CineFestival, original Latino film festival, kicks off in San Antonio
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A Q&A session with cast and crew members during last year's CineFestival. Photo: Courtesy of Hector Garza
CineFestival, billed as the nation's original and longest-running Latino film festival, kicks off Thursday in San Antonio.
Why it matters: The festival brings together local, regional, national and international films for new audiences, and offers a spotlight to local filmmakers and students.
By the numbers: There are about 75 films showing through Sunday, including nine feature films and 32 movies made in or related to Texas.
Context: The festival's typical home, the West Side's Guadalupe Theater, is undergoing a major renovation. CineFestival will instead take place across two local venues.
What they're saying: "I am looking forward to CineFestival being on the road this year to reach new audiences," CineFestival director Eugenio del Bosque said in a statement.
- "We have had a tough time curating this program due to our limited screen time this year, yet I trust that our selection process will also encourage artists to keep learning and getting better."
Zoom in: Thursday will feature films by San Antonio filmmakers.
- The Little Carver Civic Center will host an afternoon showcase of short films and documentaries, including work from local college students.
- In the evening, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Park North will show two local films: "Suena La Educacion: The Story of Belle Ortiz," a documentary about the late mariachi performer and teacher, and "Tamale Season," about a family-owned tamale shop struggling when a health food tamale shop opens nearby.
Showing Saturday is the 1994 film "...and the Earth Did Not Swallow Him" directed by Severo Perez, who will be in attendance for the celebration of the movie's 30th anniversary.
- Perez, an award-winning director, was born on San Antonio's West Side in 1941 and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.
- He will read from his new book "A Filmmaker's Journey" at the Guadalupe Latino Bookstore at 6pm Friday.
Other programming sections of the festival include:
- Vistas de San Antonio, which features 23 films made in San Antonio. There are mid-length documentaries about local history and events, student films from area university programs and short films ranging from comedy to horror.
- The Estrenos section includes big screen releases of new movies with filmmakers in attendance. Highlights include "God Save Texas – La Frontera," an exploration of El Paso, and "Kumbia Net: Un Estilo Bien Diferente," about the creation of the kumbia obscura genre.
- Three short film showcases — one for Texas filmmakers, one for Latino and Indigenous filmmakers around the country and one international showcase for films made in Latin America.
- A youth section, featuring movies made by those 18 and younger.
If you go: Individual tickets cost $8 and festival passes are $45.
- The full schedule is available online.
The bottom line: "We want to be part of the positive development of a creative ecosystem that offers real opportunities for film artists in San Antonio and Texas," del Bosque said.
What's next: The San Antonio Film Festival runs July 30-Aug. 4.