GET to see the likes of legendary director Wes Anderson or even Mexican actor Gael García Bernal plus enjoy the latest Spanish and Latin American films at La Mirada Film Festival this November. Juliana Mare tells you about the event and how you can win FIVE DOUBLE PASSES!
Not only will the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and Cinema Nova be screening all the latest Spanish and Latin American films, this year the Festival will also be bringing a stellar line-up of special guests and curators Down Under.
Legendary director Wes Anderson, Mexican director and actor Gael García Bernal, lead singer of The Hives, Pelle Almqvist, and Spanish actor Alex Garcia are just a handful of the guests visiting Melbourne with the Festival
Aside from screening the best new films, La Mirada will also be showing a selection of Spanish classics hand-chosen by the Festival’s world class cinema curators. This year’s movie selection includes new release feature films and documentaries, many of which are premiering in Australia at the Festival.
The Wild Ones
Directed by Patricia Ferreira, The Wild Ones tells the story of three teenagers who get a kick out of pushing the limits set by their parents and society. They drink, fight and get up to all sorts of public mischief but as it turns out, it’s not always fun and games. The Wild Ones has been labelled as an “un-missable” film of this year’s program.
Kathmandu Lullaby
Based on an inspiring true story, this heart-warming film charts the story of a woman who travels to Kathmandu, Nepal during the 1990’s and finds herself on a mission to change its poor, dictatorial education system. It’s a story of love, resistance and finding the will to stand up to the status quo. Lead actress Veronica Echegui is also a guest of the Festival.
Kathmandu Lullaby still, image courtesy of Miranda Brown Publicity
White Elephant
This year, renowned Argentinian director Pablo Trapero brings to the Festival a thrilling drama about two Catholic priests who, in the midst of drug cartels, police corruption, social activism and addicts, attempt to help the locals in Buenos Aires. Described as having “high-wire tension” from beginning to end, Trapero has delivered an intense film-making experience Festival-goers will not want to miss.
The Clay Diaries
One of the Festival’s documentaries, The Clay Diaries, is a screening of a living art/sculptural performance in Mali where dancers created, manipulated, marred and eventually destroy a clay wall prop. The concept came from Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo who collaborated with French choreographer Joseph Nadj to put together a unique, inventive performance in the scorching Mali heat.
Extraterrestrial
Everybody loves a good old rom-com and Nacho Vigalondo has delivered, except he’s added a dash of sci-fi with spaceships on the side. Waking up next to his one-night-stand, Julia, Julio finds himself in an awkward “morning-after” moment. But needless to say, when the unlikely couple discover there’s a UFO hovering above the city and they’re told to stay indoors, it doesn’t help the situation. It’s a quirky, off-beat film which Cinemania called the “funniest movie of the decade.”
La Mirada Film Festival runs from November 15-26, 2012 at Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Federation Square, Melbourne and Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton. For more details visit the festival website here.
Meld Magazine has 5 double passes that can be used at any regular session during the festival to give away. To be in the running, tell us why you want to win below by the end of Tuesday, November 13. This competition is only open to Meld readers in Victoria. Remember to provide your real name and contact details.
I always enjoy the unpredictable nature of many Spanish speaking movies. A breath of fresh air from many of the formulaic Hollywood productions.
Going to the Director-curated surprise movie is always one of my film festival highlights of the Melbourne movie calendar and as Wes Anderson is one of my favourite directors, I can’t wait to see what Spanish film he has in store for us
I never seen Spanish films on the big screen before, and I am pretty sure whatever is shown in a film festival would be awesome!
La Mirada is where different perspectives meet to collaborate and bring stories to life on screen. The films may be Spanish or Latin, but the viewers will come from far and wide, and being an Irish person in Australia, I’m perfect for this global mix!
With film festival fatigue setting in, La Mirada sparkles in the movie calendar celebrating not just a nation’s cinema but a language spoken in more corners of the world than any other. I love the opportunity to discover the cinema of countries I’d never even thought of movies from before. Last year I discovered my first films from both Chile and Uruguay and that’s before I even mention the giveaways, atmosphere and mojitos at the opening night party !
After spending a year living in Granada and Seville, I’m in love with all things Spanish and I’d love to see one of these films!
Extraterrestrial seems interesting 🙂 I’ve never been to a Latin American film festival before, but would love to check it out.
why you should give me the double pass: I’m Asian so I wouldn’t waste stuff and thus would definitely attend the festival when I win 😉
I have never had the chance to see Spanish films and would like to see one 🙂
Spanish cinema doesn’t get enough recognition! It produces lots of gems of films and I love finding out about new ones!
I live a block away from ACMI and am going broke from all of these film festivals! Please help!
ACMI know how to entertain!
Saw this a little late, but hey, some of the above answers were kinda dull, so I am putting it in anyway!
“All my life I’ve been harassed by questions: Why is something this way and not another? How do you account for that? This rage to understand, to fill in the blanks, only makes life more banal. If we could only find the courage to leave our destiny to chance, to accept the fundamental mystery of our lives, then we might be closer to the sort of happiness that comes with innocence and tickets to La Mirada Film Festival.” (Disclaimer: this entry may or may not have been inspired by a Luis Buñuel quote!)
Arriving late to the party is quintessentially Spanish, so here goes! I have been working 12-13 hour days while going through a breakup. I also lived in Spain for 2 years and miss it dearly. Winning a pass would be like a sign of things to come. Muchas gracias!