The 55th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival is around the corner. Over the course of two weeks, moviegoers will have the opportunity to enjoy 200 films from different parts of the world curated by the SF Film Society, which organizes this annual festival.
In what seems a greater presence of U.S. and Europe than in other years, the Latino selection in this edition is especially apparent in the section of new directors with one or two film credits. Four of the eleven films in competition for best novel are Latino.
“Mosquita y Mari”, the debut of Aurora Guerrero, is a strong candidate to win the award. Set in Huntington Park, Los Angeles, the film portrays the tender friendship between two Chicanas who get to know each other in school. Guerrero studied in the Bay Area and is a native of San Francisco.
“Back to Stay,” the debut of Argentinean Milagros Mumenthaler, exquisitely portrays in a sensitive manner, the relationship between three sisters after the death of their grandmother. With similarities to the films of Lucrecia Martel and superb dialogues, it is another favorite for the award.
“Found Memories,” directed by the young Brazilian filmmaker Júlia Murat, is a picturesque portrait of a small coffee town in the Brazilian inland. A photographer arrives in town altering people’s routines. The film exudes a magic reminiscent of “The Tiniest Place” by Tatiana Huezo, which was shown in the last edition.
“Neighboring Sounds,” from filmmaker Kleber Mendonça, is an example of cinema that is being done outside the centers of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Filmed in the city of Recife in northeastern Brazil, it portrays the life of the residents of a neighborhood through several interlocking stories, and touches on the issue of security in urban centers.
From Chile comes the wonderful “By the Fire” by Alejandro Fernández Almendras. A contemplative cinema of long and static takes in the line of Argentinean Lisandro Alonso, it tells the story of a middle-aged couple that moves to the country.
Also from Chile is «Bonsái,” directed by Cristián Jiménez. It’s an adaptation of a novel by Alejandro Zambra in a comic tone and takes place in Santiago.
“A Secret World,” by Mexican director Gabriel Marino, who is a native of Puebla, honestly portrays the adventure of an 18 year-old-girl and her solitude.
“The Double Steps” by Isaki Lacuesta, enfant terrible of contemporary Spanish cinema, is a Spanish/Swiss co-production that feels 100 percent African. Awarded at festivals in San Sebastian and Guadalajara, this ensemble film shot in Mali is told in a very ingenious manner.
Finally, highlights outside the Latin realm include: “I Wish,” the latest achievement of the Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda, a favorite of the festival; the Portuguese documentary “It’s the Earth Not the Moon,” filmed in the Azores Islands and directed by Gonzalo Tocha; the German/American co-production “The Loneliest Planet” starring Gael Garcia Bernal, filmed in the mountains of the Caucasus and directed by Julia Loktev; and the Franco/German/Belgian coproduction “Chicken with Plums,” an adaptation of the famous comic of Iranian Marjane Satrapi.
The finishing touch that will close the festival on May 3 is “Do not Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey,” from Ramona S. Diaz, a Filipino-American filmmaker who grew up in the Bay Area.
We can expect two weeks of excellent film to pour into San Francisco.
San Francisco International Film Festival. April 19 to May 3.
More information: www.festival.sffs.org
So glad to see you all highlighting the Latin@ and Latin American films in the SFIF! Just wanted to let you know that filmmaker Aurora Guerrero is definitely from the Bay, not LA.
She was born at St. Luke’s in SF and her parents met in the Mission in English classes on 24th street!