The annual Latin American and Spanish Film Week returns to Cinecenta for its 12th installment, featuring movies from Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Spain, running September 20 to 25. Each film will be screened only once, at 7 pm, and all will be shown with English subtitles.
The event begins September 20 with the screening of the Brazilian documentary film Ironland (Lavra) by Lucas Bambozzi; it looks at the ways mining has impacted the natural and social landscape of the state of Minas Gerais.
On September 21, the Spanish film Josefina by Javier Marco presents an intriguing story of two loners whose lives intersect in jail.
Maixabel, by award-winning director Iciar Bollaín, will be shown September 22. It is inspired by real events and tells the emotional story of Maixabel Lasa, a woman who bravely confronts the terrorists who killed her husband, the Basque politician Juan Maria Jáuregui, in 2000.
Guie’dani’s Navel (El ombligo de Guie’dani) by Xavi Sala will be shown September 23. This social drama highlights issues of social class, economic disparities and indigeneity in Mexico. The director will be in attendance for a conversation and Q&A session with UVic professors Dr. Carmen Rodriguez de France (Indigenous education) and Dr. Gabriela McBee (Hispanic and Italian studies).
September 24 will feature the documentary Omara by Hector Perez; it focuses on the iconic Cuban singer Omara Portuondo, who was part of the 1990s Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon.
The film week wraps up on September 25 with The Good Boss (El buen patrón) by Fernando León de Aranoa, an entertaining comedy about high expectations and dysfunctional human relations.
After this final screening, the public is invited to a concert and dance with Vancouver-based Locarno at Vertigo in the Student Union Building (UVic campus). The show starts at 8:30 pm (doors open at 8:15). Tickets will be available at the door and through Eventbrite (Locarno at Vertigo-UVic). Prices are $15 for general audience and $5 for students with ID.
The Latin American and Spanish Film Week is organized by the Hispanic Film Society of Victoria and sponsored by the Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies, the Latin American Studies Program, and the Faculties of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Victoria.
For synopses, trailers, schedules and updated information, go to hispfilmvic.ca.