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a JON AYON film

NIKI•TOMI•BETO

Haunted by the Nahua deity Tlazōlteōtl, 4 cousins in Northeast LA try to protect each other from the violence and family strife threatening to tear them apart.

SYNOPSIS

Niki, Tomi, Beto, and Ernie are 4 close-knit cousins growing up in Northeast LA. As Ernie gets increasingly involved with his gang, he tries to maintain a caring and protective role with the younger Niki, Tomi, and Beto. The boys' tight-knit relationships unravel when the Nahua goddess of refuse and regeneration, Tlazōlteōtl, arrives to intervene in their everyday lives.

FESTIVAL SCREENING DATES

WITH MUSIC FROM SPEAK + TELEBIT

CLICK ON AN ALBUM COVER TO LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC!

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Original title NIKI•TOMI•BETO
International title Niki•Tomi•Beto
Duration 18 min.
Aspect Ratio 1.45:1
Format 4K
Sound 5.1, Stereo
Year 2025
Original language Spanish, English, Nahua
Countries of production United States
Production Companies Un Colibrí Films

Written and directed by JON AYON
Produced by Estevan Padilla

MAIN CAST

Niki Santiago Ramos Ramirez
Tomi Edison Medina
Beto Simone Brazzini
Ernie Nathaniel Nicholas
Tlazōlteōtl Andrea Hernandez
Juanita Natalia Dominguez
Roberto Saíd Gonzalez
Chicha Yanin Loza
Dino Javier Duran
Alfredo Hugo Mejia
Set Leader Mario “Scar” Ponce
Gang Member Pino Martinez

MAIN CREW

Director of Photography  Celeste Yumara Barbosa
Assistant Director Kiara Beltran
Editor and Composer Jon Ayon
Production Designer Jade Spiers
Art Assistant Steele O’Neal
Wardrobe Rosie Benson
Hair + Makeup Ashley Alvarez
Sound Fiona Gaye
Additional Sound Matt LaCorte
1st AC Bihilio Briggs
2nd AC Samantha Espinoza
Ronin Op Benjamin Steen
MiniDV Cinematography Marilyn Flores
G+E Driver Joseph Magallanes
Key PA Jimmy Hernandez
Production Assistants Pedro Galvez
Production Assistants Manuel Smith
Gaffer Kevin Willing
Key Grip Kevin Paniagua
Best Boy Electric Eduardo Saucedo
Best Boy Grip 1 Zach Domingo
Best Boy Grip 2 Roberto Padilla
Onset Photographer Victor Grossling
Tag Art Danny Madrid
Sound Mix/Master Dan Olmsted
Color Darren Hartman
Story Editor Emily R Smith
Assistant Editor John Ortiz
Poster Art Norma Martínez

FILMMAKING TEAM

CELESTE YUMARA BARBOSA

Director of Photography

Celeste is a Mexican-American cinematographer and director, born in Anchorage, Alaska and raised in Los Angeles. She began her career in the camera department, working across documentary and narrative productions in the U.S. and internationally, with experience on projects for HBO, Netflix, DreamWorks, Apple TV+, Showtime, and Amazon.

JON AYON

Writer // Director // Editor

Jon Ayon is a writer/director from Oakland, CA, by way of Northeast LA, where he was born and raised. His films have won support from Full Frame, the Annenberg Foundation, NewFilmmakers LA, SFFILM, Points North Institute, IDA, and the Berkeley Film Foundation. As a first-gen filmmaker, Jon Ayon is proudly devoted to telling immigrant stories in an anti-immigrant world.

ESTEVAN PADILLA

Producer

Estevan is an award-winning Mexican-American filmmaker and photographer from Eagle River, Alaska. He began his career working on major motion pictures for Marvel, Warner Bros, HBO, and Skydance before transitioning to the commercial world, where he directed and produced campaigns for some of the world's largest brands.