12 Latino & Latin American Movies We’re Excited to See at Los Cabos Film Festival 2019

Every year Baja California plays host to industry leaders, filmmakers, cinephiles, and critics during the annual Los Cabos International Film Festival. With a mix of screenings, panels, talks, parties and master classes, the beachside fest has become a fast-growing celebration of global (and particularly North American) cinema. Its programs spotlight Mexican filmmakers (Mexico Primero), environmentally inclined projects (Green), and scary films (After Dark), among others, collectively creating a snapshot of the year in film for locals and visitors alike. This year Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman will open the fest. Produced by Gastón Pavlovich, the Mexican producer who was also behind Scorsese’s Silence, and lensed by Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, the epic drama speaks precisely to the kind of transnational collaborations the fest nurtures year in and year out.

In addition to screening works by up-and-coming filmmakers alongside the work of Noah Baumbach, Taika Waititi and Jim Jarmusch, the 2019 festival will be turning its focus on women breaking ground across the industry. Celebrated documentarian Tatiana Huezo, for example, will be getting the Spotlight treatment. Audiences will get to see her award-winning works El lugar más pequeño and Tempestad as well as getting a sneak peek at her latest project, Noche de Fuego, which is due out next year. Two other familiar faces will be seen at the sunny fest: A Fantastic Woman star Daniela Vega will be on hand to lead a conversation with Oscar nominee Yalitza Aparicio (Roma), who’s the spokesperson for the #MujeresFantásticas initiative and the recipient of this year’s inaugural Reconocimiento Mujeres Fantásticas. The festival’s initiative hopes to open up discussions about how to better create inclusive and diverse spaces within the film industry for women on both sides of the camera.

But if you’ll find yourself at this year’s edition of Los Cabos International Film Festival, and you’re eager to catch some of the best films starring Latinos, we have a list handy below. Whether you want to see Rosie Perez in a zombie flick, are curious about Alexa Demie‘s breakout feature film role, or want to see why Leonardo Ortizgris (Güeros, Museo) continues to be one of the most versatile actors of his generation, the fest has you covered.

Los Cabos International Film Festival runs November 13 – 17, 2019.