Latino Film Festival Brings Rich Themes to the South Fork
Pictured Above: “The King of All The World” headlines this year’s Latino Film Festival.
Truth, beauty, faith and magic form the conceptual and thematic core of four feature-length films from Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, and the United States that OLA of Eastern Long Island will screen during its 19th annual Latino film festival, taking place over four days, Sept. 15 through 18.
All films are in Spanish with English subtitles.
“We are delighted to be partnering for the first time with the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, in addition to our longtime partner the Parrish Art Museum and, for the third year in a row, Sag Harbor Cinema,” says OLA’s executive director, Minerva Perez. “We’re celebrating our 20th year as a Latino-focused advocacy organization and are thrilled to be sharing with the East End our most exciting film festival yet. The lineup of films is truly amazing. They are all visually and thematically rich and all very different from each other.”
A highlight of this year’s festival is the Long Island premiere of “Silent Beauty.” Filmmaker Jasmín Mara López will be flying in from California for a live discussion after the film, which will be screened Thursday, Sept 15 at 8:15 p.m. at Sag Harbor Cinema, 90 Main Street in Sag Harbor,
López bravely films her own personal story as a willful act to accept difficult truths while finding beauty in the process of healing.
Tickets are $10. This film is not for children under 13.
On Friday, Sept 16 at 7 p.m, “The King of All the World” will screen at the Parrish Art Museum, 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill.
This film features stunning cinematography by Oscar award-winning director of photography Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now) and is directed by the world-renowned Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura. It examines contemporary issues challenging Mexico through a visual feast of music, dance, and drama.
A bilingual museum tour and reception precede the film at 6 p.m. This is an outdoor screening, so those who attend need to bring their own chair. Tickets are $15 for non-members of the Parrish and $5 for members. The film is recommended for age 13 and above.
The festival moves back to Sag Harbor Cinema on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. with the Costa Rican film “Clara Sola,” which is co-presented with Cinema Tropical. Directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén and winner of multiple international awards, this film takes place in a remote village in Costa Rica, where Clara experiences an awakening as she begins a journey to free herself from the repressive religious and social conventions that have dominated her life.
Tickets are $10. “Clara Sola” is not for children under 13.
The festival concludes with “Encanto,” a family-friendly film presented in Spanish with English subtitles for all ages on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main Street in Westhampton Beach.
Free books in both English and Spanish for ages 3 to 18, donated by the Brooklyn Book Bodega, will be available at the Performing Arts Center from noon to 3 p.m.
The film is followed by live music by an Ecuadorian band and a singing competition for young people, making this free closing event a fun day for the whole family and for young and old alike.
