GuadaLAjara Film Festival in Los Angeles set to run December 17-19, 2020, announced a 100% virtual 2020 program. Celebrating ten years since its premiere in Los Angeles, the festival, formerly known as FICG in LA also revealed its new name – GuadaLAjara Film Festival – as homage to the two cities in which it was founded.
This year’s festival will focus on Los Angeles – seeking to amplify the diverse voices of Latin films. The festival aims to further engage second and third generations of Latin filmmakers whose stories are fundamental to understanding one of the largest minorities in the United States, thus continuing to preserve the roots and language. Its goal is to profile the experiences of those who have lived on both sides of the border, to share, conserve and entertain the different ethnicities of Los Angeles, reinforcing the festival’s mission to encourage greater inclusivity.
Starting with this year’s 10th edition, the festival will pay tribute to the leaders behind vital organizations that help pave the way to a better future for all Latinos. Its inaugural honoree will be Monica Ramirez, CEO and Founder of Justice4Women Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports migrant women and promotes better living and working conditions. 100% of this year’s net box office will be donated to the Justice4Women Foundation.
Opening Night: NO MAN’S LAND from Director Conor Allyn, starring Frank Grillo, Andie MacDowell, George López and Esmeralda Pimentel. Migration is an issue that will always be fundamental when we talk about the relationship between Latin America and the United States. No Man’s Land addresses this problem from a human perspective.
Center Piece: 499, from director Rodrigo Reyes and stars Eduardo San Juan Breña as a 16th-century conquistador who begins an epic journey, documents stories of how the Spanish dehumanized the societies they encountered.
Closing Night: SUMMERTIME from Director Carlos López Estrada, starring Mila Cuda, Paolina Acuña-Gonzaléz, Tyris Winter, Gordon IP, Marquesha Babers, Austin Antoine and Bryce Banks.
A film that tackles the theme of being an “Angeleno,” representing the diversity in a big city in the United States.
“The festival’s new mission is to show the best of Latin American cinema, and open doors for emerging Latinx creators, with the intention of cultivating a borderless film industry” stated Festival’s Director Ximena Urrutia Partida.
In addition, the festival will feature three “Masterclasses” with notable industry talent:
Her Gaze: A conversation to discuss the uniqueness of the female gaze behind the camera. Each director shares how they found their passion in filmmaking, their voice and their experiences behind the camera. Participating Directors: Gia Coppola (Mainstream), Patricia Riggen (Under The Same Moon), Yulene Olaizola (Selva Tragica). Moderator: Maikiko James, Executive Director, Women in Film.
Aspirations through Animation: Animation is a great place to create a pipeline for aspiring Latinx filmmakers in particular those who may have stories that need to live in a fantastical world to have a wider audience appeal. It helps to bring different cultures together. Participants are Carlos Lopez Estrada (Dir of Summertime & Disney’s upcoming Ryan And The Last Dragon) and Osnat Shurer (Producer, Ryan And The Last Dragon & Moana)
Moderator: Julia Ann Crommett, VP Multicultural Audience Engagement, Disney
Writing Without Borders: A conversation with writers who have no creative borders and have collaborated with filmmakers from the U.S., Latin America and around the world. Participants are: Mauricio Katz Screenwriter Maniac & Zero Zero Zero, Sebastián Hoffman, Screenwriter and Director of Time Share & Halley, David Barraza, Screenwriter of No Man´s Land. Moderator: Christine Davila.
The festival will also continue the WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP LATINO) program: This program aims to support emerging talent by helping narrative and documentary feature films in post-production. Past winners have included award winning films such as I’m No Longer Here. This year, 9 films will compete in the WIP Latino of the GuadaLAjara Film Festival with 7 countries including the USA with a Latin production made in Los Angeles. The winning film will receive a cash award of $10,000.
The festival will showcase a selection of emerging LatinX talent, Ibero-America and Documentary shorts films.
