The 17th annual Latin American Film Festival (LAFF) hits the screens of ANU’s Kambri Theatre on 4-31 August. The event is tipped to be the hottest thing on the local Latin American social calendar this year.
Screening 15 films from the 15 Latin American countries that have diplomatic representation here in the capital, each film has been recognised with awards from international film critics.
The free event has something for lovers of all genres of film. Chile’s offering is Spider, a political thriller set in the early 1970s where three members of an ultra-right-wing group are determined to bring down the democratic government.
If a classic rom-com is more your style, Panama plays on the idea of the dream wedding and the extreme lengths people go to for their perfect day in Something Blue.
This year’s host country, Uruguay, presents a drama telling the story of social contrasts and cross-class bonds in The Employer and the Employee, when an unexpected event strains the relationship between a boss and his worker. The film screened at Cannes and has been praised for its audio-visual production.
One of LAFF’s goals is to attract interest to the Latin American region and break the misconception that all the countries are the same with similar people, values, and cultures. Ambassador of Uruguay to Australia, Dianela Pi, says the festival provides an opportunity for each country to show off what makes them unique.
“I think that people have some ideas about our countries and then they can see the developed, different landscapes and the mix of diversity and the culture,” she says.
Each screening begins with a promotional video from the country as an invitation to visit.
The festival is grateful for the support they receive from ANU, which is home to the Australian National Centre for Latin American Studies. However, they work with universities across the country to host screenings.
Once the festival wraps up in Canberra it will hit the road and travel to some of Australia’s major cities. Ms Pi says they have already locked in Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, and Darwin but are still working with Perth and Adelaide. Before the pandemic, the festival had started travelling to smaller cities like Wollongong.
“We work with partnerships, particularly with universities, but it has been difficult for universities due to Covid.”
Festival organisers are taking Covid protocols seriously; here in Canberra, attendees will be required to wear masks, as requested by ANU, and something that Ms Pi says the festival is very supportive of.
With one film screening per day, don’t worry about missing any of the flicks on the program.
“I think all of them are completely different, it depends on what you like about films. You really have all the genres and all kind of films around. All are quite new and all have been awarded. All quite exciting and a show of what we can do,” Ms Pi said.
To find out more, head to www.facebook.com/latinoembassiesaustralia
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