California State University, Northridge is hosting its fifth annual Latin American Film Festival on Friday, Nov. 16, to celebrate the art and diversity within Latin American countries.

Sponsored by CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Los Angeles (UNAM), this year’s festival will feature six award-winning Latin American films that have also been selected for the 2019 Academy Awards. The three-day festival will kick off its opening reception with catered Mexican food on Friday, Nov. 16. The festival is free and open to the public.

“The fifth anniversary of the Latin American Film Festival is a significant milestone,” said Yan Searcy, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “It marks not only the growing popularity of the festival but the growing strength of our relationship with UNAM. In many ways, the festival serves as a visual celebration of our partnership with UNAM — the sharing of the diversity of cultural experiences, and the promotion of the exchange of knowledge and perspective not only to educate but to inspire.”

The Latin American Film Festival schedule includes:

Opening night, Friday, Nov. 16. 

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  Rubén Blades is Not My Name, a Panamanian documentary. Photo courtesy of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

  “Yo No Me Llamo Rubén Blades (Rubén Blades is Not My Name)” (2018), a Panamanian documentary film directed by Abner Benaim, begins at 7 p.m.

Rubén Blades was at the center of the New York Salsa revolution in the 1970s. His socially charged lyrics and explosive rhythms brought Salsa music to an international audience. Critically acclaimed director Abner Benaim takes viewers on a journey through Blades’ 50-year career, revealing that Blades might still have both musical and political ambitions. The film’s run time is 85 minutes.

 Saturday, Nov. 17

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  Ana y Bruno, a Mexican family film. Photo courtesy of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

  “Ana y Bruno (Ana and Bruno)” (2017), a Mexican family film directed by Carlos Carrera, begins at 1 p.m.

“Ana y Bruno” is an animated adventure film about Ana, a young girl who seeks to save her troubled mother. On her journey, Ana befriends Bruno and other funny fantastic beings that help her along the way. The film runs for 96 minutes.

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  La Familia, a Venezuelan film. Photo courtesy of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

  “La Familia (The Family)” (2017), a Venezuelan film directed by Gustavo Rondón Córdova, begins at 4:30 p.m.Twelve-year-old Pedro roams the streets with his friends, raised by the violent urban atmosphere around him in a working-class district of Caracas. After Pedroseriously injures another boy in a rough game of play, his single father Andrés decides that they must hide. Andrés realizes that he is a father incapable of controlling his own teenage son, but their situation will bring them closer than they have ever been. The film’s run time is 82 minutes.

• “Pájaraos De Verano (Birds of a Passage)” (2018), a Colombian film directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerro, begins at 7:30 p.m.

The origins of the Colombian drug trade is told through the epic story of an indigenous Wayuu family that becomes involved in the booming business of selling marijuana to American youth in the 1970s. When greed, passion and honor collide, a fratricidal war breaks out that will put their lives, their culture and their ancestral traditions at stake. The film’s run time is 125 minutes.

Sunday, Nov. 18

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  O Grande Circo Místico, a Brazilian film. Photo courtesy of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

  “O Grande Circo Místico” (The Great Mystical Circus)” (2018), a Brazilian film directed by Carlos Diegues, begins at 4:30 p.m.

The Great Mystical Circus is the 18th feature film by Carlos Diegues, one of the most important names in Brazilian culture and filmmaking. The film was inspired by the poem by Jorge de Lima and features musical score by Chico Buarque and Edu Lobo.

The movie tells the story of five generations of a family-owned circus from the inauguration of The Great Mystical Circus in 1910 to present day. With the help of Celaví, the master of ceremonies who never grows old, viewers will accompany the adventures of the Knieps family. This is a film in which reality and fantasy come together in a mystical universe. The film runs for 105 minutes.

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  Las Herederas, a Paraguayan film. Photo courtesy of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

  “Las Herederas (The Heiresses)” (2018), a Paraguayan film directed by Marcelo Martinessi, begins at 7:30 p.m.

Chela and Chiquita, both descended from wealthy families in Asunción, Paraguay, have been together for more than 30 years. But recently their financial situation has worsened, and they begin selling off their inherited possessions. When their debts lead to Chiquita being imprisoned on fraud charges, Chela is forced to face a new reality.

Driving for the first time in years, Chela begins to provide a local taxi service to a group of wealthy elderly ladies. As she settles into her new life, she encounters the much younger Angy, forging a fresh and invigorating new connection. Chela finally begins to break out of her shell and engage with the world, embarking on her own personal, intimate revolution. The film’s run time is 98 minutes.

 The Latin American Film Festival will be held in the Elaine and Alan Armer Screening Room, located in Manzanita Hall. Communication services, including American Sign Language interpreters, are available. Requests for services must be submitted at least five days in advance.

For more information or to request these services, please call (818) 677-4035 or email csbsevents@csun.edu.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Film Festival, Latin American Film Festival, Movies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México