Latin American Film Festival coming to Palmerston North
Friday 1 June 2012, 12:22PM
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Spanish language films and be a window into Latin American countries and cultures.
The 11th Latin American Film Festival will be held at the Palmerston North City Library from June 16-30.
Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Uruguay selected a film from their country to screen for the festival, which also runs in Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland, Tauranga and New Plymouth.
“The objective of this Latin America film festival is to share with our New Zealand friends a little taste of our cultures, our traditions, our problems, our societies, our dreams… to strengthen the knowledge and understanding that are pillars of the friendship between our peoples,” Ambassador of Mexico Leonora Rueda says.
Ambassador Rueda will introduce Mexico’s film To the Sea on closing night and Cuban Ambassador Maria del Carmen Herrera Caseiro will be at the opening night screening of Cuba’s film Old House.
Massey University, the Palmerston North City Library and the embassies worked together to bring the festival to Palmerston North. Senior lecturer in Spanish Leonel Alvarado says the winter festival would showcase fascinating and critically acclaimed Latin American films. “It’s next to impossible to catch these movies in commercial cinemas, and that’s why events such as this offer a unique opportunity not to be missed.”
This year’s selection of films includes Old House, a Cuban story of family, social and political issues; The Strange case of Angelica, an exquisite Portuguese love story by the great Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira; Aballay, the Man Without Fear, an Argentinean western set in the majestic Pampa plains; The Life of Fish, an intense and beautifully told drama, which was this year’s Chile entry to the Academy Awards; The Pope’s Toilet, a heartfelt Uruguay comedy; The Method, an intriguing exploration of Spanish corporate society; Estomago: A Gastronomic Story, a lively journey into Brazilian cuisine and will wrap up with award-winning Mexican story, To the Sea, set in the Caribbean.
The films will screen over two weeks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and one Sunday night.
Professor Alvarado says the festival now in its 11th year has a strong following. “It’s become a community event, there are wonderful things coming out of Latin America and there is extraordinary interest here and in the community. The festival is part of Palmy, it’s part of the cultural landscape of Palmy.”
All films have English subtitles and will be screened at 7pm in the Central Library’s Sound and Vision Zone (George St entrance). Entry is a gold coin donation. Opening night will start at 6.30pm so viewers can enjoy a Cuban cocktail.
Screenings:
16 June Old House Cuba
19 June The Strange case of Angelica Portugal
21 June Aballlay, the Man Without Fear Argentina
23 June The Life of Fish Chile
24 June The Pope’s Toilet Uruguay
26 June The Method Spain
28 June Estomago: A Gastronomic Story Brazil
30 June To the Sea Mexico
For programme details go to:
http://issuu.com/palmynorthcitylibrary/docs/festivalprogramme2012?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage