A Ballard-raised filmmaker is preparing to release a new short film focused on addiction recovery and the role of community.
Dominick Cura will debut El Último Tramo in a global YouTube premiere on March 31. The 17-minute film centers on a recovered addict who returns to the treatment center that changed his life and pursues a fellow patient who has run away.
The project grew out of a personal reconnection. In 2021, Cura reunited with his cousin, Lucas Fernández, for the first time in nearly a decade. Fernández had spent two years recovering from addiction at Vencer Para Vivir, the center where the film was later shot.
Cura and Fernández developed the story together. Fernández co-wrote the script, takes on the lead role in his first acting performance, and appears alongside his son. The film was produced in collaboration with L61 Productions, a Tacoma-based company, with filming taking place in Buenos Aires alongside local cast and crew.
Shot on location at Vencer Para Vivir, the film features both actors and residents of the recovery center. It explores how collective support can help individuals navigate personal, family, and societal challenges related to addiction.
Here’s the synopsis:
On the outskirts of Buenos Aires, you’ll find Vencer Para Vivir, a rehabilitation center that isn’t easy to come across without intention. I first learned about it in 2022, when my cousin, Lucas Fernández, invited me to visit while I was in Argentina. He had spent two years there recovering from drug addiction—an arduous journey, but one he overcame. Today, he lives a clean and renewed life.
What I found at Vencer Para Vivir defied my expectations. It wasn’t a hospital-like facility, nor did it follow a traditional 12-step program. Instead, the center operates on four core pillars: love, understanding, dialogue, and dedication. Residents take on roles and responsibilities, reshaping their habits as they prepare to reintegrate into society.
For Lucas, this place wasn’t just a rehabilitation center—it was home. The people there were his family. During my visit, we decided to embark on a project together: a short film inspired by his experiences. Several months later, I developed a fictional story based on real experiences from the center.
Shot on location in Argentina, the 17-minute film seeks to humanize those struggling with addiction and shed light on the realities of recovery. Featuring both actors and real-life residents of Vencer Para Vivir, the film tells a fictional yet deeply authentic story of resilience, community, and hope.
— Filmmaker Dominick Cura
El Último Tramo premiered at the Portland Film Festival in late 2024, where it received the award for Best Latin Film. It has since screened at Latino-focused festivals across the United States. In January 2025, the filmmakers returned to Argentina to screen the film for residents of Vencer Para Vivir.
The March 31 YouTube release marks the film’s global debut online and will premiere on the L61 Productions YouTube page. The filmmakers say they also plan to bring the project into educational settings to encourage conversations about addiction and recovery.
Photo: Behind the scenes of El Último Tramo