The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the complete lineup for the 13th edition of Latinbeat, the annual showcase of contemporary cinema from Latin America, from August 10–23. Opening Night kicks off with Kenya Marquez’s Fecha de caducidad / Expiration Date, a dark comedy starring Damián Alcazar and the festival wraps up with celebratory documentary 3 millones / 3 Million from Yamandu and Jaime Roos, where the iconic Uruguayan musician travels to the South African World Cup.
This year’s lineup represents films from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela as well as a selection of documentaries, directorial debuts and a strong focus on music, including Violeta Parra in Violeta se fue a los cielos / Violeta Went to Heaven (pictured) by Andrés Wood and master Brazilian documentarian Eduarado Coutinho’s As cançoes / Songs.
"The abundance of strong documentaries is one of the most fascinating things about current Latin American cinema. Latinbeat showcases a sample with a wide range of subjects, from soccer to human rights, education and architecture, to music and controversial interpretations of national history” notes Film Society of Lincoln Center Programming Associate Marcela Goglio. “But there is also lots of exciting, gutsy new fiction from across the region, and lots of beloved well known music – from Uruguay, Brazil and Chile. As always, filmmakers, producers and actors will join us on this fourteen day adventure across the region.”
There is something for everyone at this year’s festival including family programming with Bacalar, a favorite on the children’s film festival circuit; the sweet and funny animated feature titled Gordo, calvo y bajito / Fat, Bald, Short Man; fans of the wonderful play Evita will be pleased to see Elena Roger’s film debut in One Love, starring opposite Diego Peretti; and the blockbuster award-winning hit from Argentina Chinese Takeaway / Un cuento chino, starring Ricardo Darin, will have its New York Premiere!
From Mexico, Latinbeat will also feature the NY premieres of Matías Meyer's Los últimos cristeros / The Last Cristeros; Kyzza Terrazas' El lenguaje de los marchetes / Machete Language and Michel Lipkes' Malaventura. This year’s panel discussion will take place on August 16th and is titled, New Mexican Cinema, a focus on recent trends in Mexican filmmaking. Participants include Meyer, Lipkes and Terrazas and it will be moderated by Carlos A. Gutiérrez (Cinema Tropical).
Other highlights include the Chilean film De jueves a domingo / Thursday Till Sunday (pictured) by Dominga Sotomayor; the Argentinean documentary Escuela normal / Normal School by Celina Murga; the documentary about Cuban art schools Unfinished Spaces by Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray; and the Ecuadorean documentary With My Hear in Yambo / Con el corazón en Yambo by María Fernanda Restrepo.
In addition to the many U.S. Premieres and New York premieres, Latinbeat will host several in-person appearances including: Damián Alcazar, Pablo Cerda, Blas Eloy Martinez, Kenya Márquez, Benjamin Murray, Alysa Nahmias and Jaime Roos.
Tickets for the 13th edition of Latinbeat go on sale on July 12, 2012 and more information can be found at www.filmlinc.com.
Film Descriptions & Schedule
Opening night!
Expiration Date/Fecha de caducidad
Kenya Marquez, 2011, Mexico, 35mm; 111m
Ramona suspects a stranger is responsible for the disappearance of her son. But not all is what it seems in this funny and suspenseful black comedy of shifting viewpoints starring the great Damian Alcazar. In person: Kenya Marquez, producer Karla Uribe and star Damian Alcazar.
*AUG 10, 6:30PM; AUG 12, 3:45PM
Closing night!
U.S. Premiere!
3 Million /3 millones
Jaime Roos & Yamandu Roos, 2012, Uruguay, DCP; 135m
In this joyous documentary about the passion of soccer, the iconic Uruguayan musician and his (Dutch) photographer son reunite to embark on a “relentless journey” to the South African World Cup with the Uruguayan national soccer team. In person: Jaime Roos.
*AUG 21, 8:15PM; AUG 23, 8:00PM
U.S. Premiere!
Awka Liwen
Mariano Aiello & Kristina Hille, 2010, Argentina; 90m
This “alternative” history of Argentina focuses on the extermination of indigenous populations in the 19th century, and how this connects to the country’s current political and economic situation.
*AUG 14, 9:00PM; AUG 18, 3:00PM
Bacalar
Patricia Arriaga-Jordan, 2011, Mexico, Blu-Ray; 96m
When Santiago and his best friend Mariana inadvertently videotape a group of dangerous animal traffickers while out playing detective, they set out to save the endangered wolves in this favorite on the children’s film festival circuit! Rated G. *AUG 19, 1:00PM
Chinese Takeaway / Cuento Chino
Sebastian Borensztein, 2011, Argentina; 93m
In this warm hearted, gentle and affectionate comedy, the great Ricardo Darin stars as the hardened lonely owner of a hardware store who one day assists a newly arrived Chinese immigrant in need of help.
*AUG 11, 9:15PM; AUG 12, 6:30PM
Fat, Bald, Short Man / Gordo, calvo y bajito
Carlos Osuna, 2011, Colombia, 35mm; 97m
In this sweet and funny animated feature, Antonio, a middle aged loner and exemplary employee at a notary office in Bogota, sees his luck change when a new boss arrives. *AUG 15, 4:30PM & 9:00PM
The Last Christeros / Los ultimos cristeros
Matias Meyer, 2011, Mexico; 90m
A rigorous and intimate exploration of a lesser known aspect of Mexican history--the dramatic war between Church and State in the 20’s and 30’s. A visually powerful tribute to the bravery and perseverance of Christian rebels in defense of religious freedom. In person: Matias Meyer.
*AUG 17, 6:30PM; AUG 18, 5:00PM
Machete Language / El lenguaje de los machetes
Kyzza Terrazas, 2011, Mexico; 85m
Pushed over the edge by the violent repression in Salvador Atenco, a political activist and punk singer feel increasingly drawn to commit a terrorist act in the name of their political beliefs and their love. In person: Kyzza Terrazas.
*AUG 18, 9:15PM; AUG 19, 8:15PM
Malaventura
Michel Lipkes, 2011, Mexico; 66m
Lipkes captures the last day of an elderly man’s life with deliberate calm and suggestive cinematography as he wanders through a Mexico City that is at once familiar and foreign, in this very personal debut. In person: Michel Lipkes.
*AUG 19, 6:15PM; AUG 20, 8:30PM
Panel discussion!
New Mexican Cinema
Co-presented by Cinema Tropical
Join us for a conversation about recent trends in Mexican filmmaking with Matias Meyer (The Last Christeros), Michel Lipkes (Malaventura) and Kyzza Terrazas (Machete Language). Moderated by Carlos Gutierrez (Cinema Tropical). Special thanks to the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York.
*AUG 16, 6:30PM (Location: Furman Gallery)
Normal School / Escuela normal
Celina Murga, 2012, Argentina; 88m
Celina Murga applies her sensitive, observant perspective on young people's behavior and thoughts to her superb foray into nonfiction.
*AUG 16, 8:45PM; AUG 17, 4:15PM
U.S. PREMIERE!
The Notifier / El notificador
Blas Eloy Martinez, Argentina, 2011, 35mm; 76m
Eloy is a civil servant who delivers documents notifying people on the state of their lawsuits. His own story unravels with dry humor as each delivery opens into the outrageous worlds of the different urban dwellers he visits. In person: Blas Eloy Martinez.
*AUG 18, 7:15PM; AUG 20, 6:30PM
U.S. PREMIERE!
One Love/Un amor
Paula Hernandez, 2011, Argentina, DCP; 99m
For three friends reunited in middle age, teenage summer love and heartbreak live on 30 years later. Featuring Broadway sensation Elena Roger (Evita) in her big-screen debut. In person: Elena Roger.
*AUG 22, 6:30PM; AUG 23, 6:00PM
U.S. PREMIERE!
P.E./Educación Física
Pablo Cerda, 2011, Chile; 105m
Exequiel (played by director Cerda), a P.E. teacher living in a beautiful seaside town in Southern Chile, faces a midlife crisis after an encounter with an old love in this intimate and down-to-earth debut feature. In person: Pablo Cerda.
*AUG 15, 6:30PM; AUG 16, 4:00PM; AUG 22, 8:45PM (Pablo Cerda will not be attending the 22nd)
U.S PREMIERE!
Samuel
Cesar Lucena, Venezuela, 2011, 35mm; 75m
An exponent of the Venezuelan “Atom Cinema” manifesto, this stunningly beautiful portrait of life in the mountains tells the story of Samuel, a gifted healer. Based on the ideas of Edgar Cayce, who investigated hypnosis as a form of diagnosing and curing illnesses.
*AUG 11, 5:00PM; AUG 12, 8:30PM
Songs/As Cançoes
Eduardo Coutinho, 2012, Brazil; 90m
The power of music made bare by 78 year old master docu filmmaker Coutinho, who interviews 18 people from Rio de Janeiro about their favorite Brazilian song and why it is important to them.
*AUG 10, 9:15PM; AUG 11, 3:00PM
Thursday Till Sunday/De Jueves a Domingo
Dominga Sotomayor, 2012, Chile, DCP; 96m
In a tightly packed car, 12-year-old Lucia and her younger brother take off on a family vacation that will prove to be full of pure childhood happiness, but also quietly yet deeply life-altering.
*AUG 12, 1:30PM; AUG 13, 6:30PM
Unfinished Spaces
Alysa Nahmias & Benjamin Murray, 2011, USA; 86m
In 1961 Fidel Castro and Che commission a group of national art schools. Over the next fifty years a unique convoluted epic of contrasts enveloped the five resulting buildings. Now rediscovered, they are major markers in the history of alternative architecture and the political climate of Cuba in the second half of the twentieth century. (Howard Feinstein). In person: Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray.
*AUG 11, 7:00PM; AUG 13, 8:35PM
Violeta Went to Heaven / Violeta se fue a los cielos
Andrés Wood, 2011, Chile/Argentina/Brazil/Spain; 110m
The extraordinary story of the iconic poet, musician and folksinger whose songs have become hymns for Chileans and Latin Americans alike. Chile’s official Oscar entry. *AUG 17, 9:00PM; AUG 18, 12:30PM
With My Heart in Yambo / Con el corazón en Yambo
Maria Fernanda Restrepo, 2011, Ecuador, Blu Ray; 137m
Restrepo was only 10 when her two young brothers disappeared at the hands of Ecuadorian police. Excruciatingly long years of protest, search, research, government deception and unspeakable pain culminate in this life affirming personal journey. *AUG 19, 3:00PM; AUG 21, 3:00PM
