GALA FILM FEST 2024: Latin American Innovation

Emerging young directors bring their unique and critical perspectives on the issues facing Latin America, defining a new era for Lain America cinema featuring Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, including a a restoration of a classic from the Mexican Golden Age. Enjoy Q&As with artists and experts, receptions, and more.

All films in Spanish with English subtitles.
Curator | Curador: Carlos Gutiérrez, Cinema Tropical (New York). 

Individual tickets: $10 per film. Watch all seven movies for only $35!

MEXICO: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 | 7:00 PM
RAIN / LLUVIA
(Rodrigo García, Mexico, 2023, 96 min. In Spanish with English subtitles) — Drama Q&A with director Reception courtesy of the Mexican Cultural Institute.

Rain, the debut feature by director Rodrigo García Saiz, weaves together six stories set over the course of less than 24 hours, each one examining the human condition against the backdrop of intermittent rain in the sprawling megalopolis. With an impressive ensemble cast featuring some of Mexico’s most acclaimed actors—including Arcelia Ramírez, Bruno Bichir, and Cecilia Suárez—Rain offers an unexpected, elegantly directed portrait of Mexico City. Through the eyes of its fascinating characters, the film captures fleeting moments of revelation before they return to their routine lives.

MEXICO & CHILE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 | 4:00PM
LOVE & MATHEMATICS / AMOR Y MATEMÁTICAS
(Claudia Sainte-Luce, Mexico, 2022, 85 min. In Spanish with English subtitles) — Comedy

Set in Monterrey, this satirical comedy about the ambitions and aspirations of upper-middle-class Mexican society follows former popular boy-band member Billy Lozano, played by Roberto Quijano, who is now a thirty-something, unhappily married man. His suburban routine—taking care of his infant son and loathing his wife’s poorly behaved lap dog—changes when he meets Mónica (Diana Bovio), who’s a fan of the band and moves next door. Mónica inspires Billy to pick up the guitar again and try to make sense of his life.

MEXICO & COLOMBIA: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 | 1:00PM

TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS / LLÉVAME EN TUS BRAZOS
(Julio Bracho, Mexico, 1954, 91 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)

The incomparable Cuban-born star Ninón Sevilla (Aventurera, Victims of Sin) shines in the boldly crafted and tumultuous musical melodrama Take Me in Your Arms as Rita, a young woman from a small coastal village in Veracruz and the daughter of a poor fisherman. To pay off her father's debts, she leaves her town and is exploited by several men, including a married politician who turns her into a famous dancing star—all while relentlessly seeking to reunite with her true love. Beautifully lensed by renowned cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa, director and co-writer Julio Bracho's expansive melodrama about class struggle and erotic tension features some wonderful song-and-dance sequences from Sevilla, who also produced the film, uncredited, alongside brothers Guillermo and Pedro Calderón. Sevilla's screen magnetism guides the audience through the film, culminating in a deeply satisfying finale.

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