The 9th Cine Las Americas Film Festival will screen the best in new film from the Americas April 19 – 23. This year’s program will offer a panorama of narrative and documentary films from countries throughout North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, and the festival will also host Emergencia, a free day of screenings of youth-made films and other films for the whole family.

This year’s Cine Las Americas program offers multiple perspectives on the cultural heritage of the Americas as well as the most critical issues affecting this region. Special program sections will include:

Music Documentaries
Films about Argentine tango (SI SOS BRUJO), Brazilian samba (JORJAO, MESTRE HUMBERTO), and Mexican women vocalists (HASTA EL ULTIMO TRAGO, CORAZON) celebrate the rich musical traditions of Latin America and efforts to preserve and honor them.

Cinema of Brazil
A collection of documentaries (A PESSOA E PARA O QUE NASCE, ESTAMIRA) and short films will offer viewers a glimpse into the current cinematic trends and issues in Brazil.

Imminent Change in Cuba
In addition to several new films about Cuba (BYE BYE HAVANA, SIN EMBARGO), the 9th Cine Las Americas will feature a double screening of the classic Cuban Revolution film SOY CUBA and the Russian documentary on the making of the film: I AM CUBA: THE SIBERIAN MAMMOUTH.

Global Issues, Local Problems
Examining topics such as immigration, indigenous culture and rights, and the battles over natural resources in a globalized world, this year’s documentaries (APAGA Y VAMONOS, DE NADIE, CROSSING ARIZONA) explore many of the urgent issues facing the peoples of the Americas today.

First Features
For the third year Cine will present a competitive section screening the first feature films from new and upcoming Latin American directors. (LA SOMBRA DEL CAMINANTE, EL NORTE: ENTRE EL INFINITO Y LA NADA, NOTICIAS LEJANAS, CAMA ADENTRO, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA)

Emergencia
The Cine Las Americas youth film competition Emergencia, will include youth-made films from Austin, San Antonio, and New York City. This day of free screenings at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex will also include screenings of the documentaries CHAVEZ RAVINE and UN AZARD HABANERO as well as family-friendly and youth oriented short films (VIAJE A MARTE, EXIJO SER UN HEROE, HUELLAS EN LA NIEVE, and EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, among others).

This year’s screenings will take place at the Regal Metropolitan 14, the Hideout Theater, and the Millennium Youth Complex. Tickets ($60 for a full festival pass) will be available online at www.cinelasamericas.org beginning April 10. Full festival schedule and film synopses will also be available on April 10.