- The 22nd Gainesville Latino Film Festival runs from Sept. 10-27, honoring Puerto Rico and featuring films from seven Latin American countries.
- The festival includes diverse events such as music, dance, storytelling, art, food and children's festivals at multiple Gainesville venues.
The Latina Women’s League will host the 22nd annual Gainesville Latino Film Festival (GLFF) from Sept. 10-27, under the theme “Voices of Our Land.”
The theme reflects the need to listen to the stories of people, communities and ecosystems whose voices remind audiences of their shared responsibility to care for the world, organizers said. “Voices of Our Land” celebrates individuals and communities who advocate for the preservation of cultural heritage, the protection of natural resources and the pursuit of a more just and sustainable society. Through film and the arts, the festival aims to encourage dialogue about environmental conservation, civic responsibility, human rights and collective action.
“Through ‘Voices of Our Land,’ the Latina Women’s League reaffirms its commitment to using the arts as a catalyst for education, cultural appreciation and community empowerment,” organizers said in a statement.
Festival honors Puerto Rico
Each year, the festival honors a different Latin American country or culture. For its 22nd edition, GLFF is paying tribute to Puerto Rico. This year’s lineup includes films from Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Brazil, alongside music, visual art, gastronomy, literature and special guests.
Featured guests include Puerto Rican filmmaker Glorimar Marrero Sánchez, director of “La Pecera” (“The Fishbowl”), and American Guatemalan film producer Anna Hadingham, producer of “Comparsa.” Other participating filmmakers include Mauricio Albornoz, Miguel Ferrari, Alvaro Olmos, Francisco Adolfo Valdez and Celia Catunda.
More than a film festival
In addition to film screenings, the three-week festival will include an International Music Concert, Dance Festival, Storytelling Festival, Art Festival, Food Festival and Children’s Festival. Events are scheduled primarily Thursday through Sunday, generally from 5-9 p.m., though times vary by event. All films will be presented with English subtitles.
Festival venues include the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida, Vecinos Restaurant, the Reitz Union at the University of Florida, Bazaar47, Smathers Library at the University of Florida, the Hippodrome, the Santa Fe Blount Center Gallery, Cypress & Grove and the Matheson History Museum.
- Thursday, Sept. 10 (Opening Night): “Una canción para mi tierra” (“A Song for My Land”), Argentina, with filmmaker Mauricio Albornoz. Harn Museum, doors 5 p.m., film 6-9 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 11: “Azul y no tan rosa” (“My Straight Son”), Venezuela, with filmmaker Miguel Ferrari. Bazaar47, 6-8 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 12: Multicultural Food Festival, a family event. Vecinos, 5-8 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 13: “Comparsa,” Guatemala, with producer Anna Hadingham. Smathers Library-UF, 5-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 17: “Um Lobo Entre os Cisnes” (“A Wolf Among the Swans”), Brazil. Reitz Union, 5-8 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 18: “Baila Gainesville.” Bo Diddley Plaza, 7-9 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 19: “Hija cóndor” (“The Condor Daughter”), Bolivia, with filmmaker Alvaro Olmos. Hippodrome, 6-9 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 20: “Azul y no tan rosa” (“My Straight Son”), Venezuela, with filmmaker Miguel Ferrari. Smathers Library, 5-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 24: “De pez en cuando” (“Once Upon a Fish”), Dominican Republic, with filmmaker Francisco Adolfo Valdez. Vecinos, 6-8 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 25: Latino Art Exhibition, in partnership with the Santa Fe Blount Center. Santa Fe Blount Center, 7-8 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: “Eu e Meu Avô Nihonjin” (“My Grandfather is a Nihonjin”), Brazil, a children/family-friendly event with filmmaker Celia Catunda, plus storytelling, arts and crafts, snacks and face painting. Matheson History Museum, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 27 (Closing): “La pecera” (“The Fishbowl”), Puerto Rico, with filmmaker Glorimar Marrero. Cypress & Grove, 3-5 p.m. Closing ceremony follows with speaker Colleen Rua.
About the Latina Women’s League
The Latina Women’s League organizes the Gainesville Latino Film Festival, using the arts as a catalyst for education, cultural appreciation and community empowerment.