The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul announces 6th Cine Latino Minneapolis St. Paul Film Festival, Nov 8‐11

Via a September 20 Press Release from The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul:

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul announced today the forthcoming Cine Latino Minneapolis St. Paul Film Festival, November 8-11, showing at the Film Society’s St. Anthony Main Theatre Screen #3.

Returning for its sixth edition, this year’s Cine Latino selection highlights the tremendous cinematic energy and creativity offered by the ever bourgeoning Latin American, US Latino and Ibero American cinema nurtured by their vast diversity, unique histories and rich tradition of storytelling to bring urgent, reflective and highly entertaining stories.

Cine Latino 2018 will showcase some of the most acclaimed cinematic works currently on the festival circuit, including: Iranian Academy Award winner Asghar Farhadi’s thrilling first Spanish feature EVERYBODY KNOWS (Todos lo saben) starring Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, and Ricardo Darín; four official Oscar® Entries to the 91st Academy Awards category for Best Foreign Language Film with BIRDS OF PASSAGE (Pájaros de verano, from Colombia by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra), CHAMPIONS (Campeones, from Spain by Javier Fesser), THE HEIRESSES (Las herederas, from Paraguay by Marcelo Martinessi), and RUBEN BLADES IS NOT MY NAME (Yo No Me Llamo Rubén Blades, from Panama by Abner Benaim); the most awarded 2018 Goya winner GIANT by Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño; and, an intimate look at student life at the US/Mexico border in the moving documentary HOME + AWAY by Matt Ogens.

“It is exciting to witness a new generation of talented filmmakers join established directors to defy stereotypes, look across age, gender, and an array of socially diverse characters and subjects to explore a wellspring of untold stories.”  said Hebe Tabachnik, who returns as Cine Latino Artistic Director for a third year. “Including the powerful cinema from Central America which are seeing brilliant films emerge this year like RUBEN BLADES IS NOT MY NAME from Panama and MIRIAM LIES from Dominican Republic.”

Other highlights include a Nextwave screening of ¡VIVA KID FLICKS!, a collection of Mexican animated, family-friendly shorts in collaboration with the New York International Children’s Film Festival. “Nextwave is the Film Society’s youth programming initiative,” said Susan Smoluchowski, Film Society Executive Director, “Our youngest audience members will view films by some of the most talented and inspiring Mexican artists in this whimsical and endearing program.”

Strengthened by a record-breaking number of film productions, timeless in its treasuring of traditions and celebration of diversity, Latin American and Iberian cinema traveled farther across the world garnering critical acclaim, media attention, and winning the most coveted awards.

Cine Latino 2018 will feature some of these gems and offer the unique opportunity to meet the creative force behind these provocative stories.Together with a variety of engaging film-related events: workshops, panels and parties, with great food and music, Cine Latino is back to surprise, thrill and entertain us all.

All-Access Passes, 3-Packs, and 6-Packs are now on sale on mspfilm.org. Additional Cine Latino titles, the full schedule, guests, events and more will be announced in mid-October. Artistic Director Hebe Tabachnik is available for interviews in English and Spanish.

Cine Latino is presented by the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota’s leading non-profit exhibitor of international independent cinema. Our mission is to foster a knowledgeable and vibrant appreciation of the art of film from around the globe and its power to inform and transform individuals and communities.

2018 Cine Latino Minneapolis St. Paul Film Festival Lineup (alphabetical):

Birds of Passage (Pájaros de verano) The origins of the Colombian drug trade, through the epic story of an indigenous Wayuu family that becomes involved in the booming business of selling marijuana to American youth in the 1970s. Colombia’s official entry to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Black Hole (Agujero Negro) The life of 30-year-old Víctor takes an unexpected turn when his girlfriend Marcela announces her pregnancy. Instead of taking responsibility and assuming his role as a soon-to-be-father, Víctor spirals into a second adolescence when he meets Valentina, the bright but defiant 16-year-old girl who lives next door.

Champions (Campeones) Acted by a crew of intellectually disabled actors that will steal your heart, writer/director Javier Fesser’s Champions is not just Spain’s newest box office smash, but a rollicking and unforgettable reminder that none of us is truly “normal.” Spain’s official entry to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Everybody Knows (Todos lo saben) Laura and her children travel from Buenos Aires to the village where she was born, on a Spanish vineyard, to attend her sister’s wedding, but unexpected events lead this gathering toward a crisis that exposes the family’s hidden past. Starring Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Ricardo Darín.

Giant (Handia) Home from war, Basque farmer Martin discovers his brother Joaquin has grown to an enormous size, driving the ambitious elder brother to exploit his brother’s condition and into a reckoning with his own soul in this unforgettable new film from the creators of Spanish Academy Award submission Loreak. Winner of 10 Goya Awards.

The Heiresses (Las Herederas) A daughter of Paraguay’s fading aristocracy who’s on the cusp of financial ruin, introvert Chela finds work as an ad hoc chauffer, leading to an encounter with earthy, sexually adventurous Angy-and an unexpected late-in-life coming of age-in this sly and funny debut feature from writer/director Marcelo Martinessi. Paraguay’s official entry to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Home + Away Following the search for the American dream on the extreme edge of the nation, Home + Away explores the lives of student athletes at El Paso’s Bowie High School, with dreams inspired by family, fueled by sports, and deeply complicated by the US/Mexican border – the fault-line between two worlds.

The Last Suit (El último traje) Facing the waning years of a rich life, cantankerous Abraham finds himself ditching his Buenos Aires-based family and en route to Europe in order to payoff a secret debt, encountering a colorful band of cohorts and fellow wanderers, as well as discovering the man he truly is, in this lively and touching new film from Pablo Solarz.

Miriam Lies (Miriam Miente) A quiet middle class world of good intentions begins to crumble when fourteen-year-old Miriam meets her internet boyfriend. While her family and friends prepare for her a traditional fifteen birthday party, Miriam doesn’t know how to explain that her boyfriend is black.

Ruben Blades Is Not My Name (Yo No Me Llamo Rubén Blades) An energizing and intimate look at the life and legacy of musician/actor/politician Ruben Blades as he begins a new chapter in his life, reflects on his triumphs, failures and surprises-and a fearless love of others that has fueled a legendary career. Panama’s official entry to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

¡Viva Kid Flicks! The Film Society is partnering with the New York International Children’s Film Festival to offer a new Spanish-language program of animated, documentary, and live action films full of warmth, wit, and the cultural richness of our friends and neighbors to the south: Mexico. Drawn from NYICFF’s annual Friends and Neighbors program spotlighting a different country every year, this lineup is co-curated with Mexico’s Morelia International Film Festival. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles or no dialogue, perfect for Spanish learners, speakers, and all seekers of fun, artistic, and enriching cultural experiences, ages 7+. Titles will be announced on mspfilm.org.