Two Latin American feature films are screening this holiday weekend at the 50th edition of the Telluride Film Festival: Tótem by Lila Avilés and El Conde by Pablo Larraín, which just had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival two days ago.
Tótem, the second film by Avilés following her acclaimed debut feature The Chambermaid, tells the story of seven-year-old Sol, who spends the day at her grandfather’s home, helping her aunts Nuri and Alejandra with the preparations for a surprise party they are throwing for Sol’s father, Tonatiuh. Starring Naíma Sentíes, Monserrat Marañon, Marisol Gasé, Saori Gurza, and Teresita Sánchez, the film had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival last February.
Starring Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro and Paula Luchsinger, El Conde is a dark comedy/horror that imagines a parallel universe inspired by the recent history of Chile. The film portrays Augusto Pinochet, a symbol of world fascism, as a vampire who lives hidden in a ruined mansion in the cold southern tip of the continent. Feeding his appetite for evil to sustain his existence.
After two hundred and fifty years of life, Pinochet has decided to stop drinking blood and abandon the privilege of eternal life. He can no longer bear that the world remembers him as a thief. Despite the disappointing and opportunistic nature of his family, he finds new inspiration to continue living a life of vital and counterrevolutionary passion through an unexpected relationship.
As it was previously reported, Telluride is celebrating Cuban-born Mexican actress Ninón Sevilla with the screening of two of the films she starred: Victims of Sin / Víctimas del pecado (1951) and Take Me in Your Arms / Llévame en tus brazos (1954).
And lastly, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Telluride has invited filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, along with other directors, to curate its Guest Director program. The Mexican director will present his selection of the 1976 film Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000 by Alain Tanner.
The 50th edition of the Telluride Film Festival takes place August 31—September 4 in Colorado.
