The Festival de Cine Latino Americano kicked off Feb. 23 with a red carpet. There were films showcased at different locations on UNT’s campus and UNT on the square where people were free to roam to the different spots as they pleased. The festival was to honor the contributions in film from the Latinx community throughout the world.

Gabe Duran and Vicente Moctezuma, along with the rest of the film executive branch, helped create this festival which encompassed culture, film, and music through this singular event.

On Saturday, there was an honorary award for Jesse Borrego, as well a panel of guests who represent the Latinx community in Hollywood.

The closing ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 25, announced the winners of the festival.

Edui Tijerina Chapa, writer for the award-winning film, Cantinflas, made an appearance on closing night. There was a question and answer with Chapa after the film viewing in the Lyceum.

Questions ranged from what inspired the movie, what themes were present, what type of research was conducted for the writing of the scripts, and how the writing of the film impacted Chapa’s life. Chapa described working with an important cinema crew relies on an incredible amount of teamwork.

“Working together is crucial, because one mistakes makes us all fall, but working together makes this magnificent film,” Chapa said.

There were some famous faces of Hollywood on closing night too, including Jesse Borrego, who is famous for his appearances in Blood In Blood Out, Fear the Walking Dead, and Colombiana, as well as Danny De La Paz, who appears in American Me and Boulevard Nights.

There were performances by Mariachi Quetzal, Mario Ramirez Reyes, Raices Peruanas Folklorikas DFW, Ballet Hispano de Artes, Edna Tijerina Miss Latina, La Rondalla Romántica de Dallas, and Miguel Ángel García Aventurero de Guanajuato.

After the final closing ceremony, the judges of the festival and other crew members headed out to local Mexican restaurant, La Milpa, and invited the present crowd to join.

The presence of successful and thriving Latinx artists, singers, comedians, writers, teachers, and organizers alike served to highlight how important the Latinx community is in not just Denton or the DFW area, but the world as a whole.

To view all the pictures and winners of the film festival, visit the official Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/FestivalDeCineLatinoAmerica/

Header image photographed by Claire Cadena
Header image layout designed by Holden Foster.