By Bel Hernandez Castillo
LOS ANGELES — The 2026 Indiewood Film Festival is bringing two distinctly bicultural stories to Hollywood this September, with Del Zamora’s Chicano drama The Last Brown Beret and Varahi Pooja Mallipamula’s provocative dramedy IMPURE set to screen at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres.
The films arrive at the festival following notable festival recognition and represent two generations and cultures grappling with identity, tradition, activism and the pressures of societal expectations.
‘The Last Brown Beret’
Written and directed by Del Zamora, The Last Brown Beret will make its Los Angeles premiere September 14 following its Grand Prize – Best Feature win at the 2026 Golden State Film Festival.
Inspired by Alfredo Ramos’ stage play The Last Angry Brown Hat, the film revisits the legacy of the Chicano civil rights movement through a group of former Brown Beret activists who reunite decades after their days of organizing and activism.
Following the funeral of a former member, the men gather in the garage where they once planned protests and debated how to change the world. Their reunion forces them to reckon with the movement they helped build, the sacrifices they made and the battles that remain unresolved.
Starring Daniel E. Mora, Randy Vasquez, Vance Valencia, Linda Lopez, David Castro, Karen E. Wright and Zamora, the film blends political history with an intimate exploration of friendship, aging, identity and the complicated legacy of activism.
The Last Brown Beret is presented by Nestorita Limited in association with Con Safos Production.
‘IMPURE’
Three days later, on September 17, IMPURE will make its Los Angeles premiere, bringing a very different—but equally personal—bicultural story to the festival.
Written and produced by Varahi Pooja Mallipamula and directed by Nishanti Evani, the dramedy centers on Sandhya, a 25-year-old woman from a traditional Telugu family whose wedding is called off after her ex-boyfriend publicly reveals that she is not a virgin.
The incident sparks a viral social-media controversy when Sandhya’s American cousin, Veera, speaks out against the double standard surrounding female sexuality. With Indian-American artist Raja Kumari amplifying the video, Sandhya becomes the target of public scrutiny and cultural judgment.
Set in Visakhapatnam, IMPURE uses comedy, romance and friendship to tackle female sexuality, patriarchy, marriage, reputation, family expectations and the complicated process of defining oneself between cultures.
The film stars Yashna Muthuluri, Mallipamula, Sai Krishna and Abhijith Sreenath, with Raja Kumari serving as music director and appearing in a cameo.
At the heart of IMPURE is a provocative redefinition of its title: “IMPURE” becomes “I’M PURE.”
Two Films, Two Generations, One Cultural Conversation
While The Last Brown Beret looks backward at a generation that fought to change society, IMPURE examines the cultural expectations confronting a younger generation determined to define itself.
Together, the films underscore the breadth of independent cinema—and the power of filmmakers to bring stories of identity, heritage and social change to the Hollywood screen.
Both films will screen as part of the 2026 Indiewood Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
The Last Brown Beret
Los Angeles Premiere — September 14, 2026
IMPURE
Los Angeles Premiere — September 17, 2026
Indiewood Film Festival
TCL Chinese Theatres — Hollywood, California