From Chile to Boyle Heights: 22 Must-See Latino Movies at Sundance Film Festival
Every year directors, critics, and cinephiles from all over head to Sundance Film Festival. There’s good reason to brave the cold weather of Utah in January: as the largest independent film festival in the United States, Sundance never fails to deliver some of the most exciting indie projects around. There’s no better festival to attend to see what movies people will be talking about for the rest of the year. Just last year fest attendees got to see Antonio Campos’ Christine, Elizabeth Wood’s White Girl, Diego Luna’s Mr. Pig, recent Cinema Tropical Award winner Bernardo Britto’s Jacqueline Argentine, as well as soon-to-be Best Picture Oscar nominee Manchester by the Sea.
In between its usual fare of weepy family dramedies and socially conscious documentaries, Latino audiences have plenty to look forward to at this year’s edition of the fest. There are new projects featuring Salma Hayek and America Ferrera, new documentaries about Dolores Huerta and the Buena Vista Social Club, and even three short films screening under the “Made in Cuba” sidebar showcasing new work from the island. Not only that but this year’s juries include two of Latin America’s most beloved and successful actors: Neruda‘s Gael García Bernal will be serving on the U.S. Dramatic Jury while Aquarius‘ Sonia Braga is part of the three-person World Cinema Dramatic Jury.
And while we know there’s no way you’ll be able to catch everything at the fest, we’ve rounded up our Top Latino picks below. We chose to include movies directed by US Latinos and Latin Americans as well as films about Latinos (but directed by non-Latinos). Consider these recommendations of what you shouldn’t miss at Sundance, and for those not attending: as a running list of the films you should keep tabs on this year. Check them out below.
Sundance Film Festival takes place January 19-29, 2017 in Park City, Utah.