From the tender and wonderful to the strange but true – say hola to the 11th annual Sydney Latin American Film Festival (SLAFF) between 8 to 12 September. Returning to Dendy Opera Quays cinemas the Festival will screen the very best in award-winning Latin American cinema: eight feature films and three documentaries, teamed with colourful Opening and Closing Night parties, over five jam-packed days.
From the stranger than fiction tale of a stolen world cup soccer trophy, to stories of political unrest and touching relationships, the Festival provides a window into the very heart and soul of Latin American culture and is a not for profit that raises funds for grassroots community projects. Since 2006, SLAFF has raised over $116,000 in support of 26 community development projects in Latin America and Australia.
Festival Programmer Lidia Luna is proud the Festival is entering its second decade. “Sydney Latin American Film Festival is the longest running Latin American Film Festival in Australia and we’re proud to bring to Sydney a melting pot of films and events that celebrate Latin American culture.”
“Latin American cinema is embracing a new era of bold and distinctive storytelling that’s reflective in the wonderful films we’ve programmed for the 2016 Festival, including films fresh out of Cannes, Berlin and Sundance. We’re bringing to Sydney films from the all over the Latin American region including: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay” said Luna.
The Festival opens with the 2016 SXSW Audience Award winning Brazilian film Jules and Dolores. The film reimagines the circumstances surrounding the actual theft of the World Cup Trophy in 1983, which, to this day, has never been solved. With its locally sourced soundtrack and nostalgic throwback, vintage addicts will love this 1980s revival.
A fabulous Brazilian themed Opening Night Fiesta follows the screening at Cruise Bar bringing the Latin beats with the Kriola Collective’s explosive 70’s Black Rio samba, soul and funk set, followed by unstoppable dance set by DJ Don Juan.
The Companion, directed by Pavel Giroud is a must watch at SLAFF. In a moving performance as a disgraced boxer, Cuban hip-hop pioneer Yotuel Romero must act as companion to a HIV patient in a 1988 Cuban sanatorium established by the Castro regime.
Alejandro Alvarez’ beautifully handcrafted debut Mexican film Walking Distance is a story of a morbidly obese man, whose only human connection comes through visits by his overbearing sister and her husband. A rare journey out of his apartment to develop a roll of film leads to the reintroduction of friendship and joy in his life.
Other Festival highlights include: Patient, a captivating glimpse into the bureaucracy of the Colombian health care system; the documentary Your Parents Will Come Back which explores the 1983 journey that saw 154 children of Uruguayan political exiles, aged 3-17, travel from Europe to Uruguay by themselves to reunite with their families; Road to La Paz, an endearing road movie about two very different men at a crossroad in their lives; The Dreamer from young up and coming director Adrian Saba, and an Official Selection at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival, explores ideas of fighting our perceived destinies; Between Sea and Land which walked away from Sundance Film Festival with both Audience and Acting Awards with its delicate portrayal of family love and obligation, is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Colombian Caribbean coast; and the family film Elephant: The Horse which follows two brothers as they track down their grandfather’s missing horse, Elephant, at a travelling circus filled with eccentric characters.
Recipient of the 2015 Cannes Golden Eye for best documentary, Beyond my Grandfather Allende is an intimate portrait of Chilean president Salvador Allende who was overthrown by a military coup d’état 1973, his family exiled and supporters assassinated. Explored 40 years on by his granddaughter, the film’s director, Marcia Tambutti A., this film attempts to unpack the man behind the legend.
Closing the Festival on Monday 12 September is Mexican comedy Jeremy, a coming of age story that follows an intelligent young boy from an underprivileged family, trying to navigate his career prospects after it is revealed he is in fact a genius. Pre-screening drinks and a special performance by legendary Mexican harpist Victor Valdes will send the Festival off in true Latin American style.
Jules and Dolores, Walking Distance, The Dreamer, Between Sea & Land and Road to La Paz will vie for SLAFF’s inaugural Jury Prize for Best Feature Film cash prize, presided over by cultural programmer Mathieu Ravier, and filmmakers Juan Francisco Salazar and Blue Lucine.
The 11th Sydney Latin American Film Festival will take place at Dendy Opera Quays cinemas from Thursday 8 – Monday 12 September 2016 with a specially curated program of captivating contemporary Latin American cinema from around the world.
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Full Festival Program and info: http://www.sydneylatinofilmFestival.org/
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What: 11th Sydney Latin American Film Festival
Where: Dendy Opera Quays, 9/2 East Circular Quay, Sydney
When: Thursday 8 – Monday 12 September, 2016
Tickets: http://www.sydneylatinofilmfestival.org/ticketing-booking-info/
