From Beauty Pageants to Drag Queens: 5 Must-See Movies at the Venezuelan Film Festival in New York

Venezuela has been the talk of the town this year: Desde allá was the first ever Venezuelan film to compete in the Venice Film Festival, and it took home the top prize. Talk about starting off on the right foot. Now Dauna: Lo que lleva el río has been submitted for consideration for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. If you want to catch Dauna on the big screen, along with some other fresh Venezuelan films, head over to the Village East Cinemasfor the third edition of the Venezuelan Film Festival in New York.

Running from September 23 – 27, the fest showcases the best of the country’s up-and-coming talent. This year will feature stunning landscapes, fabulous drag queens, witty freestylers, ghosts, and even a little bit of magic. There are also special events like a panel on women in Venezuelan film — a much-needed conversation in an industry that’s still dominated by white men. The fest is only five days and we don’t want to keep you waiting, so here our top five picks.

The Venezuelan Film Festival in New York starts September 23 and runs through September 27, 2015.