The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo

Director Michael Walker and producer Sarah Gomes expected to attend in San Francisco

Set in the suburbs of New York in the mid-1980s, introverted teen Julie is surprised to learn that the highly anticipated Spanish exchange student staying with her family is, in fact, a boy. Upon his arrival, it does not take long for the exceedingly charming Juan Jose to make an impression, catching the eye of several girls at school. Between their many late nights together and their close quarters, Julie finds that she, too, cannot help falling for him.

A fun homage to John Hughes’s beloved romantic comedies, Michael Walker’s vibrant and earnest film brims with irresistible nostalgia. Walker and co-writer Susan Gomes’ script thoughtfully reflects on the rigidity of the era’s social norms, making the growing pains all the more poignant and the youthful romanticism all the more affecting. This coming-of-age story compassionately portrays the universal uncertainty and insecurity of adolescence through a group of teens who, at the end of the day, simply want to be themselves with confidence. —Celeste Wong

West Coast Premiere

Michael Walker is an independent filmmaker based in New York City. He has directed several award-winning films, including Price Check (Sundance), starring Parker Posey, and Chasing Sleep (Toronto), starring Jeff Daniels. His film Paint, starring Olivia Luccardi and Josh Caras, won Best Film at Dances With Films in 2022. Walker is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and the Stella Adler Conservatory for Acting in Los Angeles.