Oxford Film Festival Screens Belhaven Professor’s Movie Cajita

March 19, 2025 (Jackson, Miss.) – The Oxford Film Festival screened the feature film “Cajita,” written and produced by Belhaven University’s Film Production Department Chair Rick Negron on March 1. The film has been recognized for its unique storytelling and representation of a Miami community rarely seen on screen.

“Filmmakers should be proud every time they complete a feature film, because it’s a very difficult thing to accomplish,” said Negron. “Beyond that, the creative team had a vision in mind to represent a cross-section of Miami that isn’t usually captured on screen, and we were able to execute that vision.”

Negron, who wrote “Cajita” in Mississippi, was pleased to see the film return to the state. “Even though it’s a Miami story, I wrote “Cajita” here in Mississippi. So, I’m thankful it came full circle and was able to screen in one of the premiere festivals in the state.”

“Cajita” was directed by visual artist and filmmaker Luis Gispert. It was the director’s first feature film, and it won the award for Best First-Time Filmmaker at the festival. The movie follows Tomás, a Latino immigrant who works odd jobs for a wealthy family. A series of events forces Tomás to visit people in his community in search of something lost, but the journey reflects his own social and emotional limitations.

“The main character Tomás is based on a real person; even though his circumstances seem very unfamiliar to most of us, his internal struggles are much more common,” said Negron. He hopes that audiences can enjoy the exotic presentation of characters and settings but connect with the truths through the life of Tomás.

Former Belhaven film production student Seth Scruggs ’21 played a key role in the film’s creation as the first assistant director. “The two weeks of production were a little bit of a whirlwind,” Scruggs said. “Of course, unexpected things popped up, such as weather or sudden schedule conflicts, but we were able to move quickly and efficiently to get the film made.”

With a successful run on the festival circuit, Cajita will soon find a final home on a streaming platform. “I’m not sure of those specifics yet,” Negron noted, “but I look forward to ‘Cajita’ being available to a wider audience.”