Based on the life and artwork of three Mexican-American artists, Frank Ayala, Ruben Aguilera Sanchez, and Abel Corchado, Los Tres tells the stories of these three artists who find refuge in friendship and art as they compose their artistic vision in the face of denigration and a space and time that deliberately fails to see them. Director Yehuda Sharim, known for films such as Flora (2024) and Letters2Maybe (2021), is back with a very warm and heartfelt documentary, filled with the beautiful artwork of these three artists, along with creative ‘on the fly’ shots that break the mold of the traditional documentary style.
Throughout the film, we learn and follow three passionate ‘underground’ artists as we go on a journey through their pasts, futures, and the connections between them. The three artists, known as the group ‘CHAA’ (Contemporary Hispanic Art Association), have been close friends and collaborators since the 1980s and strive for individuality, personal meaning in their work, a collection of beautiful color, and a deep connection to Mother Earth.
Abel Corchado comes from a family background of working in the fields under the beating sun, and he used this experience as an opportunity to break free from that, go to school, and discover art as his life, passion, and means to express himself and his history. Frank Ayala is an artist driven by being able and allowing others to tap back into their imagination and child-like sensibility with his art, by drawing ‘normal’ things but in a way that makes the viewer ponder on the art, and forces them to question, or ‘wrestle with’ the art to find the purpose or the meaning of the art within themselves.
After being rejected by the Multicultural Art Center, and having a mural made for Macias Park used as a table at the bicentennial event, Ruben Aguilera Sanchez, “son of the planet Earth and son of his family,” never gave up on his dreams, and now uses his art to take reality and play with it. To him, everything in the world is there and has a predefined meaning, but to an artist, anything can become anything and this is the basis of the art he creates. He uses reality as his basis, but uses his creativity to make art.
In Los Tres, we hear stories and feel the passion behind the early stages of the Chicano artistic movement. These three artists are extremely proud of their Chicano culture, proud to be American, and proud to be the positive motivation for young Chicano artists who have come after them and follow in their footsteps.
Los Tres follows the humble beginnings and ‘blue collar’ roots of these artists that led them to turn to art and use it to find freedom and passion in the world. In the 70s, they came to California to follow a dream and have stuck together despite numerous challenges and setbacks along the way. Each artist has their own distinct and original style, and each of them appreciates and values each other’s work, and this is what has kept the three of them together for decades, and even now into the future.
Los Tres will screen along with the short documentary Return: Saving Tutles at the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival on Sunday, June 7, 2026 – Online for 24 Hours! Get tickets and more info here.
The 31st Annual New Jersey International Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 29-June 7, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid one as we will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Most of the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person when both are offered. The in-person screenings will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. For more info on the Film festival go here: https://2026newjerseyinternationalfilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome
