By Liz Lopez
Sources: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, SXSW
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio has an amazing official film lineup for the nonprofit’s 40th Annual CineFestival sponsored by the San Antonio Film Commission. This year’s festival will take place Thursday, July 5th – Sunday, July 8, 2018 with the theme “Hecho En Tejas.” Of the films featured in this year’s lineup, 41 of the films were shot in Texas or directed by Texas filmmakers with 23 of the films directed by San Antonio filmmakers or San Antonio natives.
The four-day Latino film festival will feature 56 films from Latino artists, including work from local director, Jesse Borrego. Now celebrating its 40th year, CineFestival is the longest running Latino film festival in the country. “We are extremely proud to be celebrating 40 years of Cinefestival and for that reason we have prepared a spectacular program,” said Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Executive Director, Cristina Balli. “This 40 th anniversary edition celebrates the Tejano film community and honors the Cinefestival familia of the past.”
“We the Animals,” directed by Jeremiah Zagar, will open the festival on July 5 at the Guadalupe Theater. The festival’s opening night will serve as the Texas premier for the film, which also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. “We the Animals” follows three brothers, Manny, Joel, and Jonah, as they try to survive growing up in the shadow of their parents’ volatile relationship. The film documents the brothers’ journeys to cope with their difficult childhood specifically Jonah, who finds solace in a world all his own. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the NEXT Innovator Award. The screenplay was adapted from Justin Torres’ Castillo, elements of magical realism, and unbelievable animated sequences. Raúl Castillo, a native of McAllen, TX, will attend the opening night of the festival and be available for on-site media interviews.
“Summer 1993,” directed by Carla Simón, will close out the festival on July 8 at the Guadalupe Theater. The autobiographical film follows Frida, a young girl that must come to terms with her mother’s recent death as she leaves her life in Barcelona to live with family in the countryside. The film has been praised for its representation of a child growing up in an adult world and the stellar performances from the film’s young stars. “Summer 1993” won the esteemed Goya Awards for Best New Director, Best New Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. In addition to the opening and closing films, CineFestival will feature “Ruben Blades Is Not My Name” directed by Abner Benaim on Saturday, July 7. The documentary film tells the story of the legendary salsa musician, actor, and political activist as he comes to terms with his legacy and his future aspirations. “Ruben Blades Is Not My Name” premiered at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival this past March in Austin where it won the Audience Award in the 24 Beats Per Second section.
CineFestival is celebrating its 40th anniversary in style with several after parties and events, more details on those to be announced soon. Past festivals have hosted Guillermo Del Toro, Gina Rodriguez, Esai Morales, and Benjamin Bratt, among others. The festival has been an important cultural staple in the community and this year’s festival coincides with the city’s Tricentennial anniversary as well as the Guadalupe Theater’s 76th anniversary.
See below for the full 2018 CineFestival lineup:
2018 40th Annual CineFestival Film Lineup
Thursday, July 5, 2018
○ 7:00 p.m. Opening Film – We the Animals – Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
■ Short film Atlantic City – Directed by Miguel Alvarez to proceed the opening film
Friday, July 6, 2018
○ 10:00 a.m. – Senior Cinema
■ Coco (En Espanol) – Directed by Lee Unkrich
El Relámpago Directed by Cynthia Muñoz to proceed the film
○ 2:00 p.m. – Youth Screening
The Future is Now: Youth Videos from San Antonio – Featuring the works of local high school students
■ Memoria de los Revolucionarios – Directed by Miguel Salazar
■ Girl^3 – Directed by Laura Gonima
■ Artpace San Antonio – Directed by Marcelo Gutierrez IV
■ Aeternum Vale – Directed by Isabella Sanchez
■ Parade – Directed by Troy Mize
■ The Atom – Directed by Marco Zaragoza
■ Jello – Directed by Clay Morris
■ Skelefly – Directed by Marcelo Salas, Bela Syptak, and Bella Delgado
■ The Last Ghost – Directed by Jade Jess
■ San Antonio – Directed by Fatima Aguillon
■ REVAN – Directed by Max Ulme
■ VELA – Directed by Nathaniel De Los Santos
■ La Cultura Perdida (The Lost Culture) – Directed by Elias Flores III and Sarah Ramirez
○ 4:00 p.m. – Cine en el Barrio
■ Love Cecy – Directed by Jay Francisco Lopez
○ 7:00 p.m. – Frontera In Focus
Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase – A celebration of female filmmakers living on the U.S./Mexico border region
■ Memory Box – Directed by Angie Reza Tures
■ La Catrina – Directed by Ilana Lapid
■ Overland – Directed by Jazmin Harvey
■ Undocumented Freedom – Directed by Laura Bustillos Jáquez
■ The Appleseed Project – Directed by Jennifer Lucero
○ 9:00 p.m. As I Walk Through The Valley – Directed by Charlie Vela and Ronnie Garza
What Happens to a Dream Deferred directed by Scott Boehm to proceed the film
Saturday, July 7, 2018
○ 12:00 p.m. Tía Chuck: A Portrait of Chuck Ramirez – Directed by Mark and Angela Walley
■ Two Medusas – Directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy to proceed the film
○ 2:00 p.m. – Lone Star Films
Texas Filmmakers’ Showcase – The Houston Film Commission presents the best of Texas-made Latino short films from their annual showcase.
■ North of Ojinaga – Directed by Rommel Eclarinal
■ Vincent Valdez: The Art of Boxing – Directed by Ray Santisteban
■ Death of an Ally – Directed by Marla and Julio Quintana
■ Mentiroso – Directed by Will Shipley
■ Vincent Valdez: Excerpts for John – Directed by Mark and Angela Walley
■ Carne Seca – Directed by Jazmin Diaz
■ Peor Es Nada (Nothing’s Worse) – Directed by Gabriel Duran
○ 4:00 p.m. – Longhorn Cinema
Burnt Orange y Que! 2.0 – A collection of works from Latina and Latino filmmakers at The University of Texas at Austin.
■ Mosca – Directed by Lizette Barrera
■ Youth and Young Manhood – Directed by Leo Aguirre
■ The Trigger – Directed by Angela Torres Camarena
■ Autopista Norte (North Highway) – Directed by Andres Torre
■ The Wilderness – Directed by Agustin Navarro
■ Atmahaú Pakmát – Directed by Cameron Quevedo
■ Atlantic City – Directed by Miguel Alvarez
○ 6:00 p.m. Closer to Bottom – Directed by Jesse Borrego
■ Tomorrow We Laugh directed by Alfredo Ramos to proceed film
○ 8:00 p.m. Ruben Blades Is Not My Name – Directed by Abner Benaim
Sunday, July 8, 2018 – Family Day
○ 1:00 p.m. Ferdinand – Directed by Carlos Saldanha
○ 3:00 p.m. Coco (En Español) Encore screening – Directed by Lee Unkrich
■ Grand Champion directed by Cynthia Muñoz to proceed the film
○ 5:00 p.m. Puro Shorts – Short Film Program
A collection of vibrant short films showcases dynamic new works by Latinas behind the camera and in the Producer’s chair.
■ Segundo de Febrero – Directed by Laura Varela
■ Perdóname (Forgive Me) – Directed by Tani Shukla
■ Documented – Directed by Jesusa Marie Vargas
■ My Name Is Maria de Jesus – Directed by Marcella Ochoa
■ An Uncertain Future – Directed by Chelsea Hernandez and Iliana Sosa
■ Bebé – Directed by Ryan Zaragoza
■ Build Ramps Not Walls – Directed by Brian Adamkiewicz
■ Soñadora (Dreamer) – Directed by Maria Altamirano
○ 7:00 p.m. Closing Film - Summer 1993 – Directed by Carla Simón
■ Desde El Principio directed by Miguel J. Soliman to proceed the film
Tickets can be purchased online at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s website.
Ticket options include:
VIP Badge – $80 (Includes all Films, After Parties, Receptions, and access to CineFestival Lounge)
Festival Badge – $40 (Includes all Films)
Premium Ticket – $25 (July 5 & 7 evening screenings, includes Film and After party)
Regular Ticket – $10 (July 5, 6, 7, 8 evening screenings, Film only)
○ All Other Screenings – $8
After Party Ticket – $15 (July 5 & 7)
The Guadalupe Theater is located at 1301 Guadalupe Street, San Antonio, TX 78207. For more information, visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org/cinefestival.
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About CineFestival:
For four decades, CineFestival has hosted many of the industry’s pioneering U.S. Latino and Mexican films, actors, and directors. Highlights from past editions include appearances by Gina Rodriguez, Guillermo del Toro, Edward James Olmos, Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Esai Morales, Hector Galan, Luis Valdez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Cheech Marin, Lourdes Portillo, Lalo Alcaraz, Miguel Arteta, Guillermo Gomez Peña, Culture Clash, and some of the fresh voices in Latino film including Aurora Guerrero, Cruz Angeles, Alex Rivera and last year’s feature film subject Dolores Huerta.
About Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center:
GCAC is a 501c(3) non-profit organization founded in 1980 to preserve, promote and develop the arts and culture of the Chicano, Latino, Native American peoples for all ages and backgrounds through public and educational programming.
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is located at 723 S Brazos St. (78207) and for more information, call 210.271.3151, write: info@guadalupeculturalarts.org or visit: guadalupeculturalarts.org