Every year, the San Diego Latino Film Festival screens over 160 films from Latin America, Spain, the United States, Mexico and other parts of the world in celebration of Latino film, art, and culture.
In an effort to help audiences determine which movies to watch, our film curators will create unique SHOWCASES celebrating certain countries, genres & themes.
In the meantime, check out below some of the exciting comedies, dramas, and documentaries you won’t want to miss!
UN CUENTO DE CIRCO AND A LOVE SONG
Demián Bichir’s directorial debut, starring Eva Longoria
Dir. Demián Bichir
(Mexico, 114 min., 2016, Spanish w/ English subtitles, Drama)
In Demián Bichir’s directorial debut, Refugio does not know that Juan, the man who saves his life, is in fact his own father. The vagaries of fate have put them face to face thirty years after tearing them apart, when Juan abandoned their circus carrying a terrible secret. This is a tale about the possibility of love, redemption and fate, starring Demián Bichir and Eva Longoria. Spotlight Films Showcase.
RUTA MADRE
Locally produced road trip comedy featuring Carmen Salinas, Paul Rodriguez, Angelica María
Dir. Agustin Castaneda
(Mexico/USA, 97 min., 2016, English, Spanish w/ English subtitles, Drama / Comedy)
After his first love breaks his heart, a young American singer reluctantly leaves his home in San Diego, California and embarks on an epic road trip through Baja with his uncle in order to reconnect with his Mexican roots and find himself. Featuring performances from Carmen Salinas, Paul Rodriguez, Paulina Gaitan, and Angélica María. Frontera Filmmakers Showcase.
QUE PENA TU VIDA
Mexican romantic comedy starring Aislinn Derbez
Dir. Luis Eduardo Reyes
(Mexico, 97 min., 2016, Spanish w/ English subtitles, Romantic Comedy)
Aislinn Derbez, Ilse Salas, and José María de Tavira star in this hilarious comedy about a heartbroken man who makes a series of bad decision as he tries to win back the love of his life. In the process, he places himself in increasingly off-kilter situations that ultimate allow him to examine his self-worth. Pantelion Presents Showcase.
¿QUÉ CULPA TIENE EL NIÑO?
Dir. Gustavo Loza
(Mexico, 105 min., 2016, Spanish w/ English subtitles, Romantic Comedy)
Maru (Karla Souza) is a successful executive who ends up sharing a passionate night with an aimless 21-year-old. Several weeks later, Maru finds out she is pregnant and the two must put aside their differences and begin planning for their future. Mexico Today Showcase.
DÍA DE VISITA
Dir. Nicole Opper
(Mexico / USA, 75 min., 2016, Spanish w/ English subtitles, Documentary)
Sixteen year old Juan Carlos ran away from an abusive home and lived on the streets of Mexico City for years before finding his way to IPODERAC, a unique group home and social enterprise located in Puebla. The documentary follows Juan Carlos throughout the most transformative year of his life, as he finds the strength to return to Mexico City to overcome his sense of abandonment and forgive his father for the past. Documania! Showcase.
BEYOND THE CROSSFIRE
Dirs. Sabrina Cremascoli, Ciera Ybarra, Gabe Garcia, Karen Villalbazo, Eduardo Bimbela, Joanne Collazo, Shayne Cole, Michael Berry
(USA, 60 min., 2016, English, Documentary)
A group of students from High Tech High Chula Vista worked on this documentary about the effects of gun violence in our country. Viewers will follow the journey of these students as they travel across the country to capture the stories of leaders in brain health, youth mentor programs, peer-peer counseling and juvenile justice reform, all working towards reducing gun violence. Frontera Filmmakers Showcase.
OVARIAN PSYCOS
Dirs. Joanna Sokolowski, Kate Trumbull-LaValle
(USA, 72 min., 2016, English; Spanish w/ English subtitles, Documentary)
Riding at night through streets deemed dangerous in Eastside Los Angeles, the Ovarian Psycos use their bicycles to confront the violence in their lives. The film rides along with the Ova’s, exploring the impact of the group’s activism, born of feminist ideals, Indigenous understanding and an urban/hood mentality, on neighborhood women and communities as they confront injustice, racism, and violence, and take back their streets one ride at a time. Viva Mujeres Showcase.
SLAP WORTHY
Dir. Luis Martinez
(USA, 57 min., 2016, English, Comedy)
Local filmmaker Luis Martinez’s latest project is a hilarious comedy about a man who enlists the help of his friend to win over the girl of his dreams. Things get complicated when he realizes getting what he wants is much more difficult than he could have ever anticipated. Frontera Fillmmakers Showcase.
¿Y LOS TAMALES?
Dir. Tomas Chi
(Honduras, 70 min., 2016, English w/ Spanish subtitles, Comedy)
In this hilarious Honduran comedy produced by local producer Monika Tuncbilek, a cab driver is tasked with picking up the Christmas Eve tamales by his wife. En route, he picks up a diverse array of characters, including a “Bad Santa” and a thief, resulting in an evening unlike any other. Frontera Filmmakers Showcase.
MEXTASY
Dir. Osiris Luciano
(Mexico / USA, 41 min., 2015, Spanish w/ English subtitles, Documentary)
Mextasy is a new TV series. TV that rewrites televised borders, rethinks televisual borders or fronteras, revealing the pulsing, growing body of Latin America alive and thriving within and outside of Uncle Sam’s unknowing body. Travel with our host William ‘Bill’ Nericcio as he celebrates the Latino experience throughout the world. Frontera Filmmakers Showcase.
LOWRIDERS
Dir. Ricardo de Montreuil
(USA, 98 min., 2016, English, Drama)
A talented graffiti artist gets caught in the middle of the rift between his recovering alcoholic father and his recently incarcerated brother as they prepare a prestigious car show. Lowriders is a celebration of family, community, and lowrider culture starring Oscar nominee Demián Bichir, Eva Longoria, Theo Rossi, and Gabriel Chavarria. Spotlight Films Showcase.
Screenings to take place at AMC Fashion Valley 18 & MACSD’s very-own Digital Gym CINEMA North Park.
INFO: 619-230-1938, info@mediaartscenter.org, www.sdlatinofilm.com
