Sydney Latin American Film Festival

The Last Summer Of La Boyita

It’s the film festival season, all right. To launch us into a warmer part of the year, Sydney Latin American Film Festival (SLAFF) is coming to town with over 60 exciting films from all over the South and Central American region. In its 5th year, this not-for-profit, 100% volunteer-run festival, will kick off with a multi-award winning Argentine comedy A Matter of Principles on Wednesday 1 September, at the Dendy Opera Quays. This opening feature is said to be a rather funny drama and a true crowd-pleaser.

Other multi-award winning comedies, both Mexican, are Crossing and Chilango Chronicles. Crossing is about two Mexicans and their hopeless attempt to illegally cross to the US, while the latter is a surrealist take on three ‘chilangos’ (inhabitants of Mexico City) and their lives as their stories intersect. Chilango Chronicles was Mexico’s official selection for the 2010 Golden Globe Awards.

There are quite a number of very interesting documentaries this year, but these two stood out for me most: Sins Of My Father and Chasing Che. The former is a story of the infamous Columbian drug cartel boss Pablo Escobar told by his son Sebastian. It is an fascinating account of an extraordinary childhood and an intimate relationship with his father, Columbia’s public enemy number one. Chasing Che is a documentary made by an Iranian businessman who decides to venture into a four-year journey of South America and Europe in an effort to achieve a better understanding of Che and his vision.

The festival will run until Sunday 19 September at a number of venues. All proceeds from SLAFF will be going towards grassroots community development projects in Latin America. For more info and a complete screening schedule, visit the festival website.

2010 Spanish Film Festival

Fernando Trueba's Belle Epoque

Hola! It’s the Spanish Film Festival time of the year again, and this year it’s jam-packed with even more Latin passion. This time around, the festival is featuring Spanish film director Fernando Trueba’s four films, including the 1993 Academy Award winner in the Best Foreign Language Film category Belle Epoque. This romantic comedy is set in pre-Franco Spain and stars young Penelope Cruz. It is a story of four sisters competing for the attention of a carefree army deserter. If you’re a big fan of Cruz, you may also want to check out the 1998 feature The Girl Of Your Dreams, also by Trueba.

Return to Hansala is one of my favourites this year, because it deals with the ever increasing and confronting issues of illegal immigration, and its terrifying consequences. The Milk Of Sorrow is another worthwhile pick, especially because it’s been nominated for 2010 Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The festival is showing from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 16 May. For more films and a screening timetable, check out the Spanish Film Festival website.