CineFestival returns to San Antonio as city seeks to grow local talent

The latest: CineFestival will take place at the Carver Community Cultural Center, as longtime festival home the Guadalupe Theater remains closed for renovations. It is still put on by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

State of play: The festival has a strong focus on regional and local films, in addition to international Latin American cinema.

• There is a selection of short films made in San Antonio and Texas, including student work.

Zoom in: The opening night film, airing 6:30pm Thursday, is "Mexicanamerican," a documentary that combines contemporary interviews with filmmaker Eddie Sanchez's home VHS tapes once sent across the border. It explores how and why his parents migrated from Mexico to the U.S.

• The closing night film, airing 6pm Sunday, is "American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez," which was a festival favorite award winner at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The documentary follows the career of Valdez, who championed and pursued Chicano storytelling against political and industry resistance.

The big picture: San Antonio is competing with other Texas cities to attract film productions. The city boosted its incentives last year under an expanded state program.

• Local entities are working together to grow the local film scene — UT San Antonio this fall will offer a new Master of Fine Arts degree program in film and media.

What they're saying: "The large number of short films made in San Antonio represent a filmmaking scene currently brewing in the city," CineFestival program director Eugenio del Bosque said in a statement.

• He attributed a growing San Antonio film scene to local schools and universities, nonprofit programs, the city's film commission, artist grants and more.
• "This creative ecosystem represents a new generation of filmmakers connecting with already established ones, who are willing to challenge industry norms and tell local stories that matter to them and CineFestival audiences," he added.

If you go: Find a schedule of screenings and individual tickets online.

• An all-access pass costs $40.