15th Annual Latin American and Spanish Film Week at Cinecenta

09/23/2025

Thanks to all who attended our six movies during the 15th Film Week, and thanks to community members, students and faculty who attend a fantastic music show on Sunday night, a Night of Cuban Rhythms, with Miguelito Valdés and Adonis Puentes at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall. The energy was wonderful, and it was great to listen to beloved Cuban themes, and listen from the musicians about their special relation with the enduring repertoire of Cuba s popular music. We will see you next year for our 16th installment. Hasta pronto!

09/21/2025

Our last day! Thanks to all who have attended our shows over the week. This afternoon, at 5 PM, we screen a Spanish political thriller, La Infiltrada (Undercover) by Arantxa Echevarría, based on real events. And to finish on a high note, don’t miss “A Night of Cuban Rhythms,” with local musicians Miguelito Valdes and his Quintet, with special guest Adonis Puentes. The show is at 8 PM. The venue: the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, at the School of Music (MacLaurin B wing) on the UVic campus. Pay-as-you-can ($ 12 to $ 25). Students with ID pay $ 5. Get your tickets on Eventbrite or at the door.

Cuban trumpet player Miguelito Valdés and his Quintet, with singer Adonis Puentes, play and present beloved Cuban (and Caribbean) songs.

09/20/2025

In that was a nice showing yesterday for Una canción para mi tierra (A Song for My Land) by Argentine director Mauricio Albornoz. The film shows the power of community and the impact a teacher can make. Today we have our fifth film: Querido Trópico (Beloved Tropic) by Ana Endara, from Panama. A personal, emotional about struggles of old age, and the unexpected ties that bind. The show is at 7 PM. www.hispfilmvic.ca

09/19/2025

Thanks to all who attended Soy Nevenka (on Wednesday 17) and Patrullaje (on Thursday 18). Don’t miss our three remaining movies. Today Friday we show an endearing film about an unlikely activist who uses music to champion environmental causes. Una canción para mi tierra (A Song for My Land) by Mauricio Albornoz from Argentina, plays at 7 PM. And don’t forget our Night of Cuban Rhythms on Sunday at 8 Pm in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, UVic campus. Check out trailers and descriptions on our website, as well as a link to Eventbrite to purchase tickets for the music show.
https://www.hispfilmvic.ca/

09/17/2025

Thanks to all who attended our first film, the grippinp sci-fi political drama Corazón azul, by Cuban director Miguel Coyula. Miguel engaged in a conversation with the audience after the screening. We thank him for his work and thoughtful comments. Dont miss tonight Soy Nevenka (I am Nevenka) by celebrated Spanish filmmaker Icíar Bollaín. The show is at 7 PM.

09/16/2025

Begins today! Our 15th Film Week runs from Tuesday September 16 to Sunday 21. Check out in the links the descriptions and trailers of the six movies we are bringing this year. Our first feature is Corazón azul (Blue Heart) a dystopian political sci-fi that reflects contemporary Cuba’s tribulations. One show only at 7 PM. Director
Miguel Coyula will be in attendance.

The films will be shown from Tuesday September 16 through Sunday 21 at our usual venue, Cinecenta. Check out titles, descriptions and trailers below.

09/13/2025

Our thanks to The Martlet, UVic s independent newspaper, for featuring our Film Week in their Culture section (a shout-out to Eden Conti for writing the piece):

Throughout the week, six films will be shown at Cinecenta, featuring stories from Spain, Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Panama.

09/08/2025

Two weeks to go for our “Night of Cuban Rhythms,” with Miguelito Valdes and his Quintet, with special guest singer Adonis Puentes. The show will wrap up the 15th Film Week on September 21 at 8 PM. Venue: Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, School of Music, on the UVic campus. Prices are pay-as-you-can (from $12 to $ 25). Students with ID: $ 5. Get your tickets on Eventbrite or at the door the night of the show.

Cuban trumpet player Miguelito Valdés and his Quintet, with singer Adonis Puentes, play and present beloved Cuban (and Caribbean) songs.

09/03/2025

Coming soon! Our 15th Film Week begins on Tuesday September 16. Check out the descriptions and trailers of the six movies we are bringing this year to Cinecenta. The featured countries are Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and Spain. We are also organizing a music show: a Night of Cuban Rhythms with Miguelito Valdes Quintet and Adonis Puentes at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall in UVic (Sept 21 at 8 PM). More information on our website.

The films will be shown from Tuesday September 16 through Sunday 21 at our usual venue, Cinecenta. Check out titles, descriptions and trailers below.

09/02/2025

Q&A session with director Miguel Coyula after the film CORAZON AZUL (BLUE HEART) on Tuesday September 16th.

You arealso nvited to attend Mr. Coyula’s talk entitled “Deconstructing Blue Heart: Guerrilla Filmmaking in Cuba” on Wednesday September 17 from 11.30 to 12.20 at MacLaurin D103 on the UVic campus. The presentation is free and open to the public

09/02/2025

Friday Sept 19th:
Una canción para mi tierra (A Song for My Land) by Mauricio Albornoz Iniesta (Argentina, 2024 – 96 min.)

In a rural town in Argentina, Ramiro Lezcano, a charismatic music teacher, discovers a disturbing reality affecting the region: airplanes and ground fertilizing machines spray pesticides near rural schools, endangering the health of students. Determined to act, Ramiro joins his pupils to write songs that denounce this silent tragedy and raise awareness. However, his initiative faces resistance by the local community, dependent on the prevailing agricultural model. The media ignores his cause. Faced with censorship, Ramiro decides to take his protest further and attempts to organize an "Environmental Woodstock" in the countryside. The result is a heartwarming documentary film where music, community engagement, and the defence of the environment join forces for a worthy cause.

08/30/2025

Thursday Sept 18th: Patrullaje (Patrol) by Camilo de Castro Belli and Brad Allgood (Nicaragua, 2023 – 83 min.)

Patrol is a character-driven documentary that follows communities on the frontlines of an intensifying environmental conflict in Nicaragua. On one side, the Rama Indians, in alliance with the Afro-descendent Kriol community, are fighting to stop illegal cattle ranchers from destroying the virgin rainforests of the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve. Patrol is a gripping documentary film in the frontline of contemporary environmental struggles. Access more information about the project behind the film, here: https://www.patrolmovie.com/