Starts Friday 27th September, City Library

An opportunity to experience the diverse and rich cultures of countries from around the world, united by language.

Following the success of Grupo Hispano Otago’s literary festival at the University of Otago in August, there will be another opportunity to embrace Hispanic and Latin American culture in September and October, with the 18th edition of the Latin America and Spain Film Festival organized by the Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Spain in New Zealand; and by the Embassies of Colombia, Ecuador and El Salvador, in Australia.

This free and non-profit cultural event will run from September to November with 11 different host cities this year: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Kapiti Coast, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Waiheke Island, Wellington and Whanganui. The support of local communities, including various Latin American & Spanish groups, has been significant in bringing about the growing success of the Festival.

Dunedin City Library is proud to be hosting the Festival for the third year running in partnership with Grupo Hispano Otago, with screenings in the Dunningham Suite on the 4th floor of the Library. The Festival opens on Friday 27th September with a reception, presented by the Spanish Ambassador to New Zealand, Señor Fernando Curcio Ruigómez, and including a selection of delicious dishes with a Latin American flavor. The Festival is supported by members of the Latin American and Spanish community in Dunedin, who bring a real community feel to it, with food and traditions from their home countries. This year, Grupo Hispano will also present games and stories for children attending the Festival, so they too can experience the language and traditional pastimes of each of the countries taking part, while their parents enjoy the movies.

The Film Festival features 10 films in a wide range of categories offering a chance to experience the languages – Spanish and Portuguese – as well as the cultural and social aspects of the participating countries:

• “Marshland” (La Isla Mínima)- SPAIN – Friday 27th September, 6pm
• “Old Friends” (Viejos Amigos) – PERU - Saturday 28th September, 12pm
• “The Path of Shadows” (El Camino de las Sombras) – EL SALVADOR – Saturday 28th September, 2pm
• “She is Ramona” (Ella es Ramona) – MEXICO – Sunday 29th September, 12pm
• “Little Secret”/ (Pequeno Segredo) – BRAZIL – Sunday 29th September, 2pm
• “Broken Panties” (Calzones Rotos) – CHILE – Wednesday 2nd October, 6pm
• “Why Do My Friends Cry?” (¿Por Qué lloran Mis Amigas?) – CUBA – Friday 4th October, 6pm
• “Gabo, the Magic of Reality” (Gabo, la Magia de lo Real) – COLOMBIA – Saturday 5th October, 2pm
• “Black Quixotes” (Qujotes Negros) – ECUADOR – Sunday 6th October, 12pm
• “Ten Days Without Mom” (Mamá se Fue de Viaje) – ARGENTINA - Sunday 6th October, 2pm