Gainesville will get a taste of Latino flare on its screens for the rest of September.
The Gainesville Latino Film Festival, now in its 13th year, began Thursday night with a screening of “The Violin Teacher,” also known as “Heliopolis,” a Brazilian film directed by Sergio Machado, and will end Sept. 30 with a catered closing reception at the Historic Thomas Center, located at 302 NE Sixth Ave.
Haydee Clark, a 51-year-old Gainesville resident, has attended the festival for two years. She came to Thursday’s screening early and listened to student musicians performing Latin American music.
“It’s important for people to know that Gainesville is a place where there’s a variety of cultures; we are open to every belief and tradition,” Clark said. “It shows people how beautiful it is to enjoy good music, film and food from different countries.”
The festival will feature an event every weeknight. All the events are free and open to the public.
Today the festival will host its first short film competition at The Wooly downtown. A committee received 160 submissions, and judges selected 10 finalists, whose films will be screened, said Juanita Duque, the festival’s assistant director.
Duque said organizers were surprised they received so many submissions. She said the films, amateur and professional, celebrate Latino culture.
“Even now with the political climate in this country, it’s important to find those roots that tie us all together,” Duque said. “These films kind of say there are still some things wrong with the world, but there is so much more that is beautiful.”
