Every year since 2000, the Havana Film Festival New York brings the best of Latin American cinema to the city that never sleeps. This year —the 11th in a row— the festival will be held from April 16 through 23. People will have the chance to not only see more than 40 films from most of the Latin American countries, but also to chat and ask questions to many of the guest filmmakers. In this sense, organizers and sponsors make a tremendous effort to bring the best.
For example, the unique Argentine film Historias Extraordinarias (Mariano Llinas, 245 minutes) was released in Buenos Aires in a few selected screenings (one of them in the MALBA museum), and many fans were complaining that they wanted to see it in more places. Well, now we have the chance to watch it in New York. For those interested in great independent Latin American cinema, this is probably one of the best festivals in the country.
The following is a list of special events and panels that will run in parallel with the screenings and after-parties for the whole week:
El Museo del Barrio
1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, Manhattan
Wednesday, April 7, 7:00 pm
Cine Nuevo (Free and open to the public)
Uprooted (documentary, 2009, Colombia) and El Play (2008, Dominican Republic-U.S.)
Director Pablo Medina present for Q&A.
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street, The Bronx
Friday, April 9, 6:00 pm
(Free and open to the public)
20 Años (Animation, 2009, Cuba) and Homo Erectus (Fiction, 2010, U.S.-Cuba)
Homo Erectus’ director, Alejandro Lora and producer, Alberto Gonzalez present for Q&A.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
FREE with museum admission, membership, or festival pass
Saturday, April 17
Latin American Films for Children
In Spanish with English subtitles
Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall.
Spanish-language gallery talks and workshops.
Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
721 Broadway at Waverly Place, Room 006, 6th Floor
Monday, April 19
King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, NYU
53 Washington Square South (Between Thompson & Sullivan Streets)
(All events are free and open to the public)
Monday, April 19, 4:30 pm
Tribute to Enrique Pineda Barnet
Tuesday, April 20, 5:30 pm
Diary of the End, Juan Alejandro Ramirez (Peru) and Fidel Anecdotes, Estela Bravo (Cuba).
7:00 pm The Business of Filmmaking: Latin America - USA. The impact of copyright and intellectual property rights on production and distribution. Participants: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte (President of Antidote Films); Alfredo Calvino (CEO Latino Fusion); Fernando Ramirez (Entertainment Law attorney); Maria Marta Antin (Director, Talent Campus Buenos Aires, Universidad del Cine). Moderated by Sandy Lieberson (Chairman of Film London). Reception to follow. Simultaneous translation provided by LART. Co-Sponsored by Mexicana Airlines, U.S-Mexico Chambers of Commerce.
CANTOR CENTER, NYU
36 8th Street, Room 200
Thursday, April 22
The Extraordinary Journey of Fernando Bujones (60 min.) Israel Rodriguez. Producer Francisco Chagas Present for Q&A
The Beauty of La Alhambra. The iconic film celebrates its 20 anniversary. Director Enrique Pineda Barnet present for Q&A.
QUAD CINEMA
34 West 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Thursday, April 22, 6:00 pm
Celebrating the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence & Centennial of Mexican Revolution.
More info:
