New York Int'l Latino Film Festival Unites Latindom

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 22 July 2010 12:28

Written by Laura Blum

Nothing says "si se puede" like the New York International Latino Film Festival. The respected fest began 11 years ago with the budget for a burrito, and has since lassoed steady sponsorship, loyal fans and a reputation as a premier US showcase focused on urban Hispanic cinema. 

For its upcoming run, July 27 to August 1, 2010, NYILFF will screen more than 100 films, mostly in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood (Clearview Cinemas Chelsea at 260 West 23rd Street and School of Visual Arts Theater at 333 West 23rd Street).

The Festival draws on the work of emerging filmmakers from Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain as well as from the US independent scene and Hollywood.

A number of entries on this year's program revolve around sobering issues of immigration and family, yet there's plenty of light to balance the dark. "Some of it is just fun," says co-executive Director and programmer Calixto Chinchilla, adding that many of the picks from south of the border are better funded than those of their guerrilla-filmmaking US counterparts, resulting in imports that are "more commercial -- not highly intellectual."

"Unlike Latin America and the Caribbean, we don't have that kind of financing for works," he notes. US Latino films still struggle gain entrée and treasure at Hollywood's gilded gates due to "a lack of people of color in the studios." He explains, adding, "For the flip side of that, in the indie scene, there have been advances in technology and filmmaking that have given everyone with a camera a chance to make a movie."

Echoing the David-contra-Goliath overtones of his niche festival, the Dominican-American impresario is especially proud of the stateside productions made in the $200,000 to $400,000 range. "They're micro-budgeted gems done right," as Chinchilla puts it.

NYILFF's Big Apple perch and credentials as a discovery showcase for American audiences make it a desirable platform for first- and second-time directors to stage a premiere. "Nothing thrills us more than breaking out a film that no one's heard of," says Chinchilla. "You couldn't pull off a festival like this in Texas, where you have filmmakers from Brazil, Mexico and the Bronx -- It works here; people here get it, and we take advantage of that." Not even Simón Bolívar dreamed of uniting Latindom across North America's urban barrios.

"We're very much a people's festival," says Chinchilla. Though NYLIFF has never sought celebrity endorsement, the Latino glitterati come out for it "because they respect it," he claims.

Strutting this year's red carpet will be a host of celebrities from Latin America, Hollywood and the domestic indie world, including America Ferrera, Jimmy Smits, Wilmer Valderrama, Michelle Rodriguez, Martin Sheen, Jaime Camil, Cesar Évora, Jason Ritter, Ryan O’Nan, Ana de la Reguera, Deborah Harry, Paul Rodriguez, Tony Plana, Manny Perez, Priscilla Lopez and others.

The Opening Night selection is The Dry Land, an understated, affecting drama about a young Iraqi war veteran's struggle to rejoin family and friends in his dusty West Texas town. Aided by a strong cast that includes Ferrera, Valderrama, Ritter and Melissa Leo, the film marks the feature debut of writer/director Ryan Piers Williams.

One of the highlights of the Festival is Dominican Night. This year's celebration centers on Juan Delacer's Tropic of Blood/Trópico de Sangre, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Cesar Évora. Based on the true story of the Dominican Republic's Minerva Mirabel and her sisters, it recounts their fateful opposition to the oppressive regime of Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo. It will be shown July 29, 2010, at Columbia University Alumni Auditorium (168th Street at Fort Washington).

The closing night film is Stolen Dreams/Sohnos Robados, which took first prize at the Rio International Film Festival in 2009. Director Sandra Werneck trains her lens on three young Brazilian women who become sex workers in order to survive, yet without forsaking laughter and everyday grace notes .

Among the documentaries at NYLIFF is Sins of My Father, Nicolas Entel's saga about infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. The film is told from the viewpoint of his son, Juan, who faces hard truths – and seeks reconciliation – in his encounters with the sons of two popular politicians who were among Escobar senior's many victims.

Downtown Calling looks back on a turbulent history of a whole different ilk: that of downtown Manhattan's art and music scene in the mid-70s. Nelson George, Deborah Harry, Edward I. Koch join the voices enlivening Shan Ahearn's take on the scrappy subculture of that time and place.

Panels, a free outdoor screening, a short film competition co-presented with longtime sponsor HBO and, of course, fiestas turn up the sizzle knob on the Festival. For the whole NYLIFF enchilada go to: www.nylatinofilm.com

New York International Latino Film Festival
July 27 to August 1, 2010
Clearview Chelsea Cinemas
260 West 23rd St. (Between 7th and 8th Ave.)
New York, NY

The SVA Theater
333 West 23rd St. (Between 8th & 9th Ave.)
New York, NY

Columbia University Medical Center
Alumni Auditorium
650 West 168th St. (Between Broadway and Fort Washington Ave.)
New York, NY

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