Our 20 Can’t-Miss Movie Picks From the San Diego Latino Film Festival
The San Diego Latino Film Festival, now in its 24th year, is back and bigger than ever. Boasting over 160 films, more than 40 musical performances, and their 2nd Annual Sabor Latino Food, Beer and Wine Festival, the local program intended to highlight Latin American and US Latino culture will be catering to all five of your senses. Those hoping to hobnob with Mexican film luminaries like directors Arturo Ripstein, Manolo Caro, and actress/politician María Rojo, are in luck. All three are being celebrated by the fest, getting their own special tributes for their contributions to Mexican film.
Broken down by showcases, the festival has cast as wide a net as possible. Interested in rom-coms? Check out their “El Corazón” section. More into more esoteric filmmaking? “Mundo extraño” is probably for you. Eager to support female filmmakers? Look no further than the films filed under “Viva Mujeres.” Even those fans of Brazilian cinema should rejoice as Brazil is this year’s country of focus, with plenty of features repping for the expansive film industry found in South America’s largest nation. In addition to the many movies that will be shown at the festival, TV fans should also check out the special presentations of two shows that are looking to rewrite Latin American bicultural entertainment: Netflix’s One Day at a Time and Mextasy, both of which will be screened on the big screen. Add in the daily (and free!) concerts and musical performances as part of the fest’s Sonido Latino, and you have the biggest celebration of Latino culture in San Diego you could imagine.
If you need help sifting through the entire program, worry not. We’ve singled out our Top Picks which include several laugh-out comedies from PR and Brazil, a Demián Bichir/Eva Longoria double feature, and even a documentary on Peru’s most famous culinary export. Check them all out below.
24th San Diego Latino Film Festival runs March 16-26, 2017