Now in its fifth year, the renamed Festival of New Cinema of the Americas is a nine-day event that focuses on contemporary films from a diverse array of Latino cultures. Featuring more than 65 films, titles hail from the United States, South America, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Colombia. Some highlights include screenings of the feature film 25 Watts, an award-winning film about bored young men in Uruguay; La Tropical, a documentary about one of Cuba’s oldest dancehalls by Pulitzer-winning photojournalist David Turnley; and How to Create a Rumba, a documentary that follows the salsa sound from West Africa to Havana to Miami and New York. Many of the directors will be in attendance. “A Celebration of Emerging Filmmakers” will be held during both Saturday afternoons of the festival. This is a new component of the event, which will feature works by nearly 100 Johnston High School students who have become involved with the Cine Las Americas Media Art Center. The Festival takes place April 12-21 at several venues around town. For the schedule and more information about the specific films, see p.46 in this week’s Screens section or visit www.cinelasamericas.org.
This article appears in April 14 • 2000.
