Vincent DeLuca

Now Available to Watch in our New Link is OIFF 2026's Award Show, featuring all 21 Award Categories, including Best Picture Winner: @desert_angel_film , presented before our Live Audience at @thestartheatre in Downtown Oceanside, CA. Check our Bio for the Full Video! . We Thank all filmmakers, crew members, volunteers, & the community for making both the OIFF Award Show & OIFF 2026 itself everything it was this year! . . #OsideFilm #OIFF2026 #oceansideinternationalfilmfestival #oceanside #osidelocal #noerthcountysd #oceansideevents #osidefilmfest #louniles #desertangel #vincentdeluca #thestartheatre #desertangelfilm #supportindiefilm @lounilesiyn

Last night was the Red Carpet Opening Night for the Oceanside International Film Festival! Here is @ironmanmike 's interview of @vdeluc , the director of the night's feature "Desert Angel". The film follows @angeles_del_desierto_rafeel and his now 25 year long journey helping immigrants in need of rescue in the desert and mountains along the border. The festival runs until Saturday February 28th at the @thestartheatre , and tickets are available now at osidefilm.org!! . . #desertangel #oiff #oceansideinternationalfilmfestival #osidefilm #starttheatre #oceansidefilmmaking #localfilm #localfilmmaking #sdfilm #filmfestival #northcountysd #osidelocal

OIFF 2026 continues on Wednesday, February 25th for our Red Carpet Ceremony at @thestartheatre with our North County Premiere of Vincent DeLuca’s Powerful Feature Documentary, DESERT ANGEL. Tickets Available Now in the link in Bio! . Forty years ago, Rafael Larraenza took his life into his hands to cross into the US from Mexico. After building a successful career and gaining legal status, a twist of fate rocked his comfortable middle-class existence and drew him back to the border. The first to systematically search for lost immigrants, he is a highly esteemed hero in Latin American communities, having spent the last 25 years searching the treacherous deserts and mountains for immigrants in need of rescue – saving hundreds of lives and recovering the remains of those who perished attempting to cross. With only his determination and a shoe-string budget, Rafael is determined to bring closure to families torn apart by the harsh realities of migration. . Now, we join Rafael at a fraught time in his quest. After decades spent on deadly terrain and in need of a double hip replacement, Rafael is unwilling to slow down — haunted by the knowledge that a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death for those lost along the border. When Indira, a mother from El Salvador, requests help for her missing son, university student Rodrigo, Rafael directs all of his energy to save the young man. But the years have taken a toll on Rafael’s body and resources. With every search-and-rescue mission he risks his own life, not knowing if and when the desert will finally claim him too. (87 Minutes, Starts at 6:15pm & is to be proceeded by Q&A Discussion) . . #osidefilm #desertangel #thestartheatre #oceansideevents #filmfestival @desert_angel_film

Tickets are on Sale now for our Opening Night Presentation of Vincent DeLuca's Feature Documentary, DESERT ANGEL. You can catch both our Red Carpet Ceremony & the film's North County Premiere on Wednesday, February 25th at @thestartheatre in Downtown Oceanside. More Info and Tickets on our Website, Link in Bio 👀 . Forty years ago, Rafael Larraenza took his life into his hands to cross into the US from Mexico. After building a successful career and gaining legal status, a twist of fate rocked his comfortable middle-class existence and drew him back to the border. The first to systematically search for lost immigrants, he is a highly esteemed hero in Latin American communities, having spent the last 25 years searching the treacherous deserts and mountains for immigrants in need of rescue – saving hundreds of lives and recovering the remains of those who perished attempting to cross. With only his determination and a shoe-string budget, Rafael is determined to bring closure to families torn apart by the harsh realities of migration. . Now, we join Rafael at a fraught time in his quest. After decades spent on deadly terrain and in need of a double hip replacement, Rafael is unwilling to slow down — haunted by the knowledge that a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death for those lost along the border. When Indira, a mother from El Salvador, requests help for her missing son, university student Rodrigo, Rafael directs all of his energy to save the young man. But the years have taken a toll on Rafael’s body and resources. With every search-and-rescue mission he risks his own life, not knowing if and when the desert will finally claim him too. (87 Minutes, Starts at 6:15pm & is to be proceeded by Q&A Discussion) . . #desertangel #osidefilm #oceansideinternationalfilmfestival #rafaellarraenza #vincentdeluca #northcountysd #thestartheatre #oceanside #oceansideevents #osidepride #osidelocal #osidefilmfest #desertangelfilm @desert_angel_film

Our new film directed by Vincent De Luca will release this summer. It follows Rafael Larraenza, a volunteer rescuer who has spent 30 years risking his life searching for lost migrants along the US-Mexican border. @desert_angel_film @sevanafilms @jcorsie @dolidelgado @janekambros

One night only! Thursday 10/16. Get tix: bit.ly/DesertAngelScreening or click the link in my bio. If you’re in LA, please join this free screening of the award-winning film “Desert Angel” - a true story about one family’s incredible journey to reunite across the US-Mexico border. Q&A with the director Vincent DeLuca, the film’s lead, and a local immigrant rights advocate from the Immigration Resource Center. Learn how you can help defend immigrants’ rights in our communities.

FULL LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT!! We cannot wait for you all to check out this year’s incredible films. 🥳🍿 #sysff25 #shortfilms #lineup #sysff #indiefilms

🎉 The countdown begins!
The first wave of official selections for Salute Your Shorts 2025 is HERE — and we’re already obsessed. • These are bold, beautiful films that linger long after the credits roll — exactly the kind of stories we live for. • 🗓 Mark your calendars: August 15–17
📍Assistance League Theatre, Hollywood •
Come for the AC, stay for the films… and yes, there will be food. • 🍿 This is just the beginning — the full lineup drops July 22. Check back daily to meet the filmmakers, read our programmer statements, and get to know what makes these shorts so unforgettable. • This is your summer of films with aftertaste. Don’t miss it. • • • BLUEBERRY - @emilbrulin @_hampus_hallberg_ • BULLDOZER - @joannaleedsofficial • CLEMENTINE - @doezavidson • CONTOURS - @aisha____amin • DALY CITY - @nickhartanto • DEAD WEIGHT @trine_raasalt • DRAGFOX - @dragfox_animation • KAMIKAZE - @raythedestroyer • MONSTER SLAYER - @catieskipp • ON A SUNDAY AT ELEVEN - @aliciakharris_ • PUBLIC FREAKOUT - @julia1sabella • QUEEN OF HEARTS - @directorally • RANDY AS HIMSELF - @rosegirl528 • RAT! - @neal.mulani • REHEARSAL - @rehearsalfilm2024 • SECOND DATE WITH WET SARAH - @whitcres @evanenderle • SHANTI RIDES SHOTGUN - @charles_frank • SPECIAL DELIVERY - @emilyeverhard • SWEET TALKIN’ GUY - @spender_wardell @missdylann • THE MUSIC STORE - @joegillette • THE SINGERS - @samdavis @jack_piatt_ @davidbreschel • THE TRUCK @shirleylchen • TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA - @preromanbritain @nmusteata • VERMIN BEINGS - @kat.messing

🎉 We’re honored to be named one of @moviemakermag ‘s 𝟓𝟎 𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝙚𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱! • Our team pours everything into creating an event that’s both intimate and high-calibre — always in service of the filmmakers. Every detail is considered through the lens of “What would we want if this were our film?” (Because yep… we’re filmmakers too.) • 🙏 Huge thanks to Tim Molloy and the whole MovieMaker crew for recognizing what we’ve built. • 📰 If you’ve got the print edition, you’ll also find a piece by our Artistic Director Erin Brown Thomas:
“𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙍𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙢 𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙚 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.” • 🎟️ Missed our final deadline yesterday? Look a little further in this carousel (last pic) for a code that waives it. 😉 • 📍Mark your calendars: August 15–17
📽️ Assistance League Theatre, Hollywood
🍕 Food. 🥂 Friendship. 🎉 Fun. And of course… FILMS. • #saluteyourshorts #filmfestival #indiefilm #shortfilm #moviemaker #sundancealums #callforsubmissions #filmmakersupport

@vdeluc , @dolidelgado , and Rafa with his friends and family at @officialsbiff

Can’t wait to bring our film to @officialsbiff next month! Catch Desert Angel on Feb 5th at 8:40pm and Feb 11th at 12:20pm. We’ll be there in person and look forward to connecting with central coast audiences! #bordercrisis #desertangel

Thank you @austinfilmfest for not only inviting Desert Angel to your festival, but for awarding us the Jury Award! We had such a blast - what a perfect premiere. #aff31 #desertangel #bordercrisis