Latin American Film Festival: Universal Collaboration

What is fabulous these days? Collaboration. And who just upped the ante for all of us? ¿Realmente necesita pedir? The Latin American Film Festival lands back at Wealthy Theatre for their third year of operation and this year, they are bringing a new level of collaboration that has even knocked me off my jaded platform.

This year, joining the educational institutions of Aquinas College, Calvin College and Grand Valley State University will be first-time education sponsors Ferris State University and Davenport University, along with a new private donation side of this event, “The Friends of our Festival” sponsorship.

In addition to their sponsorship and the leadership from within their halls of higher learning come other connections from the Mexican Consulate in Detroit, the Venezuelan Consulate in Chicago and the Argentine Consulate in Chicago. These organizations worked to clear copyrights on many of the films that will be shown publicly here in our region for the very first time. Their individual contributions means that in 2012, the film series will almost double the amount of films screened here, rising from six in 2011 to 11 this year as this free event spans over four days and between two venues.

The opening night festivities begin on Thursday at Celebration Cinema North with a screening of the Mexican film Spiral, a challenging film on the Conquest of America that the local committee was also able to make available to area public schools.

Other films screening at Wealthy Theatre Friday-Sunday include Postales de Leningrado (Postcards from Leningrad), Circo, Los Colores de la Montana (The Colors of the Mountain, La Soga, Beleza Negra (Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê), É Proibido Fumar (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes), Vida Ballet (Only When I Dance), Las marimbas del infierno (Marimbas from Hell), También la lluvia (Even the Rain) and Chance and Dos Hermanos (Brother and Sister).  

The additional funds raised from the “The Friends of the Festival” have enabled the LAFF to invite Manny Pérez, New York screenwriter and actor (Friday, Mar. 30, 8 p.m.) to discuss his film La Soga, and Guatemalan Director Julio Hernández Cordon, who now resides in Paris, to present a lecture on his film Las Marimbas del Infierno (Marimbas from Hell) (Saturday, Mar 31, 8 p.m.).

“We hope to facilitate a better understanding of the Latin American countries, cultures and perspectives to everyone who comes to the festival,” says GVSU’s Zulema Moret, director of Latin American Studies, “We have taken care to choose recent films of high quality from diverse countries with different perspectives. We have comedies, thrillers, romance films, films that deal with political issues and psychological dramas.”

Please note many of these films are unrated with subject matter not suitable for all ages.  It is advised to consult the web for a particular film and/or review before bringing children.


Admission: Free