The short film by Michell Olivarría celebrates vulnerability and the power of healing, bringing the name of Sinaloa to Mexico’s national film scene.
From the port city of Mazatlán comes a story born from tears, therapy, and courage. “Nobody Likes to Lose”, the new short film written and directed by Michell Olivarría, has been officially selected for the 2025 San Luis Potosí International Film Festival, marking a deeply emotional and human contribution from Sinaloa to Mexican cinema.
Starring Dulce Guzmán, Miguel Ordaz, and Abraham Medina, the film follows Mariana, a young woman confronting the end of her first love through therapy. What begins as an intimate session becomes a journey into vulnerability, when the symbolic presence of Julio, her ex-partner, reveals that love, too, can heal when one faces the emptiness it leaves behind.
“This short was born from heartbreak. In the middle of the pain, my psychologist told me: write a script for a movie. So I did. Seeing it selected today is a reminder that creating is also a way to heal,” shares Olivarría.
Cinema from the Local to the Universal
Produced by Michell and Miguel Olivarría, with José María Zea as Director of Photography, the short was conceived as a tribute to independent filmmaking in Sinaloa, created by a team that chose emotion over spectacle.
Raised in the arts — from ballet and painting to film direction — Michell Olivarría has developed a distinct authorial voice in the local audiovisual scene. With earlier works such as “Mar de almas” and “Noche incierta”, she has built a filmography that fuses aesthetic sensitivity, emotion, and narrative intimacy.
“Proving that great cinema can also come from local stories is part of our mission. The north dreams, too,” says the director proudly.
The Power of Vulnerability
The short film places female vulnerability at the forefront — not through forced drama, but with an honest look at heartbreak, silence, and letting go. With a restrained visual style and intimate performances, “Nobody Likes to Lose” captures both the rawness and beauty of moving on.
“To love is also to lose — and to lose is to grow,” Olivarría reflects.
With its selection in San Luis Potosí, Sinaloan cinema reaffirms its place on the national map, reminding audiences that the most universal stories are often born from the most personal experiences.
“Nobody Likes to Lose” — more than a title, it’s a confession turned into art.