The inaugural Calgary Latin American Film Festival is set to take place from May 29 to 31, showcasing three Canadian premieres at venues across the city. The festival opens with the Colombian film Colibri, which follows a young couple confronting their past after learning they are expecting a baby.
Festival Highlights
Another featured film is the Venezuelan documentary Children of Las Brisas, which tracks three children from Valencia over a decade as they pursue careers as professional musicians in the National Orchestra System. The Mexican thriller Guardado, Hermano (Brother, Kept) tells the story of a small-town man with autism who takes on a serial killer after his brother's death.
Founder's Vision
Josue Ramirez, founder and executive coordinator of the festival, emphasized the common thread among the films: they all explore contemporary issues in Latin American countries. Ramirez, a Venezuelan native who has lived in Calgary since 2005, aims to make the festival an annual event. He noted that interest from filmmakers across Latin America for next year's program is already growing.
In 2023, Ramirez hosted a one-night screening of the Venezuelan drama Simon, which received an enthusiastic response, indicating Calgary's readiness for a festival celebrating Latin American cinema. "We decided it was time to put together a festival that not only expresses music and food and culture but cinema, because cinema is a way to tell stories that is different than any other way of expression," Ramirez said.
Partnerships and Future Plans
The festival has partnered with the Venezuelan Canadian Association of Calgary, Colombian Friends, and Casa Mexican. While starting small, there are ambitious plans for expansion. By 2027, the festival aims to offer two short film programs: one for Alberta post-secondary students and another for filmmakers from Canada and worldwide.
The festival's website highlights the rich history of Latin American cinema, from Mexico's golden age in the 1930s-1950s to Brazil's Cinema Novo in the 1960s, and contemporary filmmakers like Alfonso Cuaron, Lucrecia Martel, and Pablo Larrain. Latin American cinema is known for addressing themes of social justice, environment, inequality, human rights, and democracy.
Schedule and Locations
The opening ceremony will be held on May 29 at Canyon Meadows Cinemas at 6 p.m. Children of Las Brisas screens at the Globe Cinema at 7 p.m. on May 30. The closing ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre, followed by a screening of Guardado, Hermano. For more information, visit calgarylatinfilmfest.ca.
