¡Cine Magnifico!, Albuquerque’s annual Latino film festival returns Sept. 18 through 20, bringing with it 23 features, documentaries and shorts from throughout the Hispanic world. Among the highlights of this year’s third annual outing is the showcase film La Isla Mínima/Marshland. The drama is described as a political thriller about a remote town in the deep south of Spain in which a pair of ideologically different homicide detectives struggles to solve a series of brutal murders of adolescent girls. The diverse schedule also includes kids’ entertainment like La Fórmula del Dr. Fuentes/ Dr. Fuentes’ Formula, a family film based off a 1992 book about a scientist who discovers a chemical formula to make himself young again. Among the documentaries is American DREAMers, which tells the story behind a group of six undocumented youth who risk their freedom when they walk 3,000 miles to the nation’s capital to organize for immigrant rights. Dramas, comedies, romances, thrillers and documentaries for the 2015 outing have been gathered from Venezuela, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, the US, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Uruguay and more—leaving hardly a Spanish-speaking nation in the world unrepresented. Most screenings take place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 Fourth SW) and at Guild Cinema (3405 Central NE) with a couple free screenings at UNM’s College of Fine Arts. The entire thing gets underway Friday with an Opening Night Fiesta. At 6pm there will be a reception celebrating Cuban culture featuring tapas, a cash bar and salsa music courtesy of En-Joy. At 7pm the opening night film, Conducta/Behavior will be screened. Cuban director Ernesto Daranas will be on hand for a post-film Q&A. Throughout the weekend there are free screenings, paid screenings and special discounted screenings, so be sure to check the website (cinemagnifico.com) for a complete list of films, times and prices.
Reel World: Sci-Fi Filmmaking Sci-Fi Filmmaking
This year the 48 Hour Film Project is turning its attention to science fiction. On Oct. 16 teams of filmmakers will be given just two days to write, shoot, edit and premiere a short film based on a random sci-fi theme (aliens? time travel? spacecraft?). Albuquerque is one of only three cities trying out this new 48 Hour genre fest. Completed films will be shown to the public sometime in October, and the winning short will be screened as part of Filmapalooza 2016. You have until Monday, Sept. 21, to register your team under the early bird registration terms ($150 per team). To sign up your secret cabal of mad scientist movie makers, go to 48hourfilm.com/albuquerque-nm/scifi.
