From the DR to Uruguay: 4 Latino Films Playing at the African Diaspora Film Festival

We’ve all heard the line that Latin America is a place of utopian racial intermixing, where racism couldn’t possibly take root because we’re all just one people and blah blah blah, but we also know this idea masks implicit color hierarchies and even the outright denial of our roots, a problem that persists to this day across Nuestra América. Our collective African heritage has been one of the most unfortunate victims of these colonial biases, and most countries in the region have preferred to brush aside, erase, or even exterminate any trace of their African identities.

Thankfully, these days, more and more people are beginning to accept that Africa is an integral part of Latinidad, but as it has been with the rest of the world, it’s going to be a long uphill battle until peoples of African descent are properly represented in our media landscape. In the meantime, thanks to the tireless efforts of organizations like the African Diaspora International Film Festival New York (ADIFF NY), there is an outlet for these emerging stories to be shared, and for this important dialogue to be had.

Over the last 23 years, the ADIFF NY has been bringing New York audiences a wide array of stories showcasing the diversity of experience both within Africa and across the diaspora. From Morocco to France, to Harlem and Haiti, the festival’s programming is characterized by its open mind, showcasing no agenda other than its stated mission of providing a space to share these important stories. This year’s edition features stories of love, innocence, revolution, and war, including documentaries, features, and animation, along with a touch of Dennis Rodman. The festival will be playing across venues in New York City through December 13.

Here’s a rundown of the Latino films featured in this year’s program.

The African Diaspora International Film Festival New York runs until December 13, 2015.