The San Diego Latino Film Festival kicks off its 12th annual Cinema En Tu Idioma film series with a mini-festival of the latest Latino films featuring Kate Del Castillo and Eva Longoria. Films began last night and run through August 11 at the UltraStar Mission Valley Theaters at Hazard Center.
In the past, Cinema En Tu Idioma (CETI) has showcased a one and occasionally two films for a limited one-week mini engagement. This time CETI is trying a mini-festival. I was unable to screen the films in advance but the series has a good track record for bringing quality Latino films to San Diego and sometimes this is your only opportunity to catch them. So with their good track record I wanted to highlight the films that are screening.
Here are the program listings. It's quite a selection for one week and trying to see more than one may take judicious planning.
"Without Men:" The women of a remote Latin American town are forced to pick up the pieces and remake their world when all the town's men are forcibly recruited by communist guerrillas. An all star cast of Latino actors including Eva Longoria, Kate del Castillo, Monica Huarte, and Paul Rodriguez. Screening times: Fri. 8/58:30pm, Sat. 8/6 8:30pm, Sun. 8/7 4:00pm, Mon. 8/8 4:00pm, Tues. 8/9 4:00pm, Wed. 8/10 8:30pm, Thurs. 8/11 8:30pm.
"All She Can (Benavides Born):" Luz Garcia, a high school senior in a forgotten Texas town, wants something different than the options awaiting her after graduation. She's earned a ticket out with admission to the University of Texas at Austin, but she can't afford to go. Her one shot is a scholarship for winning the State Powerlifting Championship. It's all or nothing for Luz . . . until nothing stares her in the face. Screening times: Fri. 8/5 6:15pm, Sat. 8/66:15pm, Sun. 8/7 8:30pm, Mon. 8/8 8:30pm, Tues. 8/9 8:30pm,Wed. 8/10 6:15pm, Thurs. 8/11 6:15pm.
"DiDi Hollywood:" The story of a young actress and her strong desire to make it to the top of Hollywood. Starring Ana de la Reguera, Peter Coyote, and Elsa Pataky. Screening times: Fri. 8/5 10:45pm, Sat. 8/6 10:45pm, Sun. 8/7 6:15pm, Mon. 8/8 6:15pm, Tues. 8/9 6:15pm, Wed. 8/10 10:45pm, Thurs. 8/1110:45pm.
"Blue Eyes:" Award-winning Brazilian drama. Marshall, chief immigration officer of New York’s JFK Airport faced a compulsory retirement. On his last day of work, drunk and blinded by prejudice, he harasses a group of Latin American visitors and exposes them to a series of humiliating events that result in the death of a young Brazilian. Years later, after serving a lengthy prison term and filled with guilt, Marshall goes to Brazil in search of the victim’s daughter and is guided by the young, Bia. Screening times: Fri. 8/511:30am, Sat. 8/6 11:30am, Sun. 8/7 10:45pm, Mon. 8/8 10:45pm,Tues. 8/9 10:45pm, Wed. 8/10 11:30am, Thurs. 8/11 11:30am.
"Where the Road Meets the Sun:" A drama centered on a man dealing with the aftereffects of being in a coma caused by a car accident. Screening times: Fri. 8/5 1:45pm, Sat. 8/6 1:45pm, Sun. 8/7 11:30am, Mon. 8/8 11:30am, Tues. 8/9 11:30am, Wed. 8/101:45pm, Thurs. 8/11 1:45pm.
"Forged:" An ex-thug and his son attempt to find a way to move past impossible circumstances to forge a bond that has been forever broken by the murder of the child's mother. Screening times: Fri. 8/5 4:00pm, Sat. 8/6 4:00pm, Sun. 8/7 1:45pm, Mon. 8/8 1:45pm,Tues. 8/9 1:45pm, Wed. 8/10 4:00pm, Thurs. 8/11 4:00pm.
The 2011 Cinema en tu Idioma series runs through November. Upcoming films include: "Anita" (in September); "Del Amor Y Otros Demonios (Of Love and Other Demons)" (in October); and "Habana Eva" (in November). Enjoy your film options this week.
