Charlotte Latino Film Festival returns with robust premier plans and a special guest
The Charlotte Latino Film Festival is returning for its second annual show this spring, where audiences will be treated to several premieres and the presence of a major Colombian actress and singer.
The festival from Cine Casual, which is run by Giovanna Torres, aims to elevate Latin American stories through film. Cine Casual organized a Latin American film series in Charlotte since 2020, which evolved into the festival that Torres and her husband, Alex Piñeres, co-founded.
It’s returning to Independent Picture House from March 27-April 6 with a slate of 10 films from nine countries as well as short films from North Carolina made by or starring Latinos. The countries range from Cuba to Costa Rica and Brazil.
The festival aims to celebrate film, offer a venue for diverse voices and serve as a bridge between cultures in Charlotte, according to Torres. “It’s not the kind of stuff you just get to see every day,” she told The Charlotte Observer.
“We love having the Latinos come out,” Torres said. “But I also get really excited when we have folks who are non-Latino that show up and enjoy it as much, or sometimes more.
“Having that diversity in the audience gives space for those conversations I want to have. It’s awesome.”
Landing a Colombian star
Colombia’s “El Bolero de Rubén,” is having its Southeast premiere at the Charlotte film fest. It’s also the first Colombian movie musical, according to Torres.
Torres has described the film as a “a genre-blending journey through thriller, tragedy, musical, realism and comedy, all set to the rhythm of timeless boleros.”
Its star, Majida Issa, will make the 2,100-mile journey from Bogota, Colombia, to present the film April 6 and do a Q&A as well. The movie’s director, Juan Carlos Mazo, also will be part of the Q&A.
Issa has 4.5 million Instagram followers and is perhaps best known for her role in a Telemundo telenovela, where her character’s nickname was “La Diabla,” the she-devil.
So just how did Torres connect with her?
Having finally booked the film but unable to reach Issa, Torres sent a DM to the movie’s Instagram account, not knowing who, if anyone, would answer. Turns out it was Issa who responded.
Torres told Piñeres she hoped it wasn’t some sort of spam response. But then Issa gave Torres her phone number so they could connect over a WhatsApp video call.
Torres said Issa, who had never been to the Carolinas, “was excited to hear we wanted to show the film... She said she’d promote it on her social media channels, including Instagram Live, leading up to the festival... She’s so sweet.”
More about the Charlotte Latino Film Festival
Here are some other things to know about the film festival:
▪ All of the feature films are either in Spanish or Portuguese, with English subtitles.
▪ The festival’s first family-friendly screening, the animated “Captain Avispa” from the Dominican Republic, also has a post-film show from local bilingual group Criss, Cross Mangosauce.
▪ The festival is planning its first free workshop, and is designed for and by local storytellers.
▪ One of the films, “Cuarencena” from the Dominican Republic, is a North American premiere that kicks off the festival March 27. It centers on In the tense early days of a pandemic, where a five-star chef and his wife host a dinner party at their bougie apartment despite a nationwide curfew. Secrets and resentments eventually bubble up. There also are a trio of East Coast premieres at the fest.
▪ Several screenings will include talk-backs featuring Charlotte artists and community leaders.
▪ Over half of the films are directed by women.
▪ Last year, more than 900 people attended the festival. Torres is hoping that over 1,000 will come for the 2025 version.
▪ The festival is funded in part by the Infusion Fund, a partnership between the city of Charlotte, Foundation for the Carolinas and its donors, and the Arts & Science Council.
▪ These countries are represented in the films: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.
Charlotte Latino Film Festival
When: March 28-April 6
Where: Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St., Charlotte
Film schedule and tickets: charlottelatinofilmfestival.com/film-schedule-2025/
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This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 5:45 AM.
