The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, one of the nation’s premier Latino arts institutions, presents the 32nd Annual CineFestival en San Antonio. This is the oldest running international festival in North America featuring Chicano/Latino/indigenous film subjects and you can enjoy it all at San Antonio’s historic Guadalupe Theater.
The four-day event, which kicks off Thursday, February 4, 2010, features screenings, workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, gala celebrations. There are a couple of films of note for Mission Unknown readers.
Director Dora Peña presents Dream Healing on Sunday February 7th at 2:00 PM. This feature-length film is the story of a clairvoyant girl, Clara (Gabi Walker), whose ability to heal insomniacs is being exploited by her greedy aunt Marta (Evie A. Armstrong). When a recently divorced father (Jesse Borrego) and son Omar (Bleu Wenzel) move in next door, Clara and Omar spawn a friendship that causes events beyond their control to set in motion, revealing a dark secret within the community.
Directors Dora Peña, Gabriel Luna, and Sam Lerma will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A session. We will have an interview with Peña tomorrow on Missions Unknown.
Saturday’s free screenings include the Student Showcase which presents 16 short films featuring new works from SAY Si, Cinema North East, Film School of San Antonio, the Mustang Cinema Club, and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Cine en El Barrio program.
Four Animation and Live Action films created by Film School of San Antonio (FSSA) students have been chosen for the screening at the 2010 Cinefestival in San Antonio. Last year, FSSA Animation, “Beijing Bear”, by Nephtali Valdez captured the Best Student Film award, and according to Russ Ansley, FSSA animation instructor, “we stand a good chance of doing it again this year.”
Check after the jump for more on these exciting student shorts.
The Change Project
The FSSA films selected for screening at the this year’s Cinefestival are:
- The Change Project – This multi-award-winning experimental animation project features 35 FSSA students
- Malaria – Prize-winning animation about the life cycle of the deadly Malaria mosquito. Directed by Andrea Sanchez. Animation by Andrea Sanchez, Maria Perez and Juan Miranda.
- SuperObama – Hilarious, multi-award-winning animation that spoofs President Obama’s dreams of saving the U.S. economy. Directed by John Hernandez. Animation by John Hernandez, Andres Miranda and Juan Rodriguez.
- And So It Goes – A live-action short by Nicco Vasquez.
Animation and live action work produced by FSSA students has consistently been chosen as official selections for screening at film festivals and contests throughout Texas and the U.S. More often than not these pieces emerge as festival winners, with awards that include two Emmys from the Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Austin Film Festival’s annual 30-second Scholtski Spot contest, PBS’s Fresh Cuts, Northwest Vista College’s “New Vistas in Video”, The San Antonio Film Festival, Urban15’s Josiah Film Festival, TimeWarnerCable’s San Antonio On-Demand Film Festival, special screenings at the Sundance Film Festival and of course, San Antonio’s International Cinefestival.
Animation from Film School of San Antonio students
Individual Screenings are $8 for general admission ($6 Seniors/Students/Military/ GCAC Members), Saturday’s Student Showcase is free.. Individual Day Passes (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) are $12 and include access to film screenings and after parties for that day. The Festival Pass is $30 and you get guaranteed seating until 5 minutes before listed start time as well as access to all film screenings and all parties/receptions.
To purchase tickets and passes, visit the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center web site or call (210) 271-3151.
