Latino Film Festival Continues With ‘El Amparo’, ‘Red Gringo’ and More

Still Image via El Amparo “El Amparo” tells the story of two men who sparked a revolution in 1988 after a massacre that killed 14 men. Still Image via El Amparo
“El Amparo” tells the story of two men who sparked a revolution in 1988 after a massacre that killed 14 men.

By Amanda Berry
Contributing Writer

ESU’s Modern Language department is hosting a Latino movie festival going on through October.

The third movie, “El Amparo,” was shown this past Tuesday in Beers Lecture Hall. Professor Annie Mendoza is in charge of the festival, and has seen a great turnout.

“In this area, there was no local film series or festival that highlights directors and movies from Latin America or Spain,” Mendoza said.

“It began as a project to bring international film to campus for free, while at the same time highlighting diversity across Latin American, Spanish, and US Latino populations as part of the yearly celebration on ESU campus for Latino Heritage Month.”

According to Mendoza, there has been an amazing turnout so far, as this is the 5th year of the film festival.

“It has been able to take place every year because of a generous grant by PRAGDA/Spanish Film Club, based in New York City,” said Mendoza.

Professor Mendoza points out that many students and professors from all over campus come to see the films.

“The films are chosen because they are international, independent,” Mendoza said, “and are currently making the rounds in global film-festival circuits and are not available yet for streaming on places like Netflix or iTunes.”

The importance of the Latino Film Festival is to gain awareness while also, as Mendoza states, “highlighting diversity across Latin American, Spanish and US Latino populations.”

The film festival is not yet over. According to Medoza there are two more screenings on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. (Oct. 3 and 17), as well as the film series weekend we will be hosting in Beers Lecture Hall (Oct. 14 and 15) where all 5 movies will be screened across 2 days.

The two movies being shown are Red Gringo and Sealed Cargo.

Both will be shown in Beers Lecture Hall this week and free popcorn is available for those who attend.

For more information visit the ESU Modern Languages Department and follow them in Twitter @ESUModLang

Email Amanda at:
aberry1@live.esu.edu