2014 Festival du Cinéma Latino-américain de Montréal, Apr 24-May 8

LATIN AMERICA LIVES HERE

From April 24 to May 8, Cinema du Parc is featuring a selection of the best Latin-American films, a few Spanish films, and a Portuguese film by a Brazilian director, which is opening the festival. Sixteen films were chosen from Berlin, Cannes, Toronto, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Guadalajara in 2013-2014.

Come discover the hidden wealth of talented directors, actors and actresses from countries whose films we don’t get to see all year long. As long as there isn’t a Latin-American movie on the bill in Montreal every week, a festival like this will always have a raison d’être.

2013 Festival du cinéma latino-américain de Montréal, Apr 5-25

Cinema du Parc is proud to announce the return of the biggest Latin-American film festival in Canada from April 5th to 25th. For its 4th consecutive year, the Festival du cinéma latino-américain de Montréal (Latin-American Film Festival of Montreal) will host the best films from South America, Spain and Portugal.

CARLOS SORIN, one of Argentina’s most important living director (HISTORIAS MINIMAS, THE WINDOW, EL PERRO) will join us in order to present his newest feature, GONE FISHING, as the opening film of the festival.

For its 4th year, FCLM will also present a brand new section: NEW CLASSICS ON 35MM. In this section, you will be able to rediscover screen gems on the big screen that helped redefine Latin American cinema in recent years. These new classics will be shown in their original format on 35mm in order to celebrate the magic of cinema.

2013 aluCine Latin Film & Media Arts Festival, Mar 21-31

The 13th aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival opens tonight with the unveiling of Juan Si Gonzalez’s Stay-at-Home Dad multimedia installtion at the Toronto Free Gallery (1277 Bloor Street West at Lansdowne). The gallery also be open free to the public Friday and Saturday from noon-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm, and Tuesday through Saturday next week from noon-6pm. Juan will discuss his installation on Friday, March 22, 7-9 also at The Toronto Free Gallery. Free to all.

Juan Andrés Arango’s La Playa D.C. will make its Canadian premiere when it opens the thirteenth annual film programme of the multi-disciplinary festival. A native-born Bogotáno, writer/director Arango has trained and worked in his homeland, Canada and the Netherlands. He returned to Bogotá to shoot La Playa D.C., his debut feature, which he will personally present on March 27 at 7:30pm at Jackman Hall inside the Art Gallery of Ontario.

2012 Premios Sur (Argentinian film awards) – winners

The Academia de las Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas de la Argentina (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Argentina Awards) held the ceremony their 7th annual Premios Sur (South Awards) for Argentinian film at the Centro Cultural San Martín. The event was hosted by Ronnie Arias.

Benjamín Ávila's Infancia clandestina (Clandestine Childhood) dominated the night with ten wins from its leading 16 nominations. Its wins were for Best Film, Director, Actress (Natalia Oreiro), Supporting Actress (Cristina Banegas), Actor (Ernesto Alterio), Supporting Actor (César Troncoso), Original Screenplay, Editing, Costume Design, and a tie for Sound.

Next with six awards was Armando Bo's El último Elvis (The Last Elvis). It won for Best New Actor (John McInerny), Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Original Music and also tied for Sound.

Montreal Brazil Film Festival 2012, Nov 30-Dec 6

Tonight, the 6th edition of Le Festival du Film Brésilien de Montréal 2012 (Montreal Brazil Film Festival) gets underway. Tonight's opening films are both world premieres. They will be screening Até Que A Sorte Nos Separe (Until Luck do Us Part) by Roberto Santucci and O Homem Que Não Dormia (The Man Who Couldn't Sleep).

The Festival continues to Thursday, December 6 at Cinéma du Parc, 3575, av. du Parc.

Over the past few years, Brazil has been climbing the heights to become the 5th biggest economy in the world. The rise has been such that it is currently preparing to host two of the most important international events: the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro.

2012 Latin Grammy Awards – winners

The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences held their XIII Latin Grammy Awards last night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Jesse & Joy topped the field with four awards. They won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album and Best Short Form Music Video.

The Colombian singer/songwriter Juanes won Album of the Year and Best Long Form Music Video for Juanes MTV Unplugged.

Trumpeter and pianist Arturo Sandoval picked up three awards. He won Best Tango Album for Tango Como Yo Te Siento, and Best Latin Jazz Album and Best Engineered Album for Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You).

Double award-winners included Don Omar, Carla Morrison, El Cuarteto de Nos, Milly Quezada, and Juan Luis Guerra. Luis Guerra's two awards give him a total of 19 over the years and he has matched the record of Calle 13.

2012 Premios Sur (Argentinian film awards) – nominations

The Academia de las Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas de la Argentina (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Argentina Awards) has announced the nominations for their 7th annual Premios Sur (South Awards) for Argentinian film.

Benjamín Ávila's Infancia clandestina (Clandestine Childhood) led the field with a whopping 16 nominations. They included Best Film, Director, Actress (Natalia Oreiro), Supporting Actress (Cristina Banegas), Actor (Ernesto Alterio), Supporting Actor (César Troncoso), and Original Screenplay. It was nominated in every category in which it was eligible. It is Argentina's entry to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Armando Bo's Debut Film El último Elvis (The Last Elvis) followed with 13 nominations. In addition to Best Film and Director, it was nominated for Best Debut Film, Supporting Actress (Griselda Siciliani), New Actor (John McInerny) and Original Screenplay.

Brazil Film Fest 2012, Oct 18-21

BRAZIL FILM FEST BRINGS RIO TO TORONTO 

Katia Adler, Executive Director of the Brazil Film Fest, announced that famed film director Cecília Amado will be in attendance at the festival for the Canadian Premiere of her film CAPTAINS OF THE SAND, winner of top prize at this year’s Los Angeles Brazilian Film Fest.

“We are thrilled and honoured to have Cecília in attendance at this year’s festival, especially given that this year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of her esteemed grandfather, novelist Jorge Amado,” said Adler.

This year, Brazil Film Fest is celebrating RioFilme’s 20th anniversary, with a selection of ten successful features produced and/or distributed by RioFilme. RioFilme invests in projects by companies based in the City of Rio – including movies, TV series, festivals, awards, and movie theatres.

2012 ALMA Awards – winners

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) held their 6th annual American Latino Media Arts Awards (or ALMA Awards) at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, at a gala hosted by Eva Longoria and George Lopez. The ALMA Awards are held to recognize Latino entertainers and those who promote positive portrayals of Latinos in entertainment.

Patricia Riggen's Girl in Progress led the winners with three awards. It won for Favorite Movie, Favorite Movie Actress – Supporting Role (Cierra Ramirez), and a Special Achievement Award for director Patricia Riggen.

Dean Wright's For Greater Glory had led the field with five nominations. However, it came away empty-handed.

2012 Imagen Awards for Latino entertainment – winners

The 27th Annual Imagen Awards ceremony took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom last night. The awards are given to recognize Latinos and their positive representations in the entertainment industry.

Patricia Riggen's Girl in Progress emerged with the most wins with three trophies from its leading five nominations. It won for Best Feature Film, Director, and Supporting Actress (Cierra Ramirez).

Filly Brown by Youssef Delara and Michael Olmos was next with two wins. It won both Lead Acting categories with Lou Diamond Phillips winning Best Actor and Gina Rodriguez winning Best Actress. Casa De Mi Padre actor Diego Luna won for Best Supporting Actor.

2012 ALMA Awards – nominees

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) has announced the nominations for their 2012 American Latino Media Arts Awards (or ALMA Awards) to recognize Latino entertainers and those who promote positive portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment field.

Dean Wright's For Greater Glory led the field with five nominations. Its nods were for Favorite Movie, Movie Actor (Andy Garcia), Movie Actress—Drama/Adventure (Eva Longoria), and Movie Actor—Supporting Role (Rubén Blades, Oscar Isaac)

Oliver Stone's Savages picked up four awards. All were for acting, with mentions given to Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Demián Bichir and Mia Maestro.

2012 Imagen Awards – nominations

The Imagen Foundation has announced the nominations for the 27th Annual Imagen Awards to recognize Latinos and their positive representations in the entertainment industry.

Patricia Riggen's Girl in Progress led the film nominees with five mentions. It received nods for Best Feature Film, Director, Actress (Eva Mendes), Supporting Actor (Eugenio Derbez) and Supporting Actress (Cierra Ramirez).

The other nominees for Best Feature Film were Matt Piedmont's Casa De Mi Padre and Filly Brown by Youssef Delara and Michael Olmos. Each picked up four nominations as did Gabriela Tagliavini's Without Men.

Latinordicos, Festival du Film Immigrant, June 13-Aug 15

After their inaugural edition last year of the Latinordicos Festival du film interculturel de Montréal, they have returned with a screening series this summer, the Latinordicos Festival du Film Immigrant. Starting tonight, they will present a weekly screening at Au Café de Da, 545, rue Fleury Est starting at 7pm. All of the screenings are free.

Tonight's opening film will be the documentary La Dérive douce d'un enfant de Petit-Goâve (The Gentle Drifting of a Little Boy from Petit-Goâve) by Pedro Ruiz. It tells the story of the life of novelist, journalist and director Dany Laferrière.

2012 Festival Du Cinéma Latino-Américain De Montréal, Apr 6 – 22

The third Festival du Cinéma Latino-américain de Montréal (FCLM) kicks off two-and-a-half weeks of Latin American films starting tonight. The opening films are El lenguaje de los machetes (Machete Language) and Medianeras (Sidewalls). They will be followed by screenings of Silencio en el Paraiso (Silence in Paradise) and Bonsai.

Highlights from the festival include the Oscar-nominated films A Better Life (Best Actor nomination for Demian Bichir) and the animated feature Chico Y Rita (Chico and Rita). Pedro Almodovar's latest dark thriller La Piel que Habito (The Skin I Live In) will screen, as will the Sundance Film Festival selection Joven y alocada (Young and Wild) about a young woman's awakening sexuality.

The documentaries being co-presented with Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal are José y Pilar (José and Pilar) about the Nobel Prize-winning novelist and his wife, and Yatasto which profiles young recyclables collectors.

Call for submissions: aluCine Film Festival

The aluCine Toronto Latin Film & Media Arts Festival has put out a call for submissions for their 13th edition of the festival.

aluCine's mandate is to showcase excellence and innovation in contemporary independent short film/video and new media; to promote and nurture works made by emerging and established Latin artists living in Canada, Latin America, and the Diaspora; to provide a vital outlet to have their works disseminated to a broader public both nationally and internationally; to transcend pre-established notions of representation and to cross borders; aesthetically, ideologically and geographically with the screening of Canadian works in Latin America and elsewhere.

2012 Festivalíssimo, March 1-11

The 17th Festivalíssimo, Festival de Cinéma Latino-Américains de Montreal (Montreal Latin-American Film Festival) kicks off tonight with a screening of the action-thriller La Hora Cero (The Zero Hour) by Venezuelan director Diego Velasco. This screening marks its Canadian premiere.

Other films receiving a Canadian, Quebec or North American premiere are Las Acacias, El Premio (The Prize), Riscado (Craft), Porfirio, La Mitad De Oscar (Half of Oscar), Sentados Frente Al Fuego (By the Fire), Paraísos Artificiales (Artificial Paradises), Gordo, Calvo y Bajito (Fat, Bald, Short Man), No tengas miedo (Don't Be Afraid), Habanastation, La mujer de Iván (Ivan's Woman), La Independencia Inconclusa (Unfinished Independence), and Anónimo (Anonymous).

The 17th Festivalíssimo, Festival de Cinéma Latino-Américains de Montreal continues to Sunday, March 11 at Cinéma Excentris located at 3536, Boul. St-Laurent, Montréal.

2011 Premios Sur (Argentina) - winners

The Academia de las Artes y Ciencias Cinematograficas de la Argentina (Argentine Film Arts and Sciences Academy) held their 6th Annual Premios Sur on Monday night. The top prize for Best Film went to Sebastián Borensztein's buddy comedy Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Takeaway). It also won Best Actor (Ricardo Darín) and Supporting Actress (Muriel Santa Ana). It had led with 14 nominations.

But the biggest haul of the night was for Fernando Spiner's Aballay, el hombre sin miedo (Aballay, the Man without Fear). It took eight awards from its thirteen nominations, including Best Director, Actress (Moro Anghileri), Supporting Actor (Claudio Rissi) and Adapted Screenplay. Aballay, el hombre sin miedo is Argentina's official submission to the Academy for Best Foreign Language Film consideration.

Santiago Mitre's El Estudiante (The Student) also scooped multiple awards. It won for Debut Film, Original Screenplay, Breakthrough Actress (Romina Paula) and Breakthrough Actor (Esteban Lamothe).

Brazil Film Festival of Montreal, Nov 25-Dec 1

The 5th edition of the Festival du Film Brésilien de Montréal (Brazil Film Festival of Montreal) begins tonight and runs for a week.

The opening film is the acclaimed documentary Senna by Asif Kapadia, an outstanding profile of the Formula One driver which I thoroughly enjoyed even though I have no interest in motor racing. It will be followed by a screening of the film Desenrola (Untangle) by Rosane Svartman. Senna will be presented with French subtitles, while Untangle will be shown with English subtitles.

The program consists of eight features: 5 x Favela, Now by Ourselves; Como Esquecer (So Hard to Forget); Manu De Bicicleta (Malu On A Bicycle); Ó Paí, Ó; Além da Estrada (Beyond the Road); Trampolim do Forte (Into the Blue); and À Deriva (Adrift), in addition to tonight's Desenrola (Untangle). The five documentaries are Senna; 5x Upp; Gisele Omindarewa; Memórias do Recôncavo: Besouro and Other Capoeiras; and Rio Sonata: Nana Caymmi. All films are in Portuguese with subtitles in either French or English.

2011 aluCine Toronto Latin Film & Media Arts Festival, Nov 15-19

Today is the opening of the 12th annual aluCine Toronto Latin Film & Media Arts Festival. it begins with a free show of tired of counting by rosa mesa at Coffee and All That Jazz Café. It runs all day from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm, and continues each day. Starting on Thursday, the festival will present a free installation called bye bye berlin, by Maria Linares & rosa mesa.

The film festival proper begins on Thursday night with a screening of Los Extraños Presagios de León Prozak (The Mysterious Presages of León Prozak). The artist will be in attendance. This will be followed by a screening of International short films in a program entitled To Record, To Retell, To React.

aluCine is a Latin, Canadian and international festival showcasing the worldʼs best in short film, video and media art with a strong focus on works made by Latin American artists living in Canada and abroad. As a festival, aluCine creates platforms of communication aimed at fostering a critical discourse among film and video makers, media artists, curators and audiences in Canada, Latin America and the world through screenings, touring exhibitions, installations, performances, artist talks and workshops.

Brazil Film Fest in Toronto, Oct 27-30

Tonight the 5th Brazil Film Fest in Toronto begins tonight with a gala screening of Ó Paí, Ó by Monique Gardenberg. This is the sister festival to Montreal's Festival du Film Brésilien de Montréal in November and is not affiliated with last month's Brazilian Film & TV Festival of Toronto.

Other features screening during the festival will be Into the Blue (João Rodrigo Mattos), 5X favela, now by ourselves (Wagner Novais,) So Hard to Forget (Malu de Martino) and Beyond the Road (Charly Braun), as well as the documentaries Memórias do Recôncavo: Besouro and Other Capoeiras (Pedro Abib), Gisele Omindarewa (Clarice E. Peixoto) and Rio Sonata: Nana Caymmi (Georges Gachot).

After tonight's opening gala at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the festival moves to the Royal Cinema on College Street for the remaining screenings.

The festival continues until Sunday October 30 in Toronto.