oceania after screenings at internationally recognized festivals including the 53rd Huesca International Film Festival (Oscar/Goya qualifier, Spain), 43rd Reeling: Chicago LGBTQ+ Film Festival (USA), 31st Chéries-Chéris (France), and 63rd FICX Gijón (Spain).

The film has been featured in a wide range of international contexts, highlighting its ability to connect with diverse audiences through its intimate storytelling and universal themes. Its growing trajectory reflects not only critical recognition, but also a sustained interest from programmers focused on contemporary queer cinema and independent filmmaking.

Recent screenings in North America, at the 27th ReelOut Queer Film Festival (Kingston, Ontario) and in Europe at the 17th LGBT+ Film Festival Poland, continue to build the film’s global visibility.

With over 50 international festival selections and 7 awards to date—including Director’s Choice Award at the 45th Thomas Edison Film Festival 2026 (USA) and Best Cinematography at Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival (California)—IUS of Time stands as one of the most internationally visible independent queer short films from Spain in recent years.

A film shaped by memory, time and layered storytelling

IUS of Time emerged from a creative process that evolved organically, with the initial concept expanding into a more complex narrative structure through collaboration and experimentation.

Developed alongside writer and associate producer Enrique Pérez Romero, the screenplay went through an extensive process of refinement, combining narrative construction with visual and performative exploration. Early exercises in character development and cinematic language led to the creation of two companion pieces, Blow Down and Sunset in Paris, conceived as “Sketches of IUS” and forming part of the film’s broader creative universe.

At its core, the film explores the encounter between two characters from radically different worlds, whose brief interaction unfolds as both a realistic and symbolic experience. The narrative blends the naturalism of rural Asturias with a poetic and abstract dimension, allowing multiple interpretations to coexist: a memory resurfacing, an impossible meeting, or an emotional reconstruction shaped by absence and loss.

Shot on location in Asturias, including the Picos de Europa and municipalities such as Cabrales, Onís and Piloña, the film integrates its physical environment into the storytelling. Spaces such as traditional cheese caves and rural architecture are not only settings, but essential elements that reinforce the atmosphere and thematic depth of the film.

Through this layered approach, IUS of Time moves between realism and abstraction, connecting a personal story with broader reflections on time, identity and the traces left by the past.

The Australian premiere of IUS of Time adds a new milestone to the film’s international journey, reinforcing its place within contemporary independent and queer cinema.

Watch the official trailer:

The selection brings together six of the most acclaimed short films linked to Asturias, all of them widely recognized both nationally and internationally. Although Sunken Plum is set in China, the film is connected to Asturias through its director and its independent production model, developed between Spain and China, and was later incorporated into the Laboral Cinemateca distribution catalogue after receiving the Distribution Award at the 55th Gijón International Film Festival (FICX).

As part of this initiative, Sunken Plum will be screened across Asturias in a traveling circuit, with more than twenty confirmed screenings between April and June in different municipalities.

This anniversary selection highlights the role of Laboral Cinemateca in supporting and promoting Asturian filmmaking over the past decade, showcasing works that have achieved a strong presence on the international festival circuit.

Sunken Plum will be screened in more than 20 locations across Asturias as part of this touring program

As part of this special selection, Sunken Plum will travel across Asturias through “La Cinemateca Ambulante”, reaching a wide network of municipalities and reintroducing the film to local audiences.

Sunken Plum will be screened in more than 20 locations across Asturias as part of this touring program.

The screenings are scheduled between April and June 2026 in the following locations:

This extensive tour forms part of Laboral Cinemateca’s 10th anniversary celebrations, bringing cinema to more than 20 municipalities across the region and reinforcing its commitment to cultural access and the dissemination of Asturian filmmaking.

Through this initiative, Sunken Plum not only returns to its region of origin, but also reaches new audiences, reaffirming its continued relevance nearly a decade after its release.

Sunken Plum: a landmark short film in contemporary queer and transgender cinema

Released in 2017, Sunken Plum (original title Chen Li) is widely considered one of the most relevant short films addressing transgender identity in contemporary Asian cinema, particularly for its portrayal of rural China — a context rarely explored in queer narratives.

The film has been selected in over 150 international festivals across more than 55 countries, receiving over 30 awards and mentions worldwide.

Set between the city of Chengdu and a remote rural village in Sichuan, the film follows a transgender woman who, after years away, is forced to return to her hometown following the death of her mother. As the only “male” heir in the family, she must confront social expectations rooted in tradition while being unable to appear as herself in front of relatives and neighbors.

The cast combines professional performers with mostly non-professional actors, contributing to the film’s naturalistic tone while blending social realism with a subtle poetic dimension, creating an intimate and visually evocative portrayal of character and environment.

The film forms the third and final part of the Invisible Chengdu, alongside Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013) and Floating Melon (2015), a body of work shot in Sichuan and performed in Southwestern Mandarin that portrays marginalized and often unseen realities of contemporary Chinese society.

Developed independently between Spain and China, the project reflects the filmmakers’ ongoing exploration of cross-cultural narratives, blending European auteur sensibilities with deeply rooted local contexts.

Sunken Plum originates from real social tensions, inspired in part by viral videos—later censored—that exposed violence against transgender women in China, grounding the film in a broader reflection on visibility, identity and social control.

Discover more about the film: Sunken Plum

Sunken Plum: international impact and major awards

Since its release, Sunken Plum has achieved over 150 international festival selections across more than 55 countries, receiving over 30 awards and mentions, and establishing itself as a key work within global queer cinema.

It has become one of the most internationally recognized short films addressing transgender narratives in Asian cinema.

The film had its world premiere at the 62nd SEMINCI – Valladolid International Film Festival (Spain), one of the most prestigious film festivals in the country. It later continued its international journey through key festivals, including the 22nd LesGaiCineMad – Madrid International LGBT Film Festival, and expanded globally with its U.S. premiere at the 36th Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival and its UK premiere at the 26th Raindance Film Festival, both Oscar-qualifying festivals.

The film was also presented at major international festivals such as the 39th European Short Film Festival of Villeurbanne (France), the 34th Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival, the 13th Shorts México – International Short Film Festival, the 29th Istanbul International Short Film Festival, and the 16th Bogoshorts – Bogotá Short Film Festival, among many others, consolidating its presence across the five continents.

In Spain, Sunken Plum was selected at several Goya-qualifying festivals, including the 21st Málaga Film Festival, the 30th Aguilar de Campoo Short Film Festival, the 31st Medina del Campo Film Week, the 16th FESCIGU – Guadalajara International Solidarity Film Festival, and the 30th l’Alfàs del Pi Film Festival, reinforcing its recognition within the national industry.

Awards and Recognition

Sunken Plum has received more than 30 awards and mentions worldwide, including:

• Silver Caravel for Best Short Film – 47th Cartagena International Film Festival (Spain)
• Best Short Film, Best Director and Audience Award – 11th Punto di Vista Film Festival (Italy)
• Best Screenplay – 10th ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (China)
• Audience Award & Unilabur Award – 22nd Cortada Short Film Festival (Spain)
• Audience Award – 10th Lobofest International Film Festival (Brazil)
• Best Short Film – Centro Niemeyer LGBTI Film Festival (Spain)
• Best Short Film and Best Screenplay – 6th Brighton Trans Pride Film Festival (UK)
• Best Short Film (Journalists’ Award) – 17th Avilés Acción Film Festival (Spain)

The film has received over 12 awards for Best Short Film, multiple Audience Awards, and several recognitions for performance, highlighting both its critical acclaim and its strong connection with audiences worldwide.

You can find the complete and updated list of festival selections here: Sunken Plum (Ciruela de agua dulce) — Awards & Festivals

A defining work in the filmmakers’ trajectory

Sunken Plum represents a turning point in the work of Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, marking the consolidation of their cinematic language and their ongoing exploration of cross-cultural narratives between Europe and Asia.

Produced independently between Spain and China, the film reflects their commitment to auteur cinema and socially engaged storytelling, combining intimate personal narratives with broader social contexts.

Over time, the film has become one of their most widely screened works, contributing significantly to their international recognition and positioning within the global festival circuit.

Nearly a decade after its release, Sunken Plum continues to resonate with audiences and programmers worldwide. Its return to Asturias through this anniversary selection not only celebrates its past achievements, but also reaffirms its relevance in contemporary discussions around gender identity, representation, and cultural belonging.

As part of this retrospective, the film is not simply revisited — it is recontextualized as a work that helped shape the visibility of transgender narratives in international short filmmaking.

The filmmakers’ trajectory continues with their recent short film IUS of Time, well received at international festivals, further expanding their exploration of identity and memory. They are currently developing new fiction projects in both short and feature formats, planned to be produced between Spain and China.

Watch the official trailer:

The festival, which opens in Warsaw from April 10–18, 2026 and later expands to other cities across the country, presents a wide-ranging program of bold and socially engaged queer cinema, bringing together international works that reflect contemporary social and cultural realities.

Screening at LGBT+ Film Festival Poland – Warsaw (Kinoteka)

IUS of Time will be presented in the “Gay Stories (Shorts)” program, alongside productions from the United States, Hungary, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Screenings will take place at Kinoteka (Warsaw):

• April 11, 2026 – 20:30
• April 12, 2026 – 18:30

Across the “Gay Stories (Shorts)” and “Gay Love Affairs (Shorts)” sections, the festival showcases a total of 11 international gay short films. IUS of Time is the only Spanish film in this selection, highlighting its growing visibility within the European festival circuit.

This selection also continues the filmmakers’ relationship with the festival, where their previous works Sunken Plum (9th edition, 2018) and Water Circles Under Cotton Clouds (14th edition, 2023) were also presented.

IUS of Time : a story of memory, identity and silence

Set in a rural village in northern Spain, IUS of Time follows a young photography student who returns to reconnect with his roots and meets Xuan, an aging cheesemaker marked by long-standing rumors about his sexuality.

Filmed in the landscapes of Asturias — including the traditional Cabrales cheese caves in Asiegu (courtesy of Quesería Ecológica Asiegu) and historic rural houses shaped by centuries of history — the film draws deeply from the atmosphere of the Picos de Europa to create an intimate and grounded visual world.

As their relationship gradually unfolds, the film explores silence, belonging and generational distance through a restrained and observational approach.

Produced by Almost Red Producciones with the support of the Principado de Asturias, the film reinforces its connection to the region both thematically and materially.

Learn more about IUS of Time.

Recognition at Rochester International Film Festival (New York, USA)

In parallel with its European festival run, the film has also been recognized at the 68th Rochester International Film Festival, one of the longest-running film festivals in the United States, founded in 1959. This year’s edition will take place from April 30 to May 2, 2026 in Rochester, New York.

The film received an award distinction from the festival’s final judging panel, further consolidating its international trajectory.

This recognition strengthens the film’s presence across the U.S. festival circuit, including screenings and awards at festivals such as the 45th Thomas Edison Film Festival (Director’s Choice Award), where the film is part of the official 2026 touring program, as well as the 27th OUTshine Film Festival, where it had its international premiere and launched its international run, followed by the Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival (Best Cinematography Award), and selections at the 43rd Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival and the 27th Spokane International Film Festival, among others.

Expanding international trajectory

With its Polish premiere and recognition at Rochester, IUS of Time continues a festival run spanning three continents: Europe, America and Asia.

The film is part of the ongoing work of Roberto F. Canuto & Xu Xiaoxi, who have collaborated for over 15 years since completing their Master’s degrees at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Their films have been widely presented at international festivals and are known for their cross-cultural perspective, working between Europe and Asia while focusing on intimate human stories shaped by social context and personal transformation.

The filmmakers are currently developing new fiction projects in both short and feature formats, with upcoming productions planned between Spain and China, continuing their commitment to international collaboration and auteur cinema.

Watch the official trailer:

The screening will take place on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 8:00 PM, as part of the Asturian Short Films program at Cines Embajadores Foncalada in Oviedo.

The festival will take place from March 20–29, 2026, featuring a program that brings together films and activities designed to connect filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences.

Oviedo Film Festival (FOCO)

The Oviedo Film Festival (FOCO) was founded in 2008 as a short film showcase initiated by students from the audiovisual programs of the Asturian educational centres IES Aramo and CIDISI.

Since then, it has evolved into a well-established festival within the Asturian film scene. In recent years the event has expanded its scope, evolving from a regional showcase into a national festival featuring both feature films and short films in competition, alongside various parallel activities dedicated to audiovisual creation.

The 16th edition of the festival will take place across several venues in the city of Oviedo, including Cines Embajadores Foncalada.

IUS of Time, a return to Asturias

The selection at the Oviedo Film Festival also represents a very special return to Asturias for IUS of Time, a short film set in the Asturian countryside that reflects on memory, the passage of time and the bonds between generations.

A story that explores the relationship between place and the shared experiences of different generations, where the landscape and traditional rural trades play a central role.

The film continues its journey through festivals in Spain and internationally, further consolidating its presence within contemporary independent cinema.

Screening Information

The screening is part of the festival’s program dedicated to Asturian short films.

The cast of IUS of Time

The cast of IUS of Time brings together performers with diverse backgrounds in film, theatre and television.

Manuel Pizarro, a theatre, film and television actor with more than thirty years of experience, plays Xuan, a character shaped by the weight of the past and the scars of social injustice. His career has developed primarily in theatre, where he has received seven national awards for Best Leading Actor at various festivals and competitions. His work also includes the film “Mortadelo y Filemón” (dir. Javier Fesser) and the series “Vientos de agua” by Juan José Campanella.

The character of Luca is played by the Asturian actor Pelayo Carrizo, trained at the Asturias School of Dramatic Arts (ESAD). Carrizo has previously collaborated with directors Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi in several short films, including Water Circles Under Cotton Clouds, Blow Down and Sunset in Paris.

The cast is completed by Andy Almar, an Asturian actor and screenwriter who has appeared in several audiovisual productions, including the series “Poquita Fe” (2023), distributed by Movistar Plus+, as well as theatre and television projects.

Also part of the cast is Laura Ubach, an actress with experience in film, television and theatre, known for her participation in the series “Alma” (Netflix) and in the production “Olympo” (2025), also distributed by Netflix.

Filming in the rural heart of Asturias

Filming for IUS of Time took place in several locations across the Principality of Asturias, including the Picos de Europa and the municipalities of Cabrales, Onís and Piloña.

One of the most distinctive locations used during production was the Cabrales cheese aging caves, specifically those of the Asiegu Organic Dairy in the municipality of Cabrales. Inside these caves, where humidity reaches approximately 95%, some of the most atmospheric scenes of the short film were shot.

The crew also filmed in emblematic locations of the Asturian rural landscape, including the bar-shop El Chigre of Biedes in Piloña, a mountain stable in Sevares, and a 17th-century rural house in Biedes preserving Napoleonic-era furniture.

These locations help shape the film’s visual universe, where the landscape and rural traditions form an essential part of the story told by IUS of Time.

You can find more information about the film on the official page for IUS of Time on our website.

Header image: analogue photograph taken during the filming by Elmer Guevara © Almost Red Productions.

During the market, they introduced a new feature film currently in development and held meetings with producers and industry professionals from across the international audiovisual sector.

Participation in MAFIZ, the industry platform of the Málaga Film Festival

Their participation took place within the institutional space of the Principality of Asturias, thanks to the invitation of the Asturias Film Commission and the Regional Ministry of Culture, Language Policy and Sport of the Government of Asturias, which facilitated the team’s presence at the stand of Cine d’Asturies within the MAFIZ Regional Film Hub.

During their stay in Málaga, the filmmakers held several meetings and networking activities with international industry professionals, exploring potential collaborations for the development and production of their upcoming feature film.

Presence at the Cine d’Asturies Regional Film Hub

The Principality of Asturias took part in MAFIZ through the Regional Film Hub, a space designed to promote the film industries of Spain’s different regions and to facilitate connections between professionals across the audiovisual sector.

The hub serves as a meeting point for producers, institutions and industry professionals, fostering the creation of new collaborations and projects.

A new feature film in development: “Dulce resaca de sidra con té de jazmín”

Currently, Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi are developing “Dulce resaca de sidra con té de jazmín” (working title), a fiction feature film conceived as an international co-production between Spain and other European countries, and currently seeking production partners.

For their participation at MAFIZ, the team also prepared presentation materials for the project, including a one-pager and promotional postcards used to share the first details of the project with potential partners and collaborators during the market.

Alongside the development of this new project, the filmmakers continue presenting their latest short film, IUS of Time, which continues to actively circulate on the international festival circuit. The film continues its run with screenings and premieres in different countries, including its upcoming premiere in Greece at the Positively Different Short Film Festival in Athens.

The project’s presence at MAFIZ marks an initial step in the industry journey of the new feature film, which will continue its development in the coming months through further professional meetings, the search for international partners, and the creation of new audiovisual materials related to the project, including potential cinematic pieces connected to its narrative universe.

Almost Red Productions would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Asturias Film Commission and the Regional Ministry of Culture of the Principality of Asturias for their support and invitation to participate in this important professional platform for the audiovisual industry.

The film will be part of the session “Love Through the Storm,” scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at 21:00 at Cinobo Patision, one of the most active cinema venues in the Greek capital. The screening will be followed by the festival’s awards ceremony.

With this new selection, IUS of Time strengthens its presence on the international festival circuit, consolidating its trajectory within contemporary independent and queer cinema. Among its 2026 selections are festivals such as the 45th Thomas Edison Film Festival in the United States and the 27º Spokane International Film Festival, among others.

For more information about the short film, its full synopsis and its festival journey, you can visit the official page for IUS of Time on Almost Red Productions.

The Positively Different Short Film Festival in Athens: a space for socially engaged and diverse cinema

The Positively Different Short Film Festival (PDSFF) has established itself in recent years as one of the leading European platforms dedicated to socially and politically engaged short films.

Held annually in Athens, the festival seeks to highlight stories that challenge structures of discrimination related to gender, sexuality, origin, religion or social class, offering a space where cinema and cultural activism meet.

In this context, the selection of IUS of Time is part of an international programme that highlights intimate stories that engage with contemporary social issues.

The 2026 edition, under the theme “The Urge”, presents a programme that reflects on the current political and cultural challenges, bringing together stories that explore the diversity of identities and experiences from different parts of the world.

IUS of Time in the session “Love Through the Storm”

The short film will be screened in the session “Love Through the Storm”, dedicated to stories that explore emotional bonds and resilience in contexts shaped by social and cultural tensions.

The session brings together films from different countries that address themes such as identity, memory, desire and the social pressure surrounding human relationships.

IUS of Time consolidates its international festival run

Set in the rural landscape of Asturias, IUS of Time follows the encounter between Luca, a young photographer, and Xuan, a cheesemaker who lives in isolation after years of rumours about his past, in a story that reflects on memory, inherited prejudice and the possibilities of connection between generations.

Since its premiere less than a year ago, IUS of Time has built a strong international festival run, already surpassing the 50 selections at festivals across Europe, the Americas and Asia and consolidating the presence of the work of Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi within the contemporary independent cinema landscape.

The participation in the Positively Different Short Film Festival also represents the film’s first screening in Greece, expanding its presence within the European festival circuit.

At the same time, it strengthens its international trajectory with new selections across Europe and the United States throughout 2026.

Header image: photograph taken during filming by Jorge Fernández Artime © Almost Red Productions.

Official trailer below.

Screening in the Queer Shorts Section of the Spokane International Film Festival

IUS of Time will screen on March 8, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Magic Lantern Theater (25 W. Main Ave, Spokane), as part of the Queer Shorts program, a curated showcase dedicated to works that explore LGBTQ+ identities and experiences across diverse cultural contexts.

• 📅 March 8, 2026
• 🕓 4:00 PM
• 📍 The Magic Lantern Theater
• 25 W. Main Ave, Spokane, Washington

🎟 More information and tickets available on the official website of the Spokane International Film Festival.

One of Washington State’s Leading Film Festivals

Founded in 1999 and organized by the Contemporary Arts Alliance, the Spokane International Film Festival is one of Washington State’s leading film festivals and a key platform for independent cinema in the Pacific Northwest. SpIFF is known for its carefully curated selection of international feature films and short films that have not yet received commercial release, while also fostering direct engagement between filmmakers and audiences.

IUS of Time Strengthens Its Presence in the United States

The selection at SpIFF further reinforces the international trajectory of IUS of Time within the independent and queer cinema circuit in the United States. In recent months, the film has also been recognized at the 45th Thomas Edison Film Festival, where it received the Director’s Choice Award, and at the 4th Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival, where it received the Best Cinematography Award, along with nominations for Best Short Film and Best Drama.

The film has also been included in the official selections of major festivals such as the 43rd edition of Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, the 30th edition of OutSouth Queer Film Festival, and the 14th OutReels Cincinnati International Film Festival, among others. An overview of IUS of Time’s 2025 festival run is available on our website.

This new selection further strengthens the film’s presence in North America and expands its dialogue with United States audiences, reinforcing its international visibility.

Memory and Intergenerational Queer Experience

Set in rural Asturias, northern Spain, IUS of Time follows an encounter between two men from different generations, exploring themes of memory, solitude, and inherited tensions through an intimate and restrained lens.

The cast is led by Manuel Pizarro, an actor with more than three decades of experience in theater, film, and television, alongside Pelayo Carrizo, an Asturian performer trained at ESAD and a frequent collaborator of the directors. The ensemble is completed by Andy Almar and Laura Ubach, who have appeared in productions such as Poquita Fe (Movistar+) in the case of Almar, and Alma or Olympo (Netflix) in Ubach’s case, bringing a contemporary dimension to the narrative.

🔎 You can find the complete film profile of IUS of Time and an overview of its international festival journey on its film page on the Almost Red Productions website.

Header image: analogue photograph taken during the filming by Elmer Guevara © Almost Red Productions.

🎬 Official trailer below.