PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST 2026 REVIEW! It’s hard out there for a kid, even when you have a sibling to watch your back. Argentine filmmaker Eduardo Braun Costa’s short film The Liars (Los Mentirosos), which is loosely based on his own childhood experiences with his brother, follows two Argentine brothers who are left to navigate the adult world on their own.

The boys just want to see the Jim Carrey flick Me, Myself, and Irene at the movies, but without a parent, it proves to be a tall task. They resort to begging strangers for help, until finally a teenage couple who are in the middle of making out gives in. Once inside, the younger brother, Jamie (Filippo Carrozza), is caught stealing candy by security, so it’s up to older sibling Matias (Noah Roja) to save the day. 

“Eduardo Braun Costa gives the short an authenticity you can feel in every scene.”

Matias finds an odd man (Esteban Bigliardi) by himself in the food court and asks him to pretend to be their father. You could say it’s like the Argentine version of Home Alone, except the boys are out in the world, not being chased by criminals, but are restricted by society’s regulations on children.

Like Macaulay Culkin, both boys (Filippo Carrozza, Noah Roja) seem wise and charismatic beyond their years. The Liars (Los Mentirosos) is both dramatic and comical (the man pretending to be their father adds some laughs), while staying authentic. 

Interestingly, the beautifully shot short was filmed largely in uncontrolled, real-world environments, blending scripted storytelling with genuine, in-the-moment interactions. Kudos to Eduardo Braun Costa, because that style definitely added to the authenticity of the final film.

The Liars (Los Mentirosos) screened at the 2026 Palm Springs International Shortfest.