By: Adelante Magazine Reviews
Queer Latinx-Indigenous filmmaker Ahuatl Amaro seeks to Transform Hollywood by
producing films that center the lives of LGBTQ, Latinx, and Indigenous people
Can’t get enough of gay comedies, soccer and Latinx love stories? Well, we’ve got some great news for you: Agua Dulce Productions has announced it’s filming a gay sports comedy titled Mean Goals about a team of mean-spirited LGBTQ soccer players. A project of Film Independent, the short film follows Jesus, an adorkable gay, brown, Latinx, who decides to join an LGBTQ soccer team to bond with his dying father over their shared passion for the sport. Mean Goals is written and directed by Ahuatl Amaro and set to be filmed this summer.
“Soccer, Latinx leads, and gay jokes – we can’t wait for big Hollywood studios to give the people what they want. That’s why we’re filming it,” said Mean Goals writer and director Ahuatl Amaro.
The film begins when Jesus initially fails to make the team’s roster but he doesn’t easily give up. He remains steadfast in his goal of playing soccer to strengthen his relationship with his father who has rapidly progressive Alzheimer’s. Jesus makes a plan to bulldoze his way onto the roster, but his plan backfires and he’s banned from joining the gay soccer team.
“Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, LGBTQ athletes are consistently breaking records, and Latinxs are essentially invisible on the big screen with less than 5 percent of lead actors in major Hollywood films being Latinx. Audiences have never seen soccer, Latinxs, and queer folk all in one single comedy film. We’re here to change that,” said Amaro.
Soccer accounts for a fanbase of over 3.5 billion people, making it more than the globe’s favorite pastime but a way of life for billions worldwide. Yet while the beautiful sport has a magnetic effect across borders and identities, historically it has been elitist, exclusive and machista. Unfortunately, soccer is known for the rampant homophobia among the sport’s fanbase that alientes LGBTQ people. Mean Goals takes a nuanced and comedic approach to underdog sports comedy by breaking down barriers and shattering stereotypes.
“Our film is inspired by my own family’s obsession with soccer. Growing up, our family would spend hours on the soccer pitch. My siblings played the sport, my dad would referee games, and I’d help manage the snack shack at the park. I quit playing soccer at an early age because of the incessant bullying. Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder how different my life would have been without the rampant homophobia in soccer,” Amaro added.
The Mean Goals promo video has secured thousands of views on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Agua Dulce Productions has launched a fundraising campaign to raise vital funds to produce the gay sports comedy film. The film will premiere on the heels of the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The international tournament will bring international soccer craze to our door steps.
“We are pleased to offer our support to Mean Goals, a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent,” said Daniel Cardone, Manager of Nonfiction Programs and Fiscal Sponsorship. “Mean Goals represents Film Independent’s mission to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision.”
Mean Goals is being produced by Brian Bonilla, edited by Joe Murphy, composed by Sean Segal (Sebastian Maniscalco: Is It Me?) and cinematography by Aakash Raj (Four Samosas). Mean Goals is the third short film by writer and director Ahuatl Amaro. His previous comedy film Warehouse (2023), about four LGBTQ warehouse workers, was selected by a dozen film festivals throughout the country including the San Diego Latino Film Festival, OUTShine Fort Lauderdale, Boston’s Wicked Queer, Queer Voices NYC, New Filmmakers Los Angeles, and the Mexican-American Film and Television Festival. Amaro’s latest film Physical Therapy (2024), a comedy about a gay Latinx doctor of physical therapy starring Jason Genao (Netflix’s On My Block), is premiering this Spring.
“We’re thrilled to be working on a comedy short film that centers on a gay, brown, Latinx character,” said Brian Bonilla, Mean Goals producer. “You’re gonna LOL and your eyes might also get misty. This is one film you won’t want to miss. No cap.”
Amaro founded Agua Dulce Productions after working with nonprofits for over 15 years to secure marriage equality and advance freedom, justice and equity for all.
“Filmmaking is expensive. We need our community’s support to bring Mean Goals to a screen near you. That’s why we’ve partnered with Film Independent to ensure that all donations made are tax-deductible,” Amaro added.
To learn more about Mean Goals, and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: www.filmindependent.org/sponsored-projects/mean-goals/