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San Diego's Top Weekend Events: A Closer Look At The Latino Film Festival

A photo of "The First Summer," a film from Portugal that screens at the 23rd Annual Latino Film Festival.
Courtesy of FilmFreeway
A photo of "The First Summer," a film from Portugal that screens at the 23rd Annual Latino Film Festival.

We navigate through the 165 films and various events at the 23rd annual festival

San Diego's Top Weekend Events: A Closer Look At The Latino Film Festival
San Diego's Top Weekend Events: A Closer Look At The Latino Film Festival GUEST:Nina Garin, KPBS Arts Calendar Editor and Producer

Blake Street has its first festival screening the Saturday in the first screening of Eisenstein in [ Indiscernible ] in the March 19. For more on this San Diego Latino Festival I am joined now by Nina Garin the arts can wonder editor and producer. A film festival like this can be overwhelming. The Latino film Festival has put together some showcases to help people navigate through the event. As we just heard there is about 170 movies. It's really hard if you are new to festivals to just figure it out. They made it easy. A broken it down into a bunch of different showcases. So say you just want to see a romantic comedy. There is a showcase for you. There's a sweet movie called the first summer in the showcase and it's about maintaining a summer relationship once the season is over. Then there is the 11th annual [ Indiscernible ] which has LG BT Q films. That one has some very interesting films also. There's one that is just all documentaries, there's one that is aimed at middle and high school students. Those screenings I think our free. There is a lot. And local filmmakers are showcased to Yes. There is a [ Indiscernible ] and its movies by filmmakers of Tijuana in San Diego. That one has a feature films and short films. There are two that are kind of fun. One of them is Baja taste. I don't know if you've heard about whole food explosion in Baja -- there is actually a movie about it. It talks to some of the chefs and some of the people about redefining Mexico through the food. Then there is [ Indiscernible ] which is about the shallows -- Cholos soccer team and how it revises city and gives it a new identity. Every year the festival focuses on a different country. This year the country is Columbia. Columbia. The country has recently committed to making films in its homeland. If they are becoming pretty well known and they are known for modern and original storytelling. One of the features is actually a audience one from Sundance. It's called [ Indiscernible ]. It's about a young man who wants to go into the ocean so badly that he has a neurological disorder and he can't do it. Another interesting one is [ Name indiscernible ] which is about a 13-year-old girl soldier who is expecting a baby. That the problem. Interesting titles. In addition to this wealth of movies, the Latino film Festival has events going on. Yes there are some parties and there is one tonight. It's the opening party with the Venezuelan band [ Indiscernible ]. To have time to play a clip. [ music playing ] That's [ Indiscernible ] -- and that is tonight. That is tonight at the music box. And there has to be food involved right? Yes. Of course. To have an event called support Latina witches not this editor but next Saturday at the fashion Valley Mall. It will have tons of local chefs making land -- cuisine and it will be compared with local beers and wines from the Guadalupe Valley. There will be a lot of popular once. It's hard to get those winds here. -- Wine here. And celebrities, who shall we see? If you watch tele-novella you will recognize some names. I would say the biggest name [ Name indiscernible ]. She was named one of peoples 50 most beautiful. She is on the show [ Indiscernible ]. She is probably the biggest name. If you do like the tele-novella there is [ Name indiscernible ], [ Name indiscernible ] and also you can see the Cholos soccer team. Lots to see at this event. The San Diego Latino film Festival starts tonight. It continues through Sunday, March 20. Films will be screened at the AMC Fashion Valley 18 and the digital Jim on El Cajon Boulevard. I want everyone to know you can look out for Beth Cinema junkie podcast on the San Diego Latino Film Festival and that is later today at El Cajon Boulevard. I want everyone to know you can look out for Beth Cinema junkie podcast on the San Diego Latino Film Festival and that is later today@KPBS.org/junkie podcast.

The 23rd annual San Diego Latino Film Festival kicks off this weekend with 165 films, opening and closing night parties, a food festival and more.

Here's a guide to navigating the event, which runs through Sunday, March 20, 2016, at AMC Fashion Valley 18 and the Digital Gym Cinema:

A poster for the film, "Club Frontera," about Tijuana's Xolos soccer team.
San Diego Latino Film Festival
A poster for the film, "Club Frontera," about Tijuana's Xolos soccer team.

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For locals only

The Frontera Showcase highlights features and short movies made by San Diego and Tijuana filmmakers. You'll find everything from serious topics about bullying to charming films about foodies journeying through Baja.

Highlight: "Club Frontera," a film about how the Xolos, Tijuana's professional soccer team, is changing the city's identity for the better. (Screens Monday, March 14 at 7 and 8:15 p.m.; Thursday, March 17 at 6:45 p.m.; and Sunday, March 20 at 12:15 p.m.)

See the complete Fronteras Showcase lineup.

For the romantic

The El Corazón Showcase is all about romantic comedies. It features eight films about love, loss and all things in between.

Highlight: "The First Summer," which is in Portuguese with English subtitles, is about a couple that falls in love one summer but finds it tricky to maneuver a relationship once the season has ended. (Screens Saturday, March 12 at 1:45 p.m. and Sunday, March 20 at 6 p.m.)

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See the complete El Corazón Showcase lineup.

For an all-inclusive experience

The 11th annual Cine Gay Showcase brings a selection of LGBTQ films from Latin America and beyond.

On the festival site, festival programmer Moises Esparza said, “LGBTQ cinema is transcendent by nature, oftentimes forcing spectators to look beyond their own experiences and inviting them to engage, reconcile and ultimately relate to issues initially outside of their understanding."

A photo of "Te Prometo Anarquía."
Courtesy of Interior13
A photo of "Te Prometo Anarquía."

Highlight: The gritty "Te Prometo Anarquía (I Promise You Anarchy)" about skateboarders who get involved in blood trafficking.

See the complete Cine Gay Showcase lineup.

For those who can't decide

The film festival has nine different showcases that also include all-documentaries, movies from Colombia, and films aimed at middle and high school students. You'll find the complete list of showcases here.

Another option is to just show up at the AMC Fashion Valley 18 or Digital Gym Cinema and buy a ticket to whatever is playing at the time.

For the foodies

Sabor Latino! is a party that features Latin cuisine, wines from San Diego and Baja's Valle de Guadalupe, and plenty of local beer.

A ticket gets you unlimited beer and wine tastings, which will be paired with dishes by chefs that include Diego Hernandez, Martín San Román, Sandra Vazquez and many more.

There will also be DJ-spun music and live performances throughout the day.

1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 19. Fashion Valley mall. $20 (for designated driver) to $45; find tickets here.

A photo of the rock band Los Amigos Invisibles.
Courtesy of EMI
A photo of the rock band Los Amigos Invisibles.

For those who prefer parties

An opening night party at the Music Box in Little Italy welcomes Venezuelan rock band, Los Amigos Invisibles.

The Grammy-nominated Amigos Invisibles is known for its quirky blend of disco, acid jazz and Latin rhythms. Indie pop musician Clemente Castillo will open the show. The event will also feature visiting festival celebrities, drink specials and more. Transportation will be provided from the AMC Fashion Valley 18 theater to the Music Box.

9 p.m., Thursday, March 10. Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. $38 to $73; find tickets or call (619) 230-1938 for additional information.

A closing night party on Sunday, March 20, will be a salsa party and tribute to Southern California musician Johnny Polanco. Find details here.