UNAM High School Graduate Earns International Film Recognition in London

Alexis Hernández Peña, a talented graduate from UNAM’s College of Sciences and Humanities (CCH) – East Campus, has gained international recognition after winning the Audience Award at London’s Lift-Off Global Network Sessions International Festival for his short film “Atrapado en el limbo” (Trapped in Limbo).

”This award means more than just personal success, it’s a victory for our country and the entire UNAM and CCH East community,” Alexis said. “It proves that with perseverance, we can all achieve our dreams.”

The award-winning short film, shot in Mexico City’s Tláhuac and Iztapalapa neighborhoods, represents eighteen months of dedicated work, with Hernández Peña handling everything from screenplay writing to production and editing. The Lift-Off Global Network Sessions is a prestigious festival known for promoting the work of emerging filmmakers worldwide.

With “Atrapado en el limbo” (Trapped in Limbo), Alexis challenges the notion that high-quality filmmaking requires significant financial resources. “The art of storytelling depends more on approach than on budget,” he explains. He aims to use film as a tool for social awareness and to inspire reflection on real-world issues, demonstrating that creativity can triumph over economic limitations.

Alexis has shown a passion for filmmaking since childhood, preferring his father’s analog camera over traditional toys and creating original productions with his siblings.

Hernández Peña’s filmmaking journey began at age 11, when he created his first short film about bullying, a subject he knew firsthand. After the film was well-received and screened at various Mexico City schools, he knew filmmaking was his calling. Currently, he’s working on a new project about gender-based violence and developing a documentary about ancient Tenochtitlán.