Top 5 Latin Music Short Films of 2024 So Far: Nathy Peluso, Bizarrap & More

Days before launching his “Vol. 60,” Bizarrap announced in an unexpected format that his next music session would be with Lismar: a seven-minute short film set in an enigmatic artificial intelligence-powered music lab, featuring the Dominican rapper.

Co-directed by Biza and Oscar winner Armando Bo, the film challenges traditional conceptions of the future of music creation, addressing the issue of human creativity in the face of technological innovation as an executive suggests to the Argentine producer the possibility of replacing real musicians with virtual megastars in their collaborations. “Who made the beat?” the producer asks, before learning the executive’s disturbing response, ”Who cares about the beat? We don’t need real musicians anymore!”

The short film delves into the nature of authenticity in music, and whether AI could actually supplant the human spirit, exploring the depths and complexities of musical innovation.

Baño María, directed by Brian Kazez and bearing the same title as CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso’s most recent album, captures the friendship and irreverent style of both Argentine artists in the best buddy film style. Over the course of 10 minutes, the clip immerses the viewer in the artists’ chaotic world, with a distinctive visual art form that includes funky haircuts, bold tattoos, luxurious leather jackets and lots of partying.

With a plot that unfolds over 24 hours, the short film articulates a whirlwind of mind-bending experiences, intensified by a soundtrack that resonates with the duo’s album tracks. This visual and sonic journey reflects the pair’s creative freedom and leaves an impression as distinctive as their indomitable spirit.

Todos Los Caminos Conducen al Hipódromo Agua Caliente, a 20-minute short film directed by Gallo Fortuna, navigates the layered past of Tijuana — a city that blossomed into a neon-lit oasis during the Prohibition era. The film interweaves tales of American extravagance with local opportunism, reviving the stories of mythical and enigmatic figures such as El Fantasma Apostador (the Phantom Gambler), La Faraona (the Pharaoh) and ill-fated journalist Héctor “El Gato” Félix Miranda, emblems of the city’s glory and dark secrets.

With an atmospheric soundtrack featuring songs from the album La Liturgia del Tigre Blanco (Nacional Records) by Espectro Caudillo — who is also the director — and narration by David Martínez, the film captures the mysterious allure of the Hipódromo Agua Caliente, the once-glamorous complex with a casino, spa and racetrack, which had its golden era a century ago. The short film combines myth and historical reality, examining themes of opulence and decadence, as well as contemporary challenges such as Mexico’s war on drugs and social inequality.

This multifaceted portrayal culminates in a clever twist — left unspoiled here — leaving viewers haunted by the unresolved mysteries and fascination of the border town.

Nathy Peluso’s short film, directed by Agustín Puente, reinvents the traditional music video format by incorporating 13 tracks from her album Grasa. This nearly 30-minute film transforms a simplistic stage into a dynamic theatrical spectacle, where each song brings its own allure thanks to ingenious changes in set design and lighting.

Throughout the visual, Peluso undergoes through a metamorphosis — from embodying a seductive diva to becoming a determined, gun-toting rapper — equipped with a series of bold props and costumes such as cash, cigarettes, weights, and Penny Lane-style fur coats. The Argentine artist seems to transform not only in appearance, but also emotionally and spiritually. This work highlights her versatility as a performer, while offering an evocative window into her artistic evolution.

Part iPhone commercial, part short film, ¡Suerte! follows Ivan Cornejo on a surreal journey through Mexico City to rekindle his musical inspiration. Directed by Cliqua, this work captures the Mexican-American artist exploring streets and markets with his guitar in hand, reconnecting with his roots while immersing himself in a magical environment, in an Alice in Wonderland or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory fashion. As characters from a game of la lotería — a beloved Mexican card game — come to life, they intertwine their existence with Cornejo’s lucid dreams, leading him on a series of unforgettable adventures. There is also a highlight featuring María Zardoya of The Marías. The video includes Cornejo’s single “Intercambio Injusto” and of course is shot with an iPhone 15 Pro.

SoundCloud has often served as a launching pad for emerging subgenres that later dominate the charts, such as “SoundCloud rap,” plugg music or SoCal soul. Scenes: Música Mexicana — an episode of the platform’s Scenes series — bears witness to this pattern by exploring the rise of corridos tumbados and sierreño, from their underground origins to their dominance on the Billboard charts. Directed by Elías López-Julián Burgueño and with creative direction by Matias Contreras, the 11-minute documentary captures the streaming service’s influence on these emerging genres, illustrating the cultural revolution driven by young Mexican-American talent.

The documentary highlights Ivan Cornejo, who fuses emo lyrics with sierreño and an electric guitar; DannyLux, who offers a romantic perspective adapted to the Generation Z; Conexión Divina, who broadens the diversity of the genre with a queer and female voice; and Xavi, who has invented his own sub-genre called tumbados románticos.