Finding the Path | Encontrando el Camino - Latin American Short Films

Saturday, October 5th - 7:00 pm
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*ALL FILMS WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES*

Regular screenings are restricted to those 18 years of age or older according to the Ontario Theatres  Act.

Finding the path…

These Latin American short-length productions bring us a variety of real and fictional stories where the characters are trying to find their own path. Some productions are intertwined with the ancestral and binary meaning of death, some examine the dichotomies between suffering-celebration, loss-hope, pain-comfort, and crying-singing. This program also sheds light on the continuous eviction of Indigenous communities in Central America and voices concerns about the kind of world we are leaving for future generations.

Although diverse in origin and subject matter, these films share a firm stance against social injustice whilst also demonstrating a distinctly human sense of optimism and hope. “Finding the Path” outlines a journey through the vast mosaic of Latin American souls including a portrait of an old dressmaker made famous for dressing Cuban personalities; a young gay teen searching for love; a peasant father teaching his sons to tend to the land; and a young Indigenous girl who is connected with her assassinated mother through the melody of the harp. In this way, each protagonist traces their own path.

Encontrando el Camino…

Esta producción latinoamericana de cortos de ficción nos trae una variedad de historias reales y ficticias en las que los protagonistas intentan encontrar su propio camino. Ya sea para tener una vida mejor o para estar preparado para una conexión con la muerte. Algunas producciones (México, Brasil) están entrelazadas con el significado ancestral y binario de la muerte: sufrimiento-celebración; pérdida-esperanza; dolor-alivio: llanto-canto. Este programa muestra también el desalojo continuo de comunidades indígenas en Centroamérica y las preocupaciones sobre el cuidado de la naturaleza. El dilema no es qué tipo de mundo vamos a dejar a las próximas generaciones, sino qué tipo de humanos vamos a dejar a la Madre Tierra. 

Cineastas indígenas, urbanos y experimentales traen el pulso actual de las producciones cinematográficas latinoamericanas, que denuncian las injusticias sociales, pero al mismo tiempo dan un halo de esperanza y felicidad. Un artista indígena que vive en Estados Unidos presenta un pájaro azteca colorido y mitológico que tiene el poder de dejar volar a un pájaro prematuro. Esta es una metáfora visual que refleja las luchas actuales de inmigrantes hispanos en Estados Unidos. Este viaje a través del vasto mosaico de almas latinoamericanas incluye la historia de una antigua modista quien fue famosa por vestir a personalidades cubanas; un joven adolescente gay en busca del amor; un padre campesino cuyo objetivo es enseñar a sus hijos a cuidar su tierra; y una joven indígena que encuentra en la melodía del arpa una forma de conectarse con su madre quien fue asesinada. De esta manera, cada protagonista traza su propio camino.

Los Ausentes | The Absents 

José Lomas Hervert

2017 - Mexico - 17’ 09 - Drama

Awards

• Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia 

• Berlin International Film Festival

With only three songs in his repertoire, the trio of huapangueros of seven years old Rafaelito must face its first obstacle of his short career: enliven a wake in a community of Huasteca Potosina region.

Guaxuma

Nara Normande

2018 - Brazil & France - 14’ - Animation

Awards

• Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival 

• SXSW Film Festival         

• Palm Springs Int'l ShortFest

• Toronto International Film Festival

• Aspen Shortfest
  
  Tayra and I grew up on a beach in the north east of Brazil. We were inseparable. The sea breeze brings me back happy memories.

La Herencia del Viento | Wind’s Heritage

by Alejandra Retana, César Camacho, César Hernández

2019 - Mexico - 16’ - Documentary

Awards

• Berlin International Film Festival

• Guadalajara International Film Festival

Juan works in the field ever since he can remember. Within his 40 years, hes developed a strong connection with the land and a gratitude towards what agriculture has taught him, accentuating what this activity has meant over the years for Mexico. Everyday he looks for a way to care for.

Free Fall | Caída libre

Santiago Henao Vélez

2018 - Colombia - 14’ - Fiction

Awards

• Rome Independent Film Festival

• Havana Film Festival

• Bogoshorts Film Festival 

• Melbourne Queer Film Festival

Desde  las sombras de la clandestinidad sexual de Medellín, Jhony, un joven de dieciséis años, tiene muchas esperanzas de tener una cita con el chico de quien está enamorado.

Out of the hunting shadows of sexual underground in Medellin, sixteen-year-old Jhony is excitedly hopeful about a date with the boy he loves.

Arcangel 

Angeles Cruz

2018 - Mexico -  18’ 28” Drama

Awards

• Morelia International Film Festival 

• Ismailia International Film Festival

• Hermosillo International Film Festival

• Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival

• Toulouse Latin American Film Festival

• Focus Film Fest

• Latin American Film Festival Havanna

Arcangel is a fifty year old peasant facing accelerating vision loss. Before total darkness overtakes him, he needs to find a nursing home for Patrocinia, an elderly woman from his community that is totally dependant on him.

La Modista

Jesi Jordan

2019- Cuba- 05´ - Documentary/Narrative

Aida Consuelo Amoroso is an 88-year-old fashion designer living in Havana, Cuba. She was born in Spain but migrated to Cuba with her family when she was 2 years old. She was the dressmaker of some of the most powerful women in Cuba, including Marta Fernández Miranda, the First Lady of Cuba between 1952 until 1959. She shares the timeline of her life, what inspires her creations, and what being a dressmaker was like before and after the Communist Rule.

La Niña y el Arpa | The Girl and the Harp 

Leyzer Chiquin - 2017 - Guatemala - 6’ -Drama

Awards

• Vancouver Latin American Film Festival

• The Americas Film Festival of NY

• ICARO

• Festival de Cine Latinoamericano Rosario

• FICMAYAB

Maria is a Mayan girl who lives at the north from Guatemala. She and her father are about to be evicted, the land they live in is ideal for the african palm monoculture. She doesn’t want to leave her home behind.

End Of - Fin de
Federico Cuatlacuatl
2014- Mexico, U.S.A - 3’ 29’ - Animation

Awards

• Headwaters Film Festival

• Athens Animfest

• Festival Cine Alter'Natif

• SISFF

• Imagine Native

Jacobo, a premature bird, desires to fly but his failed attempts are unknowingly watched by a mythological Aztec bird who has the power to grant Jacobo’s wish.