SDLFF Kicks Off 25 Years

The annual Media Arts Center San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF) kicked off this year’s event with their opening media party on February 22nd. Rich in culture and history, the SDLFF has been delighting and engaging fans for 25 years, and the media party did not disappoint. Hosted at One Bunk in Barrio Logan, the festivities featured legendary actors such as Pepe Serna, tequila infused cocktails, delicious food from Cocina 35, live music, and silk-screeners making festival shirts on site.

SDLFF

The 2018 film festival will run from March 15-25, 2018 and will feature movies at both AMC Fashion Valley and North Park’s Digital Gym Cinema. This year’s celebrations will include tributes to filmmakers and actors, a Virtual Reality Lounge, and live performances at the Sonido Latino stage. The Sabor Latino, food, beer, and wine festival, will also be returning with celebrated Latino chefs cooking up traditional and new Latin food, along with craft beers on tap, and Latin wines to sip on. All proceeds from Sabor Latino go to the Media Art Center San Diego’s youth education and outreach programs.

SDLFFThere were many filmmakers and actors in attendance at the party and I had the opportunity to speak with Patricia Chica. She directed the LGBTQ-centered film Morning After, which will be featured at the festival. The film is a coming of age drama about sexual fluidity and depicts a group of millennials who refuse to define themselves with the labels that society has put on them. As Patricia mentioned, this film is important in the environment we are living in now and is especially important for Latinos who may have traditional upbringings to understand that labels do not have to define them as a person. The film sounds exciting and an important one to watch, get your tickets and check this one out.

Festival passes are now on sale, along with a special edition 25th Anniversary VIP Pass for $325. Regular single tickets can be purchased starting March 1st, either on-site at the theaters or online. This is an enlightening and fun experience not to miss.

http://2018.sdlatinofilm.com/tickets/

SDLFF

 

24th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival

ovarian2The 24th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival kicked into gear March 16th and will continue to run through March 26th, 2017. The festival is held at two prime movie-going locations, Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley and the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. The film festival features movies from all over Latin America, Mexico, Spain, and the United States, with the primary focus of showcasing films that present a Latin viewpoint. There are over 160 movies to choose from and the festival splits many of them into Showcases to make deciding a little easier, some focus on a specific country such as Brazil or Mexico or are centered around a specific area of interest such as Cine Gay, Documania, and Viva Mujeres. The festival offers something for every taste and interest to say the least. Along with the films, there are also free daily performances by local and international artists each day at the Fashion Valley Mall location.

CharroWhat I love the most about this film festival is that it exposes so many people, not just Latinos, to topics and stories that are rarely discussed. Such as the film El Charro de Toluquilla, about an HIV-positive mariachi singer who is trying to raise his daughter alone, and the film Ovarian Psycos, a documentary about a group of women who ride their bicycles through East Los Angeles, and use their group to confront violence and racism, along with their feminist ideals. These are topics audiences rarely get an insight into, and it is great to see that a festival like this can bring these issues to light.

The festival also offers guests the opportunity to meet with and talk with actors, directors, and producers of the films. What an exciting treat for any movie lover! Be sure to take some time to go see a movie at the festival and enjoy the sights and sounds of Latin culture.

Latino

 

Ticket information and festival schedule:

San Diego Latino Film Festival