Empathy Across Borders: Director Jorge Villalobos Closes ISU’s Hispanic Film Festival 2025

On November 3, 2025, the 2025 Hispanic Film Festival at Idaho State University concluded with a moving virtual visit from Mexican filmmaker Jorge Villalobos, co-director of the acclaimed animated documentary Home Is Somewhere Else (Mi casa está en otra parte, 2022). The conversation marked the festival’s final event, closing five weeks of film, dialogue, and cultural reflection with an evening centered on family, empathy, and the shared experience of migration.

Supported by PRAGDA, the Government of Spain, the Department of Anthropology and Languages, the Cultural Events Committee, the Graduate School, and ISU’s Global Studies and Political Science programs, the festival was organized by graduate students from the M.A. in Spanish Program as part of the course Hispanic Film Festival taught by Dr. José Eduardo Villalobos Graillet. The Consulate of Mexico in Boise also joined the event, underscoring the strong cultural connections between Idaho and Mexico.

Home Is Somewhere Else tells three stories of young people and their families navigating life divided by borders yet united by love and resilience. Through animation and real voices, the film explores belonging, identity, and the power of family to overcome fear and uncertainty.

During the dialogue, Villalobos and ISU students reflected on how the film connects art, activism, and personal experience to redefine what “home” means for those living between two worlds. The discussion addressed themes such as the emotional impact of separation, the strength of family bonds, the persistence of memory, and the need for representation and respect toward migrant communities. Participants highlighted how the film transforms the notion of home from a physical place into an emotional and collective space, one sustained by love, hope, and shared humanity.

Villalobos expressed his gratitude for having the documentary screened at Idaho State University and praised the depth, empathy, and curiosity shown by the students throughout the discussion. Events like this, rooted in experiential learning, offer a unique opportunity for students to engage directly with filmmakers and apply critical thinking to real-world cultural dialogues.

With this conversation, the Hispanic Film Festival 2025 came to a close, reaffirming Idaho State University’s commitment to cultural dialogue and to celebrating stories that connect us across languages, borders, and generations.