Program Overview Cine Nepantla 2023 Cine Nueva Onda 2023 Cine Classico 2022 Cine Nepantla 2022 Cine Classico 2021 Student Film Festival 2020 Cine Nueva Onda 2020 Archives New Events
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Latin American Stories, Los Angeles Screens

ABOUT LACLA

For 25 years, the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) serves as a premier platform for the exploration and celebration of Chicanx, Latinx, and Latin American cinema. As a non-profit organization, we pride ourselves on our year-round programming, shining a spotlight on the diverse and dynamic bodies of filmmaking that originate from all corners of the Americas. Through a range of thoughtfully curated screenings, educational initiatives, and collaborative events, LACLA aims to enrich cultural understanding, promote artistic exchange, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers. With a strong LA base, we actively work to broaden the cinematic horizons of our local community, while connecting creative minds and film lovers globally.

 

Upcoming Events:

14th Annual LACLA Student Film Festival

Sunday, April 21 · 2pm PST

Richard A Grant Theater at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles

RSVP here to attend!

Attend the Festival

Reserve your spot by filling out the form below or visiting our Eventbrite page.

Secure your spot now and join us at LACLA's Annual Student Film Festival!

Calling all movie lovers and future filmmakers! The 14th Annual LACLA Student Film Festival is here. This year, join us for a showcase of incredible short films by talented middle and high school students. From animation to documentaries, the festival highlights the next generation of storytellers shaping the future of cinema. Join us in celebrating LA's young filmmaking stars!

  • Sunday, April 21 · 2 - 4pm PST

  • Richard A Grant Theater at Cathedral High School - 1253 Bishops Road Los Angeles, CA 90012

Join the Celebration of Emerging Talent: LACLA Student Film Festival 2024!

The Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) proudly announces the return of our Annual Student Film Festival. This 2024, we continue our tradition of showcasing the diverse and vibrant voices of young filmmakers from across the greater Los Angeles area.

Learn more about the festival:

PAST EVENTS:

SCREENING: No abras nunca esa puerta (Never Open That Door) Argentina, 1952

NO ABRAS NUNCA ESA PUERTA

Argentina, 1952

We’re thrilled to be a community partner of the UCLA Film & Television Archive screening of No abras nunca esa puerta. This new restoration is part of the Archive’s 21st Festival of Preservation which screens new restoration and preservation projects at the Billy Wilder Museum in the Hammer Museum.

This screening will take place on Saturday, April 6 at 9:30 pm. Admission is free. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. The box office opens one hour before the first program of the day. For more information click here.

MALPASO


Fraternal twins in a tough Haitian-Dominican border town grapple with loss, identity, and survival after their grandfather's death.

Followed by a live Q&A with Director Hector M. Valdez.

Como el cielo después de llover

A daughter returning home to document her famous director father's new film grapples with their family legacy and gender roles in filmmaking.

Followed by exclusive Q&A session with Director Mercedes Gaviria.

Drácula

The 1931 Spanish-language Dracula, filmed simultaneously with the Bela Lugosi version but with a sexier heroine and faster production, was a box-office hit competing for horror film dominance.

Featuring a specially created taped introduction by Eva Longoria for LACLA guests.

Ceniza Negra

A 13-year-old Caribbean girl grapples with caring for her despondent grandfather after her only maternal figure vanishes.

Followed by an exclusive interview with the writer director Sofía Quirós Ubeda by Guido Segal.

 

LACLA Program Overview

 
 

CINE NEPANTLA *

Nepantla, a word originating from the Nahuatl language, carries the evocative meaning of 'in the middle of it' or 'middle'. But it transcends the literal, reaching into the core of historical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of life. It encapsulates the experience of dwelling in borderlands, standing at the crossroads of literal or metaphorical frontiers. In the rich tapestry of Latinx anthropology, art, literature, and social criticism, Nepantla stands as a potent symbol of 'in-between-ness', embodying the nuanced interstitial spaces that shape our identities, narratives, and experiences.

CINE CLASICO

Step into the world of Cine Clásico, LACLA's exclusive showcase of Latin American cinema's classic treasures. Our program spans genres and eras, capturing the diverse voices and narratives of Latin America. Join us at LACLA for an enriching cinematic journey you won't find elsewhere.

STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

Fostering creativity and empowering young artists, our festival shines a spotlight on short films crafted by students from diverse corners of the greater Los Angeles area. Showcasing works from the Valley to South L.A., and from East L.A. to Venice, we celebrate the burgeoning talent of our city's middle and high school filmmakers. Join us as we honor their unique perspectives and stories that reflect our vibrant and dynamic community.

 
 
 

CINE NUEVA ONDA: EXPERIMENTAL LATINX & LATIN AMERICAN FILM

For a quarter of a century, the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) has been a dedicated platform, spotlighting feature and short films from Latinx filmmakers across the Americas. Our Nueva Onda section is a distinct testament to this, uniquely curated to display innovative narratives from rising talents, providing them a stage to voice their creative visions and groundbreaking storytelling.

 

2024 Program Schedule

Each year, LACLA proudly presents four signature programs, serving as a vibrant stage for the rich tapestry of Latin American cinema. Our offerings span from captivating genre films to stirring political documentaries, all aimed at celebrating and promoting the diverse and profound voices within Latin American film culture

 

cINE nUEVA onDA

TBA

CINE NEPANTLA

TBA

15th Annual LACLA Student Film Festival

April 21, 2024 - See details

Cine Classico

‘‘En Este Pueblo No Hay Ladrones’’ 1965, directed by Alberto Isaac

Based on the short story by Gabriel García Márquez

Details to be announced.

 
 
 

LACLA LATEST

 
Featured
Malpaso (2019) directed by Héctor Valdez
Malpaso (2019) directed by Héctor Valdez

"Malpaso," directed by Héctor Valdez, captures the lives of contrasting twin brothers in the Dominican Republic. Showcased in Latin American Cinemateca, this black and white film delves into societal acceptance, merging poetic realism with societal critiques. Although not mainstream, its deep emotional resonance and artistry make it a standout in contemporary cinema.

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Como el cielo después de llover (2020, Colombia)
Como el cielo después de llover (2020, Colombia)

Experience the captivating debut documentary "Como el cielo después de llover" (2020) by Mercedes Gaviria Jaramillo. Dive into the intertwining worlds of fiction and reality as the film explores family, gender violence, and the power of cinema. A thought-provoking journey that resonates on multiple levels.

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Drácula
Drácula

Based on the epistolary 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, but rerouted through its stage play of 1924, revised in 1927, Drácula was produced by Universal Studios, as a Spanish-language version of the English original.This is the second joint program between the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles and the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

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Verbena Trágica (1939)
Verbena Trágica (1939)

The Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles has teamed with the U.C.L.A. Film and Television to screen Verbena trágica, a Spanish-language film released in 1939 –the year of Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

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Feral (2018, México) película escrita y dirigida por Andrés Kaiser
Feral (2018, México) película escrita y dirigida por Andrés Kaiser

Feral, el debut cinematográfico de Andrés Kaiser, explora con pulso seguro el uso de las convenciones del género de horror psicológico y las técnicas del cine documental. Por eso resulta una buena elección para la serie Cine Nepantla de la Latin American Cinemateca de Los Angeles.

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2021 Cine Nepantla - FERAL
2021 Cine Nepantla - FERAL

Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) proudly presents the second annual Cine Nepantla on Friday March 26 , 2021 featuring the Mexican horror mockumentary FERAL.

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13th annual LACLA Student Film Festival
13th annual LACLA Student Film Festival

Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) presents the 13th annual LACLA Student Film Festival on Friday, December 18th. Due to the current COVID-19 health crisis, LACLA has decided to practice safe, social distancing by offering their selective student film festival for the first time free of charge in a virtual format.

Read More →
 

Our Archives

LACLA holds four annual programs to showcase and promote the incredible oeuvre of Latin American cinema, from popular genre films to political documentaries. We hope to see you at our next event!