AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 2016 AFI LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP

 Entertainment   Tue, September 06, 2016 09:35 AM

Silver Spring, MD — The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the complete slate of films for the 2016 AFI Latin American Film Festival, which will take place Sept. 15–Oct. 5 at the historic AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD.  The festival, now celebrating its 27th 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 37 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 will include post-screening receptions.

The Opening Night film, the world premiere of EL AMPARO, is the feature debut by filmmaker Rober Calzadilla (EL PAÍS DE ABRIL) and tells the powerful true story of two men wrongly accused of guerrilla activity in Venezuela.  The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Calzadilla and a post-screening reception sponsored by AG Kitchen. Co-presenters of the screening are the Center for Justice and International Law and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The Closing Night film, the U.S. premiere of THE ROLLING STONES OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ!: A TRIP ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, is a rollicking music documentary culminating with the Stones' first-ever concert in Cuba.  Filled with iconic hit songs and intimate backstage footage, filmmaker Paul Dugdale (ADELE LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL) delivers a fresh take on these rock legends.

Additional highlights of the Festival include: NERUDA, Pablo Larraín's (THE CLUB, NO) unconventional portrait of celebrated Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, starring Gael García Bernal (MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN); DESIERTO, a socially conscious immigration thriller also starring García Bernal, from Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón (co-screenwriter of GRAVITY); the North American premiere of CINEMA NOVO, following its L'Oeil d'Or win for best documentary at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, with filmmaker Eryk Rocha (TRANSEUNTE) in attendance; and Spanish dramedy TRUMAN, starring Ricardo Darín (THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES) and Javier Cámara (TALK TO HER), directed by Cesc Gay (A GUN IN EACH HAND) and winner of five Goya Awards.

The Festival will also feature the U.S. premiere of the neurotic Argentine romantic comedy ONE NIGHT OF LOVE, with filmmaker Hernán Guerschuny (THE CRITIC) and actress Carla Peterson (SIDEWALLS) in attendance; the U.S. premiere of OSCURO ANIMAL, winner of three awards at the 2016 Guadalajara Film Festival, from director Felipe Guerrero (CORTA); MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the new film from Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Fernández Almendras (TO KILL A MAN); and MR. PIG, from actor and filmmaker Diego Luna (MILK; the forthcoming ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY), starring Danny Glover (LETHAL WEAPON) and Maya Rudolph (BRIDESMAIDS).

Other highlights include Cuba's 2016 Oscar ® selection THE COMPANION; RARA, the feature debut from Chilean filmmaker Pepa San Martin, winner of the Generation Kplus Grand Prix at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival; Peruvian thriller MAGALLANES, followed by a post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Peru; AFI FEST presented by Audi 2015 Audience Award winner LANDFILL HARMONIC, with co-producer Jorge Maldonado in attendance; and Guatemalan romantic comedy HUNTING PARTY with filmmaker Chris Kummerfeldt Quiroa and actor Fernando Franco in attendance and a post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Guatemala.

A complete schedule of all festival screenings and ticket information can be found at AFI.com/Silver/LAFF.  For photos, contact Alice Massie at AMassie@AFI.com.

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 movies and TV series 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, instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI.

CONTACT:
Josh Gardner Email: JGardner@AFI.com Phone: 301 495 6731