Silver Spring, MD - The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the complete slate of films for the 2015 AFI Latin American Film Festival which will take place September 17–October 7 at the historic AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.  The festival, now celebrating its 26th edition, showcases the best in filmmaking from Latin America and, with the inclusion of films from Spain and Portugal, celebrates Ibero-American cultural connections.  This year’s selection of more than 40 films ranges from international festival favorites and award winners, to local box office hits and debut works from gifted new talents.  Additionally, a number of the filmmakers and actors will present their films in person at this year’s screenings, and several of the festival’s Special Presentations selections will include post-screening receptions.

The Opening Night film, SAND DOLLARS, the fourth film by directors Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas (COCOCHI, JEAN GENTIL) stars Geraldine Chaplin (DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, THE ORPHANAGE) as a wealthy foreign tourist who is head over heels for a much-younger local woman.  The screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Laura Amelia Guzmán and author Jean-Noël Pancrazi and will also include a post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.

The Closing Night film, TRASH, directed by Stephen Daldry (BILLY ELLIOT, THE HOURS) and written by Richard Curtis (LOVE ACTUALLY, WAR HORSE), follows three trash-picking boys from Rio de Janeiro who team up with two American missionaries, Martin Sheen (THE WEST WING) and Rooney Mara (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE SOCIAL NETWORK), to uncover political corruption.

Additional highlights include:  Kristen Wiig (BRIDESMAIDS) in NASTY BABY, a Brooklyn-set dark comedy from Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Silva (THE MAID, CRYSTAL FAIRY AND THE MAGIC CACTUS); THE CLUB, filmmaker Pablo Larraín’s follow-up to his Academy Award^®-nominated NO, an exacting critique of the Catholic church which won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival; IXCANUL, a stunning debut from Guatemala’s Jayro Bustamante, winning top awards at the Berlin, Guadalajara and Cartagena film festivals; and Spanish thriller MARSHLAND directed by Alberto Rodríguez (UNIT 7, 7 VIRGINS), winner of 10 Goya Awards.

The festival will also feature the U.S. premiere of the beautiful Guatemalan fable THE GREATEST HOUSE IN THE WORLD, with first-time director/screenwriter/producer Ana Bojorquez in attendance for a discussion; the North American premiere of Brazilian soccer drama HOPEFULS with first-time filmmaker Ives Rosenfeld in attendance; WITHOUT WINGS, the first American production since 1959 to be shot entirely in Cuba, with filmmaker Ben Chace (LA MITAD) in attendance; and the Almodovar-esque comedy ELVIRA, I’D GIVE YOU MY LIFE BUT I’M USING IT, with filmmaker Manolo Caro (LOVE OF MY LOVES) in attendance.

Other festival highlights include the U.S. premiere of HORIZONS, a poetically observed documentary following three generations of Cuban ballerinas, with filmmaker Eileen Hofer (C’ETAIT UN GEANT AUX YEUX BRUNS) in attendance, presented in partnership with the Festival del Film Locarno and the Washington Ballet; and Javier Fuentes-León’s (UNDERTOW) noir-tinged whodunit, THE VANISHED ELEPHANT, followed by a post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Peru.

Additional festival guests include filmmaker Tito Molina (PANIHIDA) with Ecuador’s 2014 Oscar^® Selection, SILENCE IN DREAMLAND; Matías Piñeiro (VIOLA) with his latest sprightly Shakespeare adaptation THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE; Leonardo Lacca (ELA MORAVA NA FRENTE DO CINEMA) with the U.S. premiere of his relationship drama COFFEE STAINS; and Gador Manzano, first-time producer of the omnibus film THE EMPTY CLASSROOM, a kaleidoscopic portrait of education in Latin American education, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank and director/producer/actor Gael García Bernal (MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN). 

Further highlights include the U.S. premiere of the Cannes Film Festival movie, ALIAS MARÍA by director Jose Luis Rugeles (EL LABERINTO), the story of a pregnant, underage guerrilla; the scandalous bio-pic of pop star Gloria Trevi, GLORIA, the debut from filmmaker Christian Keller; COOKING UP A TRIBUTE, by directors Andrea Gómez and Luis González, an alluring food documentary about El Celler de Can Roca, voted the best restaurant in the world; NARROW NORTH, a Washington, DC,-set immigration drama by first-time director Omar L. Villarroel; TEA TIME, directed by Maite Alberdi (THE LIFEGUARD), a sweet documentary about five women who have shared tea and gossip for 60 years; VIAJE, directed by Paz Fábrega (COLD WATER OF THE SEA), a charming romantic comedy from Costa Rica; and LIVEFOREVER, directed by Carlos Moreno (DOG EAT DOG, ALL YOUR DEAD ONES), the sultry adaptation of cult novel "¡Que viva la música!".

A complete schedule of all festival screenings is attached.  For photos, contact Alice Massie at AMassie@AFI.com.  For updated information and tickets, go to AFI.com/Silver/LAFF.

About the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

The AFI Silver and Cultural Center is one of the nation's premier film theatres, building an appreciation of the art and artists through exploring and celebrating new and classic films and filmmakers from around the globe.  AFI Silver offers a year-round program of the best in American and international cinema, featuring a dynamic mix of retrospectives, special events, tributes, on-stage guest appearances, specialty first-run movies, festivals, premieres and education and community-based programs in a theatrical setting of the highest standards.  Anchored by the stunningly restored 1938 Silver Theatre, the three-screen AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art film and digital media exhibition venue that serves as a national model for preserving and honoring our shared film and film-going heritage.

About the American Film Institute

AFI is America’s promise to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.  AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film; AFI AWARDS, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi, AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory.  For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm, facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI.