Over the last decade, many universities and colleges have begun focusing on expanding the culture capital of our region by looking at new ways to make the diverse population of West Michigan feel at home when it comes to entertainment programming. (A lesson Dave Agema could learn.)
A fine example of such collaboration is the return of the Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival brought to the screen by Aquinas College, Calvin College, Ferris State University, Davenport University, and Grand Valley State University. This fourth installment of the festival will kick off on Thursday, April 4 at Celebration! Cinema North before heading to Wealthy Theatre.
It is hard to imagine how quickly this festival has grown from just a few films in 2010 to their current roster of 14 feature films. Two directors are even traveling from Venezuela and Argentina to present their films as well as take the audience's questions.
The festival's goal is to provide the West Michigan community and students with a unique and enriching opportunity to acquaint themselves with the latest and most acclaimed Latin American films. This is often the first time these fresh films have been shown to an audience in our region.
Three consulates -- the Mexican Consulate in Detroit, the Venezuelan Consulate in Chicago, and the Argentine Consulate in Chicago -- not only sent the films, but also donated the copyrights.
Stéphane Bédère, assistant professor of Spanish and French at Aquinas College, says, “All of the films we will show this year deal with social or racial equity in some way, as these topics are part of everyday life in Latin America. Some examples are Juan of the Dead, a parody of a zombie movie about the political and social situation of today’s Cuba; Brother, a Venezuelan feature dealing with the social and economic aspects of the life of two brothers in one of Caracas’ most impoverished neighborhood; and sex trafficking, with its social and gender implications, are at the center of the Argentinean film, A Fly in the Ashes.”
Bédère also points out another interesting film, The Queen of the People. This documentary from Venezuelan Juan Andrés Bello cleverly explores the political, social, and racial issues connected between a beauty pageant, baseball, and the political democracy in Venezuela.
One thing is for certain: as one who has attended this series over the years, I truly have enjoyed not only the level of films programmed, but appreciated the opportunity to see how another lives on our ever shrinking planet.
Admission: Free (always)
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