Thousands of Americans disobeyed White House warnings and descended upon Nicaragua, determined to lend their skills and labor to the left-wing Sandinista revolution. 

Special guest Jason Blalock in attendance.

Mission Cultural Center for the Latino Arts 

2868 Mission St
San Francisco, CA
415-821-1155

Saliva

dir. Esmir Filho, 2007, Brazil, 14 min

Pressured by her friends, a twelve-year-old girl confronts her fears and experiences her first kiss. Winner Best Short Film at the Sitges International Film Festival.

El año del cerdo 

dir. Claudia Calderon, 2008, Cuba, 10 min

In Havana’s Chinatown, a series of characters will find a second chance in life. 

Gallos / Cocks 

dir. David Pantaleon, 2007, Canary Islands, 4 min.

What could have been an interesting love triangle takes an unexpected turn. 

Ellas se aman / They Love Each Other dir. Laura Astorga Carrera, 2008, Costa Rica, 18 min. 

Estela and Rosario are mistaken for lovers by their coworkers. This will create a bond between them and help them confront their problems.

 

Tranquila, mi amor / Be Still, My Love 

dir. Carla Tamma, 2008, USA, 9 min.

Two friends share a story about death in their childhood and rebirth in adulthood in 1960s Mexico.

Hoy no estoy/ Not Available Today   

dir. Gustavo Taretto, 2007, Argentina, 7 min.

One day, Martín wants to disappear. He doesn’t want to be seen at all. 

 

Adán y Eva / Adam and Eve 

dir. Laura Muñoz, 2006, Venezuela, 15 min.

Adán, a man who has worked his whole life and has forgotten to live. Eva, a widow who has forgotten how to feel like a woman. Together they find a new beginning to the last years of their lives.

Paseo 

dir. Arturo Ruiz Serrano, 2007, Spain, 12 min.

Gabino has never declared his love to a woman; this might be his last chance.

BRAZILIAN SHORTS 

An exciting collection of short films from Brazil, curated by the Festival Signes de Nuit, Paris.

UM RAMO

dir. Marco Dutra, Juliana Rojas, 2007, Brazil, 15 min

Clarisse notices something strange on her right arm and after a few days realizes she is sprouting leaves. Winner of the 2007 Kodak Award at Cannes, this surreal short film takes you to nature’s dark side.

SALIVA 

dir. Esmir Filho, 2007, Brazil, 14 min

Pressured by her friends, a twelve-year-old girl confronts her fears and experiences her first kiss. Winner Best Short Film at the Sitges International Film Festival.

A DISTANCIA ENTRE AS MARGENS 

dir. Fabio Terre, 2006, Brazil, 16 min

A man. A woman. A bus. A river. This film tells the story of two strangers and their random encounter in nature.

COCAIS, THE REINVENTED TOWN 

dir. Ines Cardoso, 2008, Brazil, 16 min

A poetic documentary film made with the patients and employees of an asylum town in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. This is the story of a town that reinvented itself through a movie, or the story of a movie invented by a town.

SENTINELA 

dir. Alfonso Núñez, 2006, Brazil, 15 min

Beautiful documentary about a group of men and women who watch over, care for, and pray for people on their death bed.

Presented by Macy’s.
Sponsored by Wells Fargo & Joie de Vivre.

Following the screening of Cachao: Uno Mas……

Following the screening of Cachao: Uno Mas

Follow the Afro-Cuban rhythm from your seat at the Castro opening back down the red carpet to our opening night party at the Hotel Kabuki to complete your “Noche Cubana.”

Experience the jiving beats of John Santos and DJ Nica and indulge in wine, cocktails and cuisine from different corners of the Latin world.
Start Date: 2008-11-07
Start Time: 08:30 PM
End Date: 2008-11-08

Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2008-11-12

Chevolution is an essential documentary because it serves to explain the enigma of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, providing a rich emersion into the history of the man, the icon, and the culture that seem to interweave and betray historical accuracy. The film explores the Che “phenomenon”, including the revolutionary’s early life, his fateful encounter with Castro, and his involvment in the Cuban Revolution. It also examines how he crossed paths with Alberto Korda, the fashion photographer who took the famous picture of Guevara that is the basis of the icon we know today. No other photograph in the history of photography has been reproduced throughout the world quite as extensively as that of one man, who, even fifty years later, continues to be prevalent and holds different meaning to various people. Driven by inquisitive minds and exquisite filmmaking, Chevolution asks all the right questions with mordant wit and irony.

Chevolution es un documental esencial para aclarar el enigma de Che Guevara, al tiempo que nos sumerge en su historia, en la famosa imagen y en la cultura que entreteje y traiciona la realidad historica. El film explora el “fenomeno” de Che, incluyendo el inicio de su vida revolucionaria, el encuentro profetico con Castro y su participacion en la Revolucion Cubana. Tambien examina su encuentro con Alberto Korda, el fotografo de moda, quien tomo la famosa fotografia de Che Guevara que fue la base de la imagen iconica que conocemos. No ha habido otra fotografia en el siglo veinte que haya sido reproducida tan extensamente en el mundo entero que cincuenta anos despues continue siendo prevalente y signifique tantas cosas diferentes para tanta gente diferente. Conducida por mentes inquisitivas y exquisitamente filmada, Chevolution hace todas las preguntas correctas con ironia y caustica agudeza.

Start Time: 16:15
Date: 2008-11-16
End Time: 16:45

Maldeamores is a look at how love makes us crazy by entangling us in its deviously complicated web. This multifaceted comedy transports us into the backyards of Puerto Rico where reason is pushed aside by fervent desire and lust. As the stories unfold, we see how elusive love can be through the trials and tribulations of three distinct couples; a boy who discovers romance for the first time in the wake of his parents’ failed marriage, a love triangle that comes full circle as an elderly woman finds herself caught between her two ex-husbands and a bus passenger who’s lost touch with reality and acts on impulse in lieu of accepting rejection from the woman he loves. A melancholic comedy, a love story about the ironies and mystery of love. Academy Award-winning actor Benicio del Toro produced this film, which was nominated by Puerto Rico for the 80^th Oscars.

Maldeamores es una mirada a como el amor nos vuelve locos enredandonos tortuosamente en su complicada red. Esta comedia multifacetica nos transporta a la parte de atras de Puerto Rico donde el deseo ferviente y la pasion vence a la razon A medida que la historia se desenvuelve vemos como es el amor de elusivo a traves de las tribulaciones de tres parejas , un joven que descubre romance por la primera vez al tiempo que el matrimonio de sus padres se acaba, un “menage a trois” entre una anciana en el medio de sus dos ex-maridos y un pasajero de autobus quien pierde contacto con la realidad y actua impulsivamente sin aceptar el rechazo de la mujer que ama. Una comedia melancolica, una historia romantica acerca de las ironias y misterios del amor.

El premiado Benicio del Toro, produjo este film que fue nominado por Puerto Rico a los Oscars.

Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2008-11-16
End Time: 18:30

Maldeamores is a look at how love makes us crazy by entangling us in its deviously complicated web. This multifaceted comedy transports us into the backyards of Puerto Rico where reason is pushed aside by fervent desire and lust. As the stories unfold, we see how elusive love can be through the trials and tribulations of three distinct couples; a boy who discovers romance for the first time in the wake of his parents’ failed marriage, a love triangle that comes full circle as an elderly woman finds herself caught between her two ex-husbands and a bus passenger who’s lost touch with reality and acts on impulse in lieu of accepting rejection from the woman he loves. A melancholic comedy, a love story about the ironies and mystery of love. Academy Award-winning actor Benicio del Toro produced this film, which was nominated by Puerto Rico for the 80^th Oscars.

Maldeamores es una mirada a como el amor nos vuelve locos enredandonos tortuosamente en su complicada red. Esta comedia multifacetica nos transporta a la parte de atras de Puerto Rico donde el deseo ferviente y la pasion vence a la razon A medida que la historia se desenvuelve vemos como es el amor de elusivo a traves de las tribulaciones de tres parejas , un joven que descubre romance por la primera vez al tiempo que el matrimonio de sus padres se acaba, un “menage a trois” entre una anciana en el medio de sus dos ex-maridos y un pasajero de autobus quien pierde contacto con la realidad y actua impulsivamente sin aceptar el rechazo de la mujer que ama. Una comedia melancolica, una historia romantica acerca de las ironias y misterios del amor.

El premiado Benicio del Toro, produjo este film que fue nominado por Puerto Rico a los Oscars.

Start Time: 20:00
Date: 2008-11-20
End Time: 21:45

In the Amazon jungle of Venezuela, Shake reached the highest honor of a Yanomamö shaman by learning to send the Spirits to destroy his enemies. But this power brought bloody feuds with neighboring villages. Forty ears later, when foreigners, or nabas, challenge Yanomamö practices, Shake sets out on a search for a new truth by asking himself who can be trusted and whether the spirits he called friends have led him by deceit. In this fascinating true story, Shake recalls his struggle to preserve Yanomamö traditions while also seeking out peace. The experiences of many generations of Yanomami are brought together by respected leader Bautista “Shoefoot” Cajicuwa, reenacted and filmed in a Mayan village in Belize, and produced with the supported of US and Canadian filmmakers, for an international collaboration.

En la jungla amazonica de Venezuela, donde el espiritu y el mundo natural convergen, Shake alcanza el mas alto honor de los  shamanes Yanomamo al aprender a enviar a los “Espiritus” a destruir a sus enemigos. Pero este poder trae sangrientas disputas con las villas vecinas. Cuarenta anos despues, cuando los extranjeros o nabas, desafian las practicas Yanomano, Shake se encamina hacia una nueva verdad preguntadose en quien puede confiar y si los espiritus que el creia amigos lo han traicionado. En esta fascinante historia real, Shake recuerda su lucha por preservar las tradiciones Yanomamo mientras trata de alcanzar la paz. Las experiencias de muchas generaciones de Yanomamo son reconstruidas y filmadas en una villa maya en Belize, y producida con el apoyo de cineastas de los EEUU y Canada como colaboracion internacional. El proyecto de Enemy God es una iniciativa multi-facetica para crear conciencia acerca de los grupos indigenas.

Start Time: 20:30
Date: 2008-11-20
End Time: 23:45

Assistant to a prominent judge and “black sheep” of a military family, Julia Gudari (Roxana Blanco) is a lawyer who uncovers evidence that Uruguayan authorities are sheltering the Chilean chemist Eugenio Barrios, suspected of developing poisonous gas weapons for Pinochet. Despite pressure from superiors and her own family, Julia delves into the dark secrets of her quarry and her own past in a search for the truth. A tense thriller, Matar a todos is also a sharp look at the lasting legacy of human rights abuses under military regimes and the complicity of current governments in preventing these crimes from coming to light. The film received awards for Best Script at the XIV Mostra de Cine Latinoamericano de Lleida and at Havana’s Festival Internacional de Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano (where Roxana Blanco was also recognized as Best Actress), as well as Audience Award at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena, the Festival de Biarritz and Montreal’s Festivalissimo. 

Julia Gudari es una abogada, asistente de un prominente juez y “la oveja negra”de una familia militar que descubre evidencia que las autoridades uruguayas estan  protegiendo al quimico Eugenio Barrios sospechoso de desarrollar gas venenoso como armas para Pinochet. A pesar de las presiones de sus superiores y de su propia familia. Julia excava dentro de oscuros secretos familiares y su propio pasado en busqueda de la verdad. Un thriller de gran intensidad y una mirada aguda sobre el perdurante legado de los abusos a los derechos humanos bajo los regimenes militares y la complicidad de los gobiernos actuales en prevenir estos crimenes de salir a la luz. El film recibio galardones como “Mejor Guion” en la Mostra de Cine Latinoamericano de Lleida y en el festival Internacional de Habana, Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano asi como el Premio del Publico en el Festival Internacional de Cartagena, el Festigal de Biarritz y el Festivalissimo de Montreal.