44 films from 21 countries have been confirmed to screen at the 34th AFI Latin American Film Festival, taking place September 21 to October 11 at the historic AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Festival spotlights Latin America’s films and filmmaking during National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Festival opens with Berlinale competition entry, Tótem, directed by Lila Avilés (The Chambermaid). Winner of the Ecumenical Jury Prize, this warm, sensitively told drama unfolds over the course of one chaotic day, as seven-year-old Sol watches her family prepare for her terminally ill father’s birthday party.

The Festival closes with Pictures of Ghosts, a charming personal essay from Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho. Reflecting on his filmmaking journey and the dwindling cinemas of his hometown of Recife, Filho weaves together archival and contemporary footage with scenes from his own work to create a love letter to film, family and the power of cinemas.

Alongside Pictures of Ghosts, the Festival spotlights several films that also had their world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, including Pedro Almodóvar’s latest English language short, Strange Way of Life, a sizzling and stylish Western starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke; the North American Premiere of The Buriti Flower, a powerful hybrid-documentary about the Indigenous Krahô tribe in Brazil, who collaborated on a script that chronicles centuries of exploitation; The Delinquents, a shaggy-dog bank heist-turned-existential romantic comedy from Argentina’s Rodrigo Moreno; the U.S. Premiere of Amat Escalante’s noir-tinged revenge thriller, Lost in The Night; and brutal Chilean historical drama The Settlers, which follows the early 20th century colonial efforts to clear the countryside of Indigenous people.

The Festival features several films that explore the legacy of Latin American music and musicians, including Carlos, Rudy Valdez’s rollicking documentary portrait of Grammy®-winning legend Carlos Santana; Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s They Shot The Piano Player, an animated documentary exploring the mysterious disappearance of Brazilian piano virtuoso Francisco Tenório Júnior; Elis & Tom, featuring a treasure trove of recovered footage from the 1974 recording session where Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim recorded their classic Bossa Nova record; Going Varsity in Mariachi, a crowd-pleasing Sundance debut that follows a competitive high school mariachi band on their path to Texas state championships; and Miúcha, The Voice of Bossa Nova, a loving tribute to Brazilian singer Miúcha, which provides a feminist perspective on the Bossa Nova scene.

The Festival also features several recent favorites from the international festival circuit, including Sundance prizewinner Radical, an inspirational crowd-pleaser starring Eugenio Derbez (CODA); Pablo Larraín’s dark satire The Count, direct from its premiere at the Venice Film Festival; winner of the Berlinale Documentary Award, The Echo, a visually arresting portrait of a multi-generational family living in the remote Mexican highlands; Argentine tango comedy Let The Dance Begin, starring Darío Grandinetti and Mercedes Morán, winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Málaga Film Festival; coming-of-age documentary Hummingbirds, winner of the Grand Prix at this year’s Berlinale Generation 14plus section; award-winning Peruvian film Diógenes, presented in recognition of Indigenous People’s day; and Sundance favorites The Fishbowl from Puerto Rican filmmaker Glorimar Marrero Sanchez, Sebastian Silva’s boundary pushing comedy Rotting in The Sun and Heroic, a military-school set thriller; and Best International Feature Film Oscar® submission Domingo and The Mist (Costa Rica).

A complete slate of all festival selections of 2023 AFI Latin American Film Festival is below.

Argentina

North American Premiere
THE EXTORTION [LA EXTORSIÓN]
Guillermo Francella (THE CLAN, THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES) is Alejandro, a respected airline pilot whose world is turned upside down when his country’s intelligence service pulls him aside and blackmails him with evidence of a career-ending lie. To keep the secret, Alejandro is forced to ferry mysterious suitcases on his regular flight to Madrid. Subterfuge, corruption and intrigue are dialed up to 11 in Argentina’s biggest hit of 2023. Executive produced by Juan José Campanella (THE SECRET IN YOUR EYES), Martino Zaidelis’ sophomore feature is a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller with twists and turns that culminate in an explosive final act as Alejandro dares to evade the sinister agents. DIR Martino Zaidelis; SCR Emanuel Diez; PROD Muriel Cabeza, Axel Kuschevatzky. Argentina, 2023, color, 106 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT [CRÓNICAS DE UNA SANTA ERRANTE]
Q&A with filmmaker Tomás Gómez Bustillo and producer Gewan Brown on Sept. 24
Desperate to separate herself from the pious pack of gossiping women in a rural Argentine town, Rita (Mónica Villa, THE EXTORTION, WILD TALES) is obsessed with becoming the saintliest. When she finds a dusty old box in the church’s backroom, she’s convinced it contains the town’s beloved Santa Rita statue, long believed to be lost. Recruiting her bumbling, oft-neglected husband (Horacio Marassi, LA FLOR, ROJO), she hatches a plan to stage her own miracle. But what price is she willing to pay for sainthood? In his feature debut, Tomás Gómez Bustillo (an AFI Conservatory Alum) has crafted a comedic, religious fantasy that won the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. DIR/SCR Tomás Gómez Bustillo; PROD Gewan Brown, Amanda Freedman. Argentina/U.S., 2023, color, 84 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

LET THE DANCE BEGIN [EMPIEZA EL BAILE]
Post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Argentina on Sept. 29
Once a famous tango dancer, Carlos (Darío Grandinetti, TALK TO HER, WILD TALES) has put his past behind him, living a quiet life in Madrid with his wife and daughter. But a seemingly urgent phone call tricks him into returning to Buenos Aires and reuniting with his former dance partner and lover Margarita (Mercedes Morán, LA CIÉNEGA, NERUDA) for the first time in decades. Joined by their old manager Pichuquito (Jorge Marrale, in a delightful performance that won him Best Supporting Actor award at the 2023 Málaga Film Festival) the trio dust off the old tour van and set out on a hijinks-filled road trip where secrets are revealed and relationships rekindled. Filmmaker Marina Seresesky (THE OPEN DOOR) delivers a rollicking comedy filled with heart, tango and winning performances from two of Argentina’s biggest stars. Winner, Audience Award, 2023 Málaga Film Festival. Official Selection, 2023 Seattle Film Festival. DIR/SCR Marina Seresesky; PROD Christian Faillace, Juan Pablo Galli, Álvaro Lavín, Marcelo Ortega. Argentina/Spain, 2023, color, 99 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Special Presentation
THE PRACTICE [LA PRÁCTICA]
Gustavo (Esteban Bigliardi, THE DELINQUENTS), an Argentine living in Chile, is a yoga instructor on the verge of a mid-life crisis. His wife Vanessa has left him, keeping their shared apartment and leaving him their shared yoga studio; his knee is giving out; and a sudden earthquake and a wave of thefts at the studio disturb the namaste environment he’s tried to cultivate. He’ll have to rely on couples therapy, yoga retreats, YouTube workouts and the possibility of new love to find a sense of balance in this new phase of life. Filmmaker Martín Rejtman (SILVIA PRIETO, TWO SHOTS FIRED) returns with another hilarious deadpan comedy, mining his own experience as a practicing yogi to get to the root of middle-aged malaise. Official Selection, 2023 San Sebastian, New York and London film festivals. DIR/SCR Martín Rejtman. Argentina/Chile/Portugal, 2023, color, 90 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Special Presentation
THE DELINQUENTS (2023) [LOS DELINCUENTES]
A shaggy-dog bank heist-turned-existential romantic comedy, THE DELINQUENTS premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes to rave reviews, marking a major return from New Argentine Cinema mainstay Rodrigo Moreno (THE CUSTODIAN, A MYSTERIOUS WORLD). Working in a drab bank that seems stuck in the ’70s, Morán (Daniel Elias, THE OWNERS) is ready to take a gamble. He can rob the bank blind, serve a few years behind bars and then never have to work another day in his life. He just needs his co-worker Román (Esteban Bigliardi, A MYSTERIOUS WORLD, VILLEGAS) to stash the cash while he’s locked up, in exchange for which Román will be rewarded with his own portion of the loot. The anticipation of the good life awaiting them sparks something in both men, releasing them from the quotidian and allowing them to explore new possibilities, new romances (Margarita Molfino, LA FLOR, WILD TALES) and a small taste of freedom. DIR/SCR Rodrigo Moreno; PROD Ezequiel Borovinsky. Argentina/Brazil/Chile/Luxembourg, 2023, color, 180 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Bolivia

Special Presentation
U.S. Premiere
THE ONES FROM BELOW [LOS DE ABAJO]
Q&A with Alejandro Quiroga and Álvaro Olmos
In Alejandro Quiroga’s captivating neo-Western, Gregorio (Fernando Arze Echalar, SEALED CARGO) has been dealt a rough hand: his wife is dead and his farmland is barren. In the sleepy southern town of Rosillas, Bolivia, all the water has been diverted to wealthy Argentine landowner Colonel Iglesias (César Bordón, CHARCOAL, WILD TALES). Failing to make ends meet while caring for his young son and elderly parents, Gregorio’s anger and resentment grows. While the rest of the town may have resigned themselves to their fate, Gregorio refuses to give up the fight, taking one last stand against inequality. Official Selection, 2022 Mar del Plata Film Festival. DIR/SCR Alejandro Quiroga; PROD Álvaro Olmos Torrico. Bolivia/Colombia/Brazil/Argentina, 2022, color, 83 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Brazil

ELIS & TOM [ELIS & TOM, SÓ TINHA DE SER COM VOCÊ]
Famed MPB (música popular brasileira) singer Elis Regina was a decade into her tenure with Philips Records when she was given the ultimate anniversary gift in 1974: a collaborative album with her icon, singer-songwriter Antônio Carlos Jobim. Over 16 days in Los Angeles, the two recorded the classic Bossa Nova album “Elis & Tom,” and now footage of those recording sessions has been restored for the world to see. Featuring never-before-seen archival material and interviews with the musicians featured on the record, Roberto de Oliveira’s and Jom Tob Azulay’s documentary is a music lover’s dream come true. DIR/SCR Roberto de Oliveira; DIR Jom Tob Azulay; SCR Nelson Motta; PROD Diogo Pires Gonçalves. Brazil, 2022, color, 100 min. In English and Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

CHARCOAL [CARVÃO]
Downtrodden housewife Irene (Maeve Jinkings, AQUARIUS, NEON BULL) lives with her deadbeat husband, precocious young son and ailing father on a charcoal farm in rural Brazil. Struggling to get by, she’s thrown a lifeline when a nurse offers her a pile of cash to off her father and hide an Argentine drug lord in his place (César Bordón, WILD TALES). A fish-out-of-water comedy ensues as the family adjusts to their new houseguest, a catalyst that breaks Irene out of her shell. But nosy neighbors and a restless gangster threaten to upend their newfound stability. In this darkly comic class satire wrapped in a crime thriller, filmmaker Carolina Markowicz deftly juggles genres as she slowly ratchets up the tension until an electrifying finale changes everything. Official Selection, 2022 Toronto and San Sebastián film festivals. DIR/SCR Carolina Markowicz; PROD Zita Carvalhosa. Brazil/Argentina, 2022, color, 107 min. In Portuguese and Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Special Presentation
North American Premiere
THE BURITI FLOWER [CROWRÃ]
Shot over the course of 15 months in four different villages within the Krahôlandia Indigenous Land of Brazil, this spellbinding blend of ethnography and narrative filmmaking sees co-directors Joao Salaviza and Renee Nader Messora (THE DEAD AND THE OTHERS) continue their work with the Indigenous Krahô community, who play themselves and collaborate on a script chronicling their fight to resist centuries of exploitation through dramatizations of three decisive events in their history: a massacre of Krahôs carried out in 1940, a traumatic moment during Brazil’s military dictatorship in 1960 and the present day political struggle in the wake of Jair Bolsanaro’s rule. These collective memories are foregrounded by the stories of three villagers — preteen Jotàt (Solane Tehtikwỳj Krahô), her mother Patpro (Ilda Patpro Krahô) and Patpro’s uncle Hỳjnõ (Francisco Hỳjnõ Krahô) — as they each come to terms with their changing Indigenous identities in contemporary Brazil and work to preserve their land and cultural traditions from exploitation and the long-reaching legacy of colonialism. THE BURITI FLOWER is a remarkable and immersive ode to the strength and ongoing resistance of the Krahôs and Indigenous communities everywhere. Winner, Un Certain Regard – Ensemble Prize, 2023 Cannes Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Renée Nader Messora, João Salaviza; SCR Henrique Ihjãc Krahô, Ilda Patpro Krahô, Francisco Hyjno Krahô; PROD Ricardo Alves Jr., Julia Alves. Brazil/Portugal, 2023, color, 123 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

MIÚCHA, THE VOICE OF BOSSA NOVA
Heloísa Maria Buarque de Hollanda, better known by her stage name Miúcha, was at the center of the Brazilian Bossa Nova music scene but often overlooked in favor of its male stars, her husband João Gilberto among them. Through archival recordings and material, Miúcha’s story is brought to the forefront at last in Liliane Mutti and Daniel Zarvos’ documentary. Chronicling the highs and lows of Miúcha’s artistic career and her turbulent marriage to Gilberto, the film provides a feminist perspective on Bossa Nova from one of its most vital voices. DIR/SCR Liliane Mutti; DIR/PROD Daniel Zarvos; PROD Mostafiz ShahMohammed, Marta Sánchez. Brazil/France/U.S., 2022, color, 98 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Closing Night
PICTURES OF GHOSTS [RETRATOS FANTASMAS]
Q&A with Kleber Mendonça Filho
Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho (AQUARIUS, BACURAU) turns his camera inward in this charming personal essay, reflecting on his filmmaking journey and the dwindling cinemas of his hometown of Recife. Mendonça Filho starts the tour in his childhood home, the apartment that birthed the gonzo films of his teenage years and became the set of his breakout debut, NEIGHBORING SOUNDS. But nothing stays the same forever, and 50 years on, the apartment and neighborhood are full of specters of the past, including the movie palaces of Mendonça Filho’s youth. Weaving together archival and contemporary footage with scenes from his films, he creates a melancholy yet joyful love letter to film, family and the power of cinemas. Official Selection, 2023 Cannes and New York film festivals. DIR/SCR Kleber Mendonça Filho; PROD Emilie Lesclaux. Brazil, 2023, color, 93 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Chile

EL CONDE
EL CONDE is a pitch-black horror comedy from Pablo Larraín (JACKIE, NO, SPENCER) that imagines a parallel universe where dictator Augusto Pinochet still roams the Chilean countryside — as a vampire. A symbol of fascism, he lives in a ruined mansion in the cold, southern tip of South America. There, he feeds his appetite for evil to sustain his existence. After 250 years of life, Pinochet decides to stop drinking blood and abandon the privilege of eternal life; he can no longer bear that the world remembers him as a thief. Despite the disappointing and opportunistic nature of his family, he finds new inspiration through an unexpected relationship to continue a life of vital and counterrevolutionary passion. (Note adapted from Netflix.) DIR/SCR Pablo Larraín; SCR Guillermo Calderón; PROD Juan de Dios Larraín. Chile, 2023, b&w, 110 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. RATED R

Special Presentation
2024 Oscar® Selection, Chile
THE SETTLERS (2023) [LOS COLONOS]
Chile, 1901. Scottish army captain MacLennan (Mark Stanley, GAME OF THRONES) is tasked by his wealthy employer (and real historical figure) José Menéndez (Alfredo Castro, THE CLUB, NO) to map a secure route to the coast through the remote Tierra del Fuego region. Taking with him quiet Mestizo tracker Segundo (Camilo Arancibia) and joined by crass Texas mercenary Bill (Benjamin Westfall, YOU WILL NEVER BE ALONE), the trio embarks on a brutal killing spree of the Indigenous Selk’nam people in their path. A haunting look at the viciousness of colonialism, Felipe Gálvez’s assured directorial debut trains an unflinching eye on one of the most violent chapters of Chile’s history. Subverting classic Western tropes and featuring stunning cinematography, the film won the FIPRESCI Critics Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. DIR/SCR Felipe Gálvez; SCR Antonia Girardi; PROD Stefano Centini, Benjamín Doménech, Santiago Gallelli, Thierry Lenouvel, Emily Morgan, Giancarlo Nasi, Matías Roveda. Chile/Argentina/UK/Taiwan/France/Denmark/Sweden/Germany/U.S., 2023, color, 97 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Colombia

A MALE [UN VARÓN]
It’s Christmastime, and in the streets of Bogotá, homeless teenager Carlos (Dilan Felipe Ramirez Espitia, in his screen debut) longs to spend the holiday with his sister and their imprisoned mother. Not fitting the traditional image or demeanor of “alpha male” masculinity, Carlos struggles to meet the expectations of those around him after a violent encounter demands he seek revenge on his top-dog aggressor. A carefully observed portrait of youth in turmoil, writer and director Fabián Hernández’s feature debut holds a mirror to the current vision of Colombian masculinity, where sensitivity is viewed as weakness that must be eradicated. DIR/SCR Fabián Hernández; PROD Louise Bellicaud, Claire Charles-Gervais, Christoph Hahnheiser, Josune Hahnheiser, Ilse Hughan, Manuel Ruiz Montealegre. Colombia/France/Netherlands/Germany, 2022, color, 82 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Costa Rica

2023 Oscar® Selection, Costa Rica
DOMINGO AND THE MIST [DOMINGO Y LA NIEBLA]
Living in the lush cloud forests of Costa Rica, elderly dairy farmer Domingo is desperately clinging to the past. He’s the last vestige of a once bustling farming community, set to be cleared to make way for a new highway. Domingo refuses a buyout to move, intent on remaining in the house he had shared with his wife, who now visits nightly in the form of an otherworldly mist. Featuring lush visuals and an enveloping soundscape, filmmaker Ariel Escalante Meza’s atmospheric neo-western is about one man taking a stand against progress, power and profits. Official Selection, 2022 Cannes, Munich and Toronto film festivals. DIR/SCR/PROD Ariel Escalante; PROD Nicolás Wong Diaz, Julio Hernández Cordón, Gabriela Fonseca Villalobos, Felipe Zúñiga. Costa Rica/Qatar, 2022, color, 86 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Cuba

THE PADILLA AFFAIR [EL CASO PADILLA]
Q&A with filmmaker Pavel Giroud
Following the publication of his collection of critical poems in 1971, Cuban poet Heberto Padilla is imprisoned by the communist regime. Before his release, the authorities stage a show of self-criticism where Padilla admits to being a counterrevolutionary and incriminates other artists — including his own wife. This incident, dubbed “the Padilla affair,” saw several intellectuals worldwide — including Jean Paul Sartre, Julio Cortázar and Susan Sontag — criticize a government they had previously supported. Now, for the first time, documentarian Pavel Giroud unearths stunning, 50-year-old archival footage of the incident to give audiences a peek into a watershed moment in the Cuban Revolution. Winner, Best Documentary, 2023 Miami Film Festival. DIR/SCR Pavel Giroud; PROD Lía Rodriguez. Spain/Cuba, 2022, color, 78 min. In English, Spanish and French with English subtitles. NOT RATED

VICENTA B.
Vicenta is a Cuban clairvoyant whose services are in high demand, putting her neighbors at ease about the future. Her harmonious life is ripped apart when her only son leaves the island in search of work. Alone, and with her foresight blinded, Vicenta spirals into an existential crisis — and the only remedy is to voyage deep into the heart of a country where everyone seems to have lost their faith. The third film by director Carlos Lechuga (SANTA & ANDRÉS) is a radically political metaphor for the ennui suffered by Cubans living in a country decaying 70 years after the Revolution. Official Selection, 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Carlos Lechuga; SCR Fabián Suárez; PROD Claudia Calviño. Cuba/France/Colombia/Norway/U.S., 2022, color, 77 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Dominican Republic

U.S. Premiere
BABYGIRL (2023) [LA HEMBRITA]
An upper-crust empty nester, Dominique (Cecilia García) runs her home with precision, with little thanks given to her long-standing live-in maid Carmen (Xiomara Fortuna) — though it stings when Dominque’s successful children are quick to point out who really raised them. One day Carmen brings her seven-year-old granddaughter to work but disappears without a trace, leaving the young girl in Dominque’s care. Rekindling her maternal instincts, Dominque is all too happy to take in the child, much to the shock of her friends and family. Filmmaker Laura Amelia Guzmán (HOLY BEASTS, SAND DOLLARS), working from a script written with her longtime collaborator Israel Cárdenas, mines the loneliness of middle-aged motherhood to create a simmering social drama. Official Selection, 2023 Rotterdam and Málaga film festivals. DIR/SCR Laura Amelia Guzmán; SCR/PROD Israel Cárdenas; PROD Rafael Elías Muñoz, Sarah Perez Baez. Dominican Republic, 2023, color, 90 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

RAMONA (2023)
Feeling unprepared to play the role of Ramona, a 15-year-old pregnant girl living on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, affluent actress Camila Santana decides to sit down with pregnant teen all over the Dominican Republic to hear their stories. What originally began as a fiction film morphs into a hybrid narrative-documentary where the subjects’ own ideas on how Ramona should act soon influence the production of the film itself, taking it into new, unchartered territory. In RAMONA, director Victoria Linares Villegas (IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY) grapples with the notion of authenticity in storytelling through a work that blends genres and blurs the line between reality and fiction. Official Selection, 2023 Berlin and True/False film festivals. DIR/SCR Victoria Linares Villegas; SCR Diego Cepeda; PROD Pedro García, Jordi Gassó, Rafael Llaneza. Dominican Republic, 2023, color, 82 min. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Ecuador

OCTOPUS SKIN [LA PIEL PULPO]
Sequestered on a deserted island off the coast of mainland Ecuador, 17-year-old twins Iris and Ariel live an isolated life alongside their emotionally unstable mother and sister. At one with the natural world surrounding them, the twins have created their own intimate world, one that blurs conventional boundaries between siblings. When a stranger happens upon their jagged coast, Iris jumps at the opportunity to hitch a ride to the city, with Ariel reluctantly tagging along. There among the vast crowds and shopping malls, they will discover the world from which they’ve been shielded. Ecuadorian filmmaker Ana Cristina Barragán (ALBA) has crafted a sensuously shot, earthly coming-of-age tale featuring fearless performances from its young leads. Official Selection, 2022 San Sebastian Film Festival; 2023 Munich Film Festival. DIR/SCR Ana Cristina Barragán; PROD Samuel Chauvin, Isabela Parra. Ecuador/Greece/Mexico/Germany/France/Italy, 2022, color, 95 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

El Salvador

THE FISHES WITHIN [TODOS LOS PECES]
Q&A with filmmaker Brenda Vanegas
In dreamy voice-over narration, 11-year-old Lucía relates the story of a life spent suffering abuse at the hands of her mother and stepfather while finding solace in the waters of El Salvador’s Lake Coatepeque, which teems with tiny fishes. One day, after returning home from the market, Lucía finds her younger siblings have all disappeared and her mother refuses to speak about what happened. Unwilling to be separated from them, Lucía sets out into the world to find answers and reunite with her family. Salvadoran filmmaker Brenda Vanegas (BEFORE THE RAIN) crafts a powerful drama based on real-life stories, shining a light on child exploitation in El Salvador. DIR/SCR/PROD Brenda Vanegas; PROD Mario Soundy, Leticia Macua, Rosa Mejía, Ana Peñate, Sara Peñate. El Salvador, 2022, color, 80 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Honduras

I AM BERTA [BERTA SOY YO]
What starts out as a profile of environmental and Indigenous rights activist Berta Cáceres morphs into a true crime procedural about her assassination in 2016 — which took place shortly after she predicted the names of her murderers. Epic in scope, documentarian Katia Lara’s film unravels the web of government and international conspiracy seemingly tied to Cáceres’ murder while immortalizing the struggle of a woman devoted to a cause that transcended her own life and turned her into a martyr recognized around the world. DIR/SCR/PROD Katia Lara; PROD Milon Benítez, Sam Vinal. Honduras, 2022, color, 136 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Mexico

Opening Night

TÓTEM (2023)
Q&A with actor Mateo García Elizondo, plus post-screening reception sponsored by the Mexican Cultural Institute in DC
Lila Avilés follows up her acclaimed debut THE CHAMBERMAID with this warm, sensitively told drama about death, which is simultaneously bursting with life. Unfolding over the course of one chaotic day, the film follows seven-year-old Sol (Naíma Sentíes), who watches as her aunts Nuri (Montserrat Marañon, BARDO: FALSE CHRONCILE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS) and Alejandra (Marisol Gasé, NARCOS: MEXICO) prepare the house for a surprise party for her father (acclaimed author and screenwriter Mateo García Elizondo, DESIERTO). She has just one simple wish: “for daddy not to die.” Terminally ill, her father spends most of the day locked away in his room, propped up by his nurse (Teresa Sanchez, THE CHAMBERMAID, DOS ESTACIONES), mustering his strength for the night ahead. As day turns to night and the festivities commence, Sol begins to understand this birthday party will be her father’s last. DIR/SCR/PROD Lila Avilés; PROD Tatiana Graullera, Louise Riousse. Mexico/Denmark/France, 2023, color, 95 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

50th Anniversary
THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (1973) [LA MONTAÑA SAGRADA]
The scandal of the 1973 Cannes Film Festival, writer/director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s flood of sacrilegious imagery and existential symbolism is a spiritual quest for enlightenment, pitting illusion against truth. The Alchemist (Jodorowsky) assembles a group of people from all walks of life to represent the planets in the solar system. The occult expert’s intention is to put his recruits through strange mystical rites and divest them of their worldly baggage before embarking on a trip to Lotus Island. There, they ascend the Holy Mountain to displace the immortal gods who secretly rule the universe. (Note courtesy of ABKCO Films.) DIR/SCR/PROD Alejandro Jodorowsky; PROD Roberto Viskin. Mexico, 1973, color, 114 min. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. RATED R

THE ECHO (2023) [EL ECO]
Acclaimed Mexican-Salvadoran filmmaker Tatiana Huezo (PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN, TEMPESTAD) makes a visually arresting return to nonfiction filmmaking with this immersive portrait of multi-generational family life in the remote Mexican highlands. Focusing on a tightknit trio of families, the film is named for the village where the families have farmed for generations, just hours from Mexico City but a world away in every other sense. Unfolding from the perspectives of the young women and children of El Eco, the film chronicles life’s many cycles — the seasons, the rhythm of planting and harvesting, death and birth — while painting a world in which women’s lives are inextricably linked to one another and to the land, as the men of the village remain on the periphery. Rebellious teen Montse tenderly cares for her grandmother while dreaming of racing horses and exploring the world; little Sarahi dreams of becoming a teacher in between learning the ropes on the family farm and attending school; and pre-teen Luz Maria goes about her daily chores, questioning her prescribed path as a young woman destined for marriage and child-rearing. A cinematic delight lensed by Huezo’s longtime collaborator Ernesto Pardo (TEMPESTAD), THE ECHO allows viewers to live alongside these young people as they explore the world, both echoing the trajectories of previous generations and seeking to forge new paths into an uncertain future. Winner, Encounters Award, Best Director and Documentary Award, 2023 Berlin International Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Tatiana Huezo; PROD Dalia Reyes. Mexico/Germany, 2023, color, 102 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Special Presentation
U.S. Premiere
LOST IN THE NIGHT [PERDIDOS EN LA NOCHE]
In this noir-tinged revenge thriller from award-winning Mexican auteur Amat Escalante (HELI, THE UNTAMED), idealistic young laborer Emiliano (rising star Juan Daniel García Treviño, I’M NO LONGER HERE, LA CIVIL, ROBE OF GEMS) embarks on a mission to seek justice for his mother when she vanishes after opposing the construction of a new Canadian-owned mine in their rural town. When the trail leads him to a modernist villa on the outskirts of town and the dysfunctional family within — conceptual artist Rigoberto Duplas (Fernando Bonilla), his popstar wife Carmen (Bárbara Mori) and her influencer teenaged daughter Mónica (Ester Expósito) — Emiliano goes undercover, securing a job as a trusted handyman and slowly becoming entangled in a wild web of lies involving a religious cult, contemporary art, labor disputes, corrupt police and criminal gangs. Perhaps Escalante’s most accessible work yet, LOST IN THE NIGHT blends its deliciously twisty narrative with the filmmaker’s unique visual style and an evocative, synthwave-inspired soundtrack by STRANGER THINGS composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. Official Selection, 2023 Cannes and Sydney film festivals. DIR/SCR/PROD Amat Escalante; SCR Martín Escalante; PROD Nicolás Celis, Fernanda de la Peza. Mexico/Germany/Netherlands/Denmark, 2023, color, 120 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

HEROIC [HEROICO]
Enrolling in the Heroic Military College on the outskirts of Mexico City, Indigenous teen Luis (non-professional actor Santiago Sandoval Carbajal) is looking for a way to support his diabetic mother. But along with the other new recruits, he’s soon subjected to a brutal training program built on intimidation and violence. The cruel ringleader is Sergeant Sierra (Fernando Cuautle, NEW ORDER), who takes an interest in the quiet cadet, insisting Luis tag along on some illegal extracurricular activities. Stuck between duty and honor, Luis is plunged into a waking nightmare, pushed to the breaking point. Visually breathtaking, David Zonana’s (WORKFORCE) fearless second feature is a ferocious takedown of institutional corruption, examining issues of race, class and toxic masculinity. Winner, Best Mexican Film, Best Actor, 2023 Guadalajara Film Festival. Official Selection, 2023 Sundance and Berlin film festivals. DIR/SCR/PROD David Zonana; PROD Michel Franco, Eréndira Núñuez Larios. Mexico/Sweden, 2023, color, 88 min. In Spanish and Nahuatl with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Nicaragua

DAUGHTER OF RAGE [LA HIJA DE TODAS LAS RABIAS]
Living on the edge of Nicaragua’s largest landfill, 11-year-old María leads a tough but beautiful life with her mother Lilibeth. Full of imagination, she makes the most of her days, exploring the beach and playing with her litter of puppies, soon to be sold to a ruthless gangster. But when the deal falls through, they are left penniless and in danger. Without many options, Lilibeth drops María at a recycling factory while she looks for other work. Left alone, María will have to take her future into her own hands and find a way back home. Laura Baumeister’s breathtaking debut, the first feature film ever directed by a Nicaraguan woman, is magical realism infused gem. Official Selection, 2022 Toronto and San Sebastián film festivals. DIR/SCR Laura Baumeister; PROD Rosanna Baumeister, Bruna Haddad, Martha Orozco. Nicaragua/Mexico/Netherlands/Germany/France/Norway/Spain, 2022, color, 91 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Panama

SISTER & SISTER [LAS HIJAS]
In her debut film, director and screenwriter Kattia G. Zúñiga weaves a delicate, understated tale of the many manifestations of desire and sisterhood. For their summer vacation, teenaged sisters Marina and Luna — who could not look or act less alike, as several characters observe — travel from Costa Rica to Panama to meet their long-estranged father. Over the course of their stay, the teens befriend a colorful crew of teenage skateboarders, fall in love, experiment with drugs, argue with each other and find joy in just vibing. Cinematographer Alejo Crisóstomo beautifully captures this journey set against the vibrant, tropical Panamanian landscape. Official Selection, 2023 SXSW Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Kattia G. Zúñiga; PROD Alejo Crisóstomo, Isabella Gálvez Peñafiel, Said Isaac. Panama/Chile, 2023, color, 80 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Paraguay

GUAPO’Y
In director Sofía Paoli Thorne’s meditative documentary, Celsa recounts life under the brutal Paraguayan military dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, the longest such rule in the South American continent. Pregnant at the time with her son, Celsa was imprisoned and tortured along with her husband and mother. Forty-five years later, she homebrews herbal remedies to heal the deep-rooted scars in her body and soul. Told via tender, emotional interviews and lush cinematography, GUAPO’Y is a testament to the survivors and, with the current government openly praising the brutal regime, a reminder of Paraguay’s dark legacy. Official Selection, 2023 True/False, Málaga film festivals. DIR/SCR/PROD Sofía Paoli Thorne; PROD Gabriela Cueto, Federico Pozzi, Nadia Martínez. Paraguay/Argentina, 2022, color, 71 min. In Spanish and Guarani with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Peru

Special Presentation
DIÓGENES
Presented in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Two siblings are raised in complete isolation by their father, Diógenes, in the Peruvian Andes. A painter of Tablas de Sarhua, intricately decorated boards from the Sarhua district of Peru, Diógenes descends into the nearby town to trade his art for supplies. One morning, unexpected events upend the children’s lives, forcing them discover their culture firsthand. Director Leonardo Barbuy La Torre’s feature debut is a meditative examination of a subset of Peruvian life in stunning black-and-white photography with immersive sound design punctuated by an arresting original score composed by Barbuy himself. Best Latin American Film, Best Director, 2023 Málaga Film Festival, ZONAZINE. Official Selection, 2023 Guadalajara and Lima film festivals. DIR/SCR Leonardo Barbuy La Torre; PROD llari Orccottoma Mendoza. Peru/Colombia/France, 2023, b&w, 80 min. In Quechua with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Portugal

U.S. Premiere
ÍNDIA (2022)
The feature debut from Portuguese filmmaker Telmo Churro (a collaborator on Miguel Gomes’ TABU and ARABIAN NIGHTS trilogy) is an oddball delight, blending deadpan tragicomedy with a journey through Portugal’s colonial histories. Tiago (Pedro Inês) is a heartbroken, middle-aged tour guide in Lisbon living with his father (José Manuel Mendes), a nostalgic Navy veteran, and his lust-filled teenaged son (João Carvalho). They play host to Karen (Denise Fraga), a grieving widow from Brazil, in town for a five-day visit. Contemplating love, loss, trauma and ghosts of the past, they trek across Lisbon in fits of existential dread. Shot in 16mm, Churro’s revelatory debut places him alongside fellow New Portuguese Cinema luminaries Gomes and João Pedro Rodrigues, all playfully dissecting their nation’s troubled history and present. Official Selection, 2022 São Paolo Film Festival; 2023 BAFICI, IndieLisboa and FICUNAM film festivals. DIR/SCR Telmo Churro; SCR Mariana Ricardo; PROD Sandro Aguilar, Luís Urbano. Portugal, 2022, color, 123 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Puerto Rico

THE FISHBOWL [LA PECERA]
Facing an endless battle with cancer, Noelia (Isel Rodríguez) is ready to accept her fate. Much to the dismay of her doting boyfriend (Maximiliano Rivas), she stops treatment and flees to her native Vieques, a Puerto Rican island off the coast of the mainland. Vieques itself is in recovery, having been contaminated thanks to its long history as a U.S. Naval testing ground. Much of the island remains closed off due to hazardous waste, which has caused a spike of cancer cases like Noelia’s. Joining her mother and childhood friend in the movement to make the island a safer place, Noelia must contend with the legacies of colonialism and come to terms with her own health in this lyrical, poignant debut feature from Glorimar Marrero Sánchez. Winner, Grand Jury Prize, Ibero-American Competition, 2023 Seattle Film Festival. Official Selection, 2023 Sundance Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Glorimar Marrero Sanchez; PROD José Esteban Alenda, Amaya Izquierdo. Puerto Rico, 2023, color, 93 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Spain

Special Presentation
STRANGE WAY OF LIFE with THE HUMAN VOICE

STRANGE WAY OF LIFE [EXTRAÑA FORMA DE VIDA]
Riding into the border town of Bitter Creek, Mexican gunslinger Silva (Pedro Pascal) is hoping to rekindle a romance with the gruff sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke) after a 25-year absence. Reminiscing about their youthful, lust-filled days as guns for hire in Mexico, the two quickly fall back into bed. But Silva has ulterior motives — he’s got a favor to ask an old friend. Pedro Almodóvar’s alluring, English-language Western, shot in southern Spain in the same village built for Sergio Leone’s “Man with No Name” trilogy, sizzles with desire, star power and style. Official Selection, 2023 Cannes Film Festival. DIR/SCR Pedro Almodóvar; PROD Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García. Spain/France, 2023, color, 31 min. In English. RATED R
Screening with:
THE HUMAN VOICE (2020) [LA VOZ HUMANA]
Tilda Swinton swallows the screen as a woman traumatized by the end of a relationship in Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language film. In 30 mesmerizing minutes, Swinton’s nameless character runs through a frightening gamut of emotions, from despair to fury to exhilaration, all while isolated in a luxurious apartment that’s also a stage set; her only companions are her ex-lover’s dog, Dash, and the betrayer’s unheard presence on the other end of her phone. Almodóvar used many of his frequent collaborators, including cinematographer José Luis Alcaine and composer Alberto Iglesias, for this impeccably designed yet combustible adaptation of Jean Cocteau’s 1930 play “The Human Voice.” (Note courtesy of New York Film Festival.) DIR/SCR Pedro Almodóvar, based on the play by Jean Cocteau; PROD Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García. Spain, 2020, color, 30 min. In English. RATED R

Special Presentation
THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER
Animator Javier Mariscal and director Fernando Trueba (BELLE EPOQUE) reunite after 2010’s CHICO AND RITA for this animated, Bossa Nova-inflected documentary about virtuoso Brazilian pianist Francisco Tenório Júnior, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances during the military dictatorship of Argentina in 1976. Narrated by Jeff Goldblum, the film traces a New York music journalist’s quest to uncover the truth behind the disappearance and mirrors Trueba’s own 15-year investigation into the matter. It features interviews with the crème da le crème of Brazilian music, including João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Vinicius de Moraes and Paulo Moura, and vivid, evocative drawings by Mariscal that transport viewers into a magical moment in Latin American history. DIR Javier Mariscal; DIR/SCR Fernando Trueba; PROD Cristina Huete. Spain/France/Netherlands/Peru/Portugal, 2023, color, 104 min. In English. NOT RATED

UPON ENTRY [LA LLEGADA]
Venezuelan directing duo Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez announce themselves as major talents with UPON ENTRY, a tense, suspenseful feature debut set entirely in an airport’s claustrophobic immigration area. Happy couple Diego (Alberto Ammann, CELL 211, NARCOS), a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena (Bruna Cusí, SUMMER 1993), a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, move to the U.S. from Spain with their approved visas to start a new life. Upon arrival at Newark’s airport, they’re taken for additional screening and subjected to a grueling, humiliating cross-examination, as their interrogators are convinced the couple has something to hide. Strong performances from Ammann and Cusí, combined with tight editing and subtle yet effective cinematography, result in an edge-of-your-seat political thriller. DIR/SCR Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vasquez; PROD Sergio Adrià, Carlos Juárez, Alba Sotorra, Carles Torras, Xosé Zapata. Spain, 2022, color, 74 min. In English, Spanish and Catalan with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Uruguay

U.S. Premiere
MILONGA (2023)
Post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Uruguay on Sept. 23
Luminous Chilean actress Paulina García (GLORIA, LITTLE MEN) stars as Rosa, a downtrodden widow who turns to tango to shake up her stale routine. Afraid to make any changes six months after her husband’s death, Rosa leads a lonely existence, made worse by the fact that her son is behind bars and refusing to speak to her. But when she runs into an old friend, she learns of a new milonga (Argentine tango dance party) in town and begins to break out of her shell with help from her handyman-turned-love interest Juan (César Troncoso, CLANDESTINE CHILDHOOD, THE POPE’S TOILET). Ultimately, old habits die hard, and she’ll have to confront her troubled past if she wants a chance at happiness. In her feature debut, writer/director Laura González worked with Pablo Larraín’s regular cinematographer Sergio Armstrong (EMA, NO) to find the quiet beauty in Rosa’s life, assisted in no small part by a stellar performance from García, who masters a flawless Uruguayan accent. DIR/SCR/PROD Laura González. Uruguay/Argentina, 2023, color, 106 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Venezuela 

THE SHADOW OF THE SUN [LA SOMBRA DEL SOL]
Q&A with filmmaker Miguel Angel Ferrer and producer Martiza Carbajal
Set in the Venezuelan city of Acarigua, THE SHADOW OF THE SUN is the heart-tugging tale of two impoverished brothers who long for a better life. Leo, a factory worker, slaves away day after day for pennies while Alex, his deaf and closeted younger brother, endures malicious taunting from his peers. When they learn of a music contest with a cash prize that could lift them out of poverty, Alex makes a proposal: he’ll write the song if Luis, gifted with a beautiful voice, sings it. Reluctant at first to use his musical abilities, Luis takes a leap of faith and gets a literal band together to attempt to win the contest — and change the brother’s lives forever. Director, writer and producer Miguel Angel Ferrer’s film is an inspirational tale about accepting others and following big dreams that features a moving performance from first-time actor Anyelo Lopez as Alex. DIR/SCR/PROD Miguel Angel Ferrer; SCR Guillermo de la Rosa; PROD Álvar Carretero de la Fuente, Carlos Manuel Gonzalez, Hector Manrique. Venezuela/U.S., 2023, color, 98 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

U.S. and the World 

Special Presentation
RADICAL (2023)
In the Mexican border town of Matamoros, the sixth graders of Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary school face insurmountable challenges to their education. The town is plagued by drug-fueled violence and corruption, and the system has given up on the students. But to educator Sergio Juarez (Mexican superstar Eugenio Derbez, CODA, INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED), it’s an opportunity to try something radical. He removes the fear of failure and instead sparks curiosity, encouraging the students to think for themselves and find their passions, with shocking results. Filmmaker Christopher Zalla (BLOOD OF MY BLOOD) deftly brings this true story to life, winning the Festival Favorite Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival for his inspirational drama. DIR/SCR Christopher Zalla; PROD Joshua Davis, Eugenio Derbez, Ben Odell. U.S., 2023, color, 127 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED

ROTTING IN THE SUN
Chilean provocateur Sebastián Silva (CRYSTAL FAIRY & THE MAGICAL CACTUS, NASTY BABY) directs and stars as a depressed version of himself, stuck in an endless k-hole, in this wildly depraved meta comedy. Living in Mexico City, he’s ready to end his meaningless life until his friends convince him instead to take a trip to a gay nude beach. A near-drowning turns into a meet-cute with over-the-top influencer Jordan Firstman (playing himself), who insists fate brought them together to collaborate on a new TV show. But when Jordan shows up in Mexico City to get to work, Sebastián is nowhere to be found, launching Jordan on a clue-filled journey to find the missing filmmaker. This raucous satire of today’s social media-driven society is brimming with sex, nudity and comic bravura. Official Selection, 2023 Sundance Film Festival. DIR/SCR Sebastián Silva; SCR Pedro Peirano; PROD Jacob Wasserman. U.S./Mexico, 2023, color, 109 min. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED; contains explicit sexual content.

GOING VARSITY IN MARIACHI
All along Texas’ southern border, high school mariachi bands compete for supremacy and the title of state champions. Leading the charge for Edinburg North High School is coach Abel Acuña, who faces his most inexperienced band of students yet due to the gap in practice caused by online schooling in the wake of the pandemic. A blend of the music and sports documentary genres, Alejandra Vasquez and Sam Osborn’s film is a crowd-pleasing gem about the power of music and community in times of uncertainty. DIR Alejandra Vasquez, Sam Osborn; PROD James Lawler, Luis A. Miranda Jr., Julia Pontecorvo. U.S., 2023, color, 105 min. In English. NOT RATED

Special Presentation
CARLOS (2023)
At the age of five, in his native Mexico, he learned to play the violin; at eight, he developed a lifelong love for the guitar; at 14, he honed those guitar virtuoso skills and his performance style working a street musician, starting his own band while still a teenager; and at 22 — just before his first album was released to widespread acclaim — Carlos Santana became one of the major discoveries of Woodstock, anchoring the famous music festival’s second afternoon on August 16, 1969. A music industry legend for 50 years and a 10-time Grammy Award®-winning global sensation, as well as a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor and a Billboard Century Award, Santana remains one of the music world’s premier artists, blending jazz, blues and the Mariachi sound with a rock ‘n’ roll spirituality and a primal connection to humanity’s deepest emotions. This electric documentary features new interviews with Santana and his family alongside extraordinary, never-before-seen archival footage, including home video recordings by Santana himself, concert footage and behind the-scenes moments. Emmy Award®-winning director Rudy Valdez (THE SENTENCE; THROUGH OUR EYES; WE ARE: THE BROOKLYN SAINTS) creates an intimate, rich documentary about a man whose sound casts a spell on fans who love — as one of Santana’s famous titles says — “how his rhythm goes.” (Note adapted from Sony Pictures Classics.) Official Selection, 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. DIR/PROD Rudy Valdez; PROD Sara Bernstein, Leopoldo Gout, Ashley Kahn, Lizz Morhaim, Sam Pollard, Justin Wilkes. U.S., 2023, color, 87 min. In English. RATED R

HUMMINGBIRDS
In the Texan border town of Laredo, best friends and directors Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras while away the long summer nights together at the bar, in a drive-thru, on friends’ couches or at protests for legal abortion and against border control violence. Through candid conversations captured by a fly-on-the-wall camera, these gifted artists share their innermost thoughts as they confront the challenges in their day-to-day lives head-on. The resulting documentary, made in collaboration with a collective of queen, non-binary and women filmmakers, is an empathetic portrait of late-stage adolescence and immigration in an increasingly divided America. Winner, Grand Prix, 2023 Berlinale Generation 14plus. Official Selection, 2023 True/False Film Festival. DIR Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras; DIR/PROD Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Diane Ng, Ana Rodriguez-Falcó, Jillian Schlesinger; PROD Leslie Benavides, Rivkah Beth Medow. U.S., 2023, color, 78 min. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED