DIVERSE CINEMA AND DOCUMENTARY CIRCUIT

Last week was held the first exhibition of diverse cinema, organized by Visibles and the Ixcanul Foundation, with the support of the Cultural Center of Spain in Guatemala. The exhibition is part of the activities carried out in the framework of the International LGTBIQ+ Pride Day, which is commemorated on June 28.

By: Irene García

From June 14 to 16, with an average attendance of 80 people each day, five independent films by Latin American producers were screened with themes related to the struggle and defense of the rights of sexual diversity. The exhibition concluded on Saturday, June 18, with an LGBTIQ+ Documentary Circuit.

All screenings were free of charge and were held at the Cine Lux cinema.

The films shown were: Las Herederas by director Marcelo Martinessi, from Paraguay, released in 2018, with 95 minutes of running time; Pólvora en el corazón by director Camila Urrutia, from Guatemala, with a running time of 87 minutes, released in 2019; Casa Roshell by director Camila José Donoso, from Mexico, counting 71 minutes of running time, released in 2017; Te llevo conmigo by Mexico's Heidi Ewing, from 2020 with 111 minutes; Luciérnagas by Bani Khoshnoudi, from Mexico, with a running time of 88 minutes, released in 2018; and José, which was filmed in Guatemala, with a running time of 85 minutes, directed by Li Cheng and released in 2018.

José won the Queer Lion Award at the 75th Venice Film Festival. The screening of this film ended with a forum in which two of its protagonists, Enrique Salanic and Ana Cecilia Mota, and photographer Paolo Girón, spoke about homophobia, conservatism and rights in Guatemala.

The LGBTIQ+ Documentary Circuit on Saturday 18, held in the auditorium of the Cultural Center of Spain, screened Cálido afuera, from Costa Rica, directed by Sofía Elena Corrales and David Ulloa; De Reina y Otros Colores, produced in Guatemala, directed by Juan Diego H. Zuluaga; Vicky Hernández VS. Honduras, produced in Honduras, directed by Viviana Bohórquez.

Homero Fuentes Nochez, Visibles' Project Director, explained that the organization of the diverse film showcase took three months of work in conjunction with the Ixcanul Foundation. "Our main criterion was that we wanted to present films from Guatemala. That was how we selected the opening and closing film, which was Guatemalan themed."

"We opened ourselves to the opportunity to see how the whole activity flowed, the reception was spectacular, we have had the participation of groups between 80 to 120 people, in the different days of screenings," explained Fuentes.

He added that "it is always a challenge when we talk about LGBTIQ+ issues at the public level, but I see that every time there is openness to dialogue, although there is resistance in some groups there is also an opportunity for others who want to join, the reception was quite broad".

Before each of the screenings, an advertising spot with the central theme "All families count" was shown, and posters with the names and synopsis of the film productions were handed out.

International LGTBIQ+ Pride Day is commemorated worldwide to promote tolerance, respect for the dignity and rights of sexual diversity and non-discrimination, and as an expression of the struggle for equal rights.

In Guatemala, throughout June, various social, cultural and academic activities will take place. On Saturday 25, the LGTBIQ+ Pride parade is scheduled to take place.

Original publication: Agencia Universitaria de Noticias

Author: Irene García

Link: https://agenciauniversitariadenoticias.com.gt/cine-diverso-y-circuito-documental/