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New York International Latino Film Festival
Over 100 Latin-themed films over six days
America Ferrera and Ryan O’Nan in Dry Land (Photo: nylatinofilm.com)
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Now in its 11th year, the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) has become one of the most prestigious film festivals in the country. Between July 27-August 1, more than 100 Latin-themed films, some of which will be world premieres, will be shown at various sites across the city, including “cinema under the stars” at St. Nicholas Park.
The NYILFF’s mission: “To showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, offer expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community.”
The festival begins tonight at 7 p.m. with Dry Land, a drama starring America Ferrera and Wilmer Valderrama about a U.S. solider returning home from war. When the film screened at Sundance in January, it received wonderful reviews.
Other highlights of the festival include:
Tropico de Sangre (Tropic of Blood)
Thursday, July 29, 7 p.m.
By the late 1950s Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo’s reign of terror over the Dominican Republic had lasted nearly thirty years. And yet the Mirabel sisters, led by feisty, passionate Minerva, would come to represent the greatest threat to his regime. Daring to stand up against him, they soon became folk heroes to the oppressed Dominican people. Their cold-blooded murder at the hands of Trujillo’s thugs would prove to be the fearsome dictator’s ultimate undoing.
Spare Change
Wednesday, July 28, 7 p.m./Saturday, July 31, 10:30 p.m.
Trey Dice is a successful musician living the lavish lifestyle he always dreamed about–while Isis Steele, his former love, still struggles to overcome their failed relationship. One quiet night, Trey has a chance encounter with Luiz Crawls, a guilt-ridden jazz legend whose career has long since plummeted after the loss of his wife. Tormented by self-blame and desperate to free himself from emotional captivity, Luiz seizes his opportunity for redemption: forcing Trey to face truths that will alter the course of his life forever.
Pastor Shepherd
Friday, July 30, 4 p.m./Sunday, August 1, 2:30 p.m.
In this offbeat comedy, Shepherd, a struggling door-to-door freeze-dried pet salesman, lives alone with his ailing, nearly catatonic mother. Addicted to prescription drugs and televangelists, his mother’s financial “contributions” to the TV pastors is bleeding the family dry. Their family physician urges Shepherd to find his mother some excitement before she slips away. When his mentally challenged boss abruptly fires him, Shepherd hits the road with his mother and their two neighbors, Annamari-ah and her father, to attend the End Times Revival Event!
Boys of Summer
Wednesday, July 28, 2 p.m./Saturday, July 31, 3:30 p.m.
On the tiny island of Curaçao, in the Caribbean, manager Vernon Isabella has sent his Little League All-Stars to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for seven consecutive years, routinely defeating such baseball powerhouses as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. How does he do it?
Lil Poison
Wednesday, July 28, 2 p.m./Friday, July 30, 6 p.m.
The world’s youngest professional video gamer competes in tournaments across the country. When his parents divorce amidst tumultuous circumstances, Lil Poison’s game suffers and his sponsorship deals decline. As the pressure is poured on, the young prodigy is torn between fulfilling his father’s dreams of fame and fortune and his own desire to be a kid.
Forged
Saturday, July 31, 5 p.m./Sunday, August 1, 5 p.m.
After serving time for manslaughter, Chuco (Manny Perez) returns from prison to the cold and rusted steel town of Scranton, Pennsylvania. His crime was among the most horrific imaginable: the murder of his son’s mother. Ten years later, Chuco must now grapple with avoiding his vengeful son (David Castro) and trying to be the father he never was. A father’s quest for redemption and connection may end up taking far more than he has to give.
A full list of films and more information about the festival can be found on NYILFF’s website.