Presented by the Panamanian International Film Festival in LA (PIFF/LA) and co-produced with Los Cortos, Inc. and NewFilmmakers LA, PANAFEST is a two-day event screening recent short and feature films from Panama, Colombia, Spain, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru, as well as several U.S., Latino works. The full lineup of films, panels and cultural activities will take place on October 27 and 28, 2018 at the Lupe Ontiveros Theater at the LA Theater Center in Downtown LA.
PANAFEST’s artistic director is Panamanian actor, Carlos Carrasco, who has appeared in iconic Hollywood films such as Speed and Blood In Blood Out, as well as on series such as Star Trek, CSI Las Vegas, and HBO’s hit series Insecure.
“It’s an honor to connect Panama and Hollywood via film, storytelling and networking,” said Carrasco. “This year I personally worked on my first film shot in Panama so I can speak first hand to the growth of the industry and the cross cultural influences.”
Discover how Panamanian Calypso came to be with the first West Coast screening of Una Noche de Calypso, a documentary that took home the People’s Choice Award at the International Film Festival in Panama (IFF Panama) this past April. Directed by Fernando Muñoz, the film is part concert, part cultural exploration with an emphasis on Panama’s West Indian heritage.
A second documentary, La Mola de Lucia, directed by Ana Elena Tejera, sheds new light on the artistry behind Panama’s renowned “molas,” the handmade textiles that form part of Guna Indian traditions.
Other Panamanian selections include short films that range in subject matter from suspense to romance to quirky comedy.
Immigration is a theme that appears throughout the festival, as in the case of Luis Romero’s Pasajeros en Transito, which chronicles the journey of U.S.-bound refugees who follow a twisted trail from South America through Central America only to end up stranded in Panama.
Drama, comedy and even horror are represented as well as in the nail-biting Fuera de Contol, by Reynaldo Quijada, Juan Daniel Pinzón’s childhood romance Brillas, and the taut suspense of Haslam Ortega’s Exit.
Female directors make up almost half of the festival slate exploring LGBTQ themes, political, romantic and cultural issues. Films directed by US Latinas include the work of U.S./Colombian filmmaker Natalia Hermedia, whose three short films were produced in association with Dodge College at Chapman University. One such film, Sandman, utilizes animation and cutting-edge technology.
Ivonne Coll, known for her role as matriarch Alba Villanueva in Jane the Virgin makes her directing debut and stars in From Now On, a tender love story. Meeting Brown, directed by L.A. based Ana Lydia Monaco, examines an intercultural relationship and the strain of stereotypes.
Jesus Nebot’s American Nightmare, supported by The League of United Latin American Citizens (L.U.L.A.C.), the nation’s oldest Latinx Civil Rights group, takes the concepts of “undocumented illegals” and child/parent separation and very cleverly turns it upside down.
PANAFEST’s first night closes with El Contratista, a feature film written and directed by JoJo Henrickson. The cast is chock-full of recognizable film and television talent including Mexican-born actors Alejandro De Hoyos, known for his work on Clear and Present Danger, and Daniel Mora who audiences will recognize from Band of Robbers and Filly Brown.
El Contratista tells the story of a group of mercenaries who join their jaded veteran leader in protecting a boy whose activist family was murdered by the cartel. The film becomes a taut exploration of right and wrong with the impressionable child’s sense of morality hanging in the balance.
This year, Los Cortos will showcase evolving film technology by sharing films in a 360 VR format. A musical performance and free industry panels hosted by SAG-AFTRA are also planned.
In recognition of PIFFLA’s contribution to the community, this activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.
PANAFEST 2018 COMPLETE FILM SELECTION:
OCTOBER 27, 2018
BLOCK 1: SHORT FILM
Night and Fun Director: Delfina Kroek (Panama)
Meeting Brown Director: Ana Lydia Monaco (USA)
Ultimo Supper Director: Eddie Zapata (USA)
Brillas Director: Juan Daniel Pinzón (Panama)
Pantalla Pura Director: Javier Farías (Venezuela)
Virgencita Director: Giselle Bonilla (USA)
Tortoise Director: Stephen Cervantes (USA)
BLOCK 2: SHORT FILM
Chicle Director: Art Bonilla (USA)
Being Bilingual Director: Elizabeth Lyle, Kimberly Lyle (Panama)
La Mola de Lucía Director: Ana Elena Tejera (Panama)
Pasajeros en Tránsito Director: Luis Romero (Panama)
Aurora Director: Laura García (Mexico)
Alteridad + Director: Martín Proaño and Ginés Sánchez Arias (Panama)
BLOCK 3: SHORT FILM
Retiro Director: Miguel Dianda (Argentina)
Together Again Director: Antonio Darwiche
Desde el Principio Director: Miguel Soliman (USA)
Mi Amor Director: Yennifer Behrens (USA)
From Now On Director: Ivonne Coll (USA/Puerto Rico)
Familia? Director: Marlene Forte (USA)
Marisol Director: Juan Escobedo (USA)
BLOCK 4: FEATURE FILM
El Contratista Director: José Angel Henrickson (USA/Mexico)
OCTOBER 28, 2018
BLOCK 5: SHORT FILM
Silencio y Siesta Director: Lucas Saporozi and Luz Marquez (Chile)
Sandman Director: Natalia Hermida (USA/Colombia)
Mientras Duermes Director: Morella Moret (Peru)
Del Mar y la Luna Director: Ramiro Maldini
Gamberger Director: Natalia Hermida (USA/Colombia)
Viajero Casero Director: Christian Bradford Alvarez (Panama)
BLOCK 6: SHORT FILM
Pasajeros en Trance Director: Natalia Hermida (USA/Colombia)
To Infinity Director: Gabriel Savodivker (USA)
Uno Director: Javier Marco (Spain)
I.C.E. Cream Director: Analisa Moreno (USA/Panama)
American Nightmare Director: Jesus Nebot (USA)
BLOCK 7: SHORT FILM
Las Hormigas Director: Mariana Wainstein (Argentina)
Entropia Director: Jairo Ramos (Panama)
Fuera de Control Director: Reynaldo Quijada (Panama)
Blood Stains Director: Blake Vaz (USA)
Exit Director: Haslam Ortega (Panama)
Terapia Director: Jonathan Tabares (USA)
BLOCK 8: FEATURE FILM
Una Noche de Calypso Director: Fernando Muñoz (Panama)
For more info: piffla.com | @pifflosangeles
Saturday, October 27th & Sunday, October 28th – Los Angeles Theater Center (LATC), 514 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. www.thelatc.org
