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Washington, DC - GALA Hispanic Theatre is pleased to present its 5th annual international film festival, REEL TIME AT GALA. Running October 26 through 30, 2016, the festival will screen seven films: six contemporary films (many D.C. premieres) that focus on films by contemporary directors who have garnered international attention, and one of Mexico’s greatest Golden Age classics. The festival will also include an art exhibition by award-winning Salvadoran painter Nicolas F. Shi, prize drawings, post-film discussions with actors and directors, and receptions.
Hugo Medrano, GALA’s co-founder and producing artistic director, says, “For the fifth year, GALA will showcase some of the best and most recent films from Latin America in our popular film series, Reel Time at GALA. The 2016 festival will include a popular Mexican classic film with two iconic Mexican screen stars and six contemporary films from Mexico, Argentina, and El Salvador that feature diverse narratives and styles. From compelling documentaries about contemporary figures, to smart comedies, to powerful dramas, Reel Time at GALA has something for everyone in an intimate setting.”
The festival is curated by Carlos Gutiérrez of Cinema Tropical in New York.
All films will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. The schedule is as follows:
WEDNESDAY, October 26, 2016 (ARGENTINA)
7:00 p.m. — LA CALLE DE LOS PIANISTAS (PIANISTS STREET) D.C. Premiere!
Directed by Mariano Nante, Argentina, 2015, 85 min. Documentary.
Featuring Martha Argerich, a 2016 Kennedy Center Honors recipient.
In Spanish, English, and French with English subtitles.
On Rue Bosquet, a small street in Brussels, two identical buildings stand side by side. One is the home of the Tiempo-Lechner family, known for its long lineage of piano prodigies. Matriarch Lyl Tiempo presides over her renowned children, Sergio Tiempo and Karin Lechner, as well as Karin’s daughter, Natasha. At only 14, Natasha is already a busy performer who carries the weight of her musical heritage on her shoulders. She asks: What does it actually mean to be a pianist? If there is an answer, it is to be found in the house next door, at the home of the famous Argentine concert pianist Martha Argerich, who opens her doors and reveals an inner life that is still filled with uncertainty: At the age of 70, she remains on a quest for perfect technique. This unusual, very human documentary is filled with moments of extraordinary intimacy and exceptional music.
Post-film discussion with director Mariano Nante, introduced by Argentine actress Carla Peterson. Reception follows, courtesy of Embassy of Argentina.
THURSDAY, October 27, 2016 (EL SALVADOR)
7:00 p.m. — ALBORADA D.C. Premiere!
Directed by Paula Heredia, El Salvador, 2015, 54 min. Documentary.
Josefa, a former guerrilla leader in El Salvador, seeks to emerge from a life of secrecy. Her daughter, Salvadoran filmmaker Paula Heredia, accompanies her on a journey that gives voice to the people of Suchitoto, El Salvador, the community that embraced her after the war.
Post-film Q&A with director Paula Heredia and Eduardo López, co-director and producer of The Harvest of Empire. Reception follows, courtesy of Embassy of El Salvador.
FRIDAY, October28, 2016 (MEXICO)
7:00 p.m. — LA DELGADA LÍNEA AMARILA (THE THIN YELLOW LINE)
Directed by Celso García, Mexico, 2015, 95 min.
Starring Damián Alcazar (The Chronicles of Narmia: Prince Caspian), Silverio Palacios (Y Tu Mamá También), Américo Hollander, Gustavo Sánchez Parra (Amores Perros), and Joaquín Cosios (Savages).
“A palpable pleasure to watch” (Variety), this dramedy chronicles five financially strapped men from different walks of life who are hired to paint the center stripe along 120 miles of Mexican state highway. Celso García’s acclaimed debut feature was nominated for 14 Ariel Awards (Mexico’s Academy Awards) and won four awards at the Guadalajara Film Festival.
Post-film discussion with actor Gustavo Sánchez Parra (pending), award-winner for Amores Perros, introduced by Alberto Fierro, Executive Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute. Reception follows, courtesy of the Mexican Cultural Institute/Embassy of Mexico.
SATURDAY, October 29, 2016 (ARGENTINA & MEXICO)
4:00 p.m. — CÓMO GANAR ENEMIGOS (HOW TO WIN ENEMIES) (Argentina)
Directed by Gabriel Lichtmann, Argentina, 2015, 78 min.
Starring Martin Slipak, Javier Drolas, Inés Palombo, Eugenia Capizzano, and Sagrado Sebakis.
Lucas, a young Jewish lawyer with a penchant for detective stories, tries to solve a mystery of his own in this comedia thriller. After withdrawing a large sum of money to buy his first house, he meets Barbara at a café and is enamored. She is smart, sexy, and has great taste in literature, but things aren’t always what they seem. After Barbara goes home with Lucas, he wakes up to find both Barbara and his money gone.
Determined to find out who put her up to it, Lucas uses the detective skills gathered from his beloved books and finds himself in an intriguing, twisted plot.
7:00 p.m. — LA CALLE DE LA AMARGURA (BLEAK STREET) (Mexico) D.C. Premiere!
Directed by Arturo Ripstein, Mexico/Spain, 2015, 99 min.
Starring Patricia Reyes Spindola, Nora Velázquez, Emoe de la Parra, Sylvia Pasquel, and Alejandro Suárez.
Veteran auteur and master of the Mexican bizarre, Arturo Ripstein (Deep Crimson) plunges into a Mexico City demimonde of crime, prostitution, and luchador wrestling. The film’s luscious black-and-white cinematography recounts a true crime story of twin mini-luchadores (who never remove their masks), the mother who adores them, and two prostitutes whose best days are long behind them. Ripstein imbues his Buñuelian tableaux with both empathy and dark humor.
SUNDAY, October 30, 2016 (MEXICO & ARGENTINA)
4:00 p.m. — FLOR SILVESTRE (WILD FLOWER) (Mexico)
Directed by Emilio Fernández, Mexico, 1943, 94 min. Classic Film.
Starring Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz.
One of the most popular films from Mexico’s Golden Age follows the romance between Esperanza (Dolores del Río), granddaughter of a common laborer, and José Luis Castro (Pedro Armendáriz), the firebrand son of a landowner. Joining a revolutionary movement, Castro is disowned by his father, but Esperanza remains loyally by his side. Later Castro's father is killed by outlaws. Seeking vengeance, Castro sacrifices his own life, while Esperanza carries on his revolutionary work with their young son in tow.
Post-film discussion with Dr. Barbara Tennenbaum, Mexican specialist, Library of Congress (Retired).
7:00 p.m. — EL INCENDIO (THE FIRE) (Argentina) D.C. Premiere!
Directed by Juan Schnitman, Argentina, 2015, 95 min.
Starring Juan Barberini and Pilar Gamboa.
On the way to closing the contract on their first home, Lucía and Marcelo withdraw $100,000 in cash from their bank. The seller can’t make it to the signing and it gets postponed to the next day. Frustrated, they head back to their old place and put the money away. The next 24 hours will unveil the true nature of their love, the crisis they are in, and the violence within themselves. This “scorching debut feature” (Variety) by Juan Schnitman was the winner of the Best Film Award at the Transylvania Film Festival.
Post-film discussion with Carla Peterson, Argentine actress.
ON EXHIBIT
Intertwined Identities, a series by Salvadoran painter Nicolas F. Shi, will be exhibited in the GALA lobby through November 13. The exhibition features images of Latin American indigenous people who are identifiable through their textiles and whose clothing are similar to those worn by Asian ethnic people and minorities in color and design.
Nicolas F. Shi is a painter who was born in El Salvador to Chinese parents, and has resided in Washington, DC for many years. His work mixes the bright colors of Central America with the harmony and simplicity of traditional Chinese painting and the boldness found in contemporary American art. Mr. Shi’s work has been exhibited in China, Japan, Korea, and the United States. He has a Master’s degree in architectural engineering from Oklahoma State University.
TICKETS: General admission, $10; Festival Pass, $30. Purchase tickets at the door or at BookOfficeTickets.com, or call (202) 234-7174.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.galatheatre.org or call (202) 234-7174.
LOCATION & PARKING: GALA Theatre is located at 3333 14th Street, NW in Columbia Heights. Unlimited parking is available for $4 after 5:00 p.m. in the Giant Food garage on Park Road NW p.m. You must have ticket stamped in the lobby of the theatre. GALA Theatre is also one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro on the Green and Yellow lines.
ACCESSIBILITY: GALA Theatre is wheelchair accessible with elevator to both lobby and theatre seating.
SUPPORTERS/SPONSORS: Anonymous Donor, Embassy of Mexico in the United States, Embassy of El Salvador, and Embassy of Argentina, Mexican Cultural Institute, Casa de Cultura of El Salvador, and Avianca.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS: DC Independent Film Festival, Double Exposure: Investigative Film Festival and Symposium, Filmfest DC, Washington DC Film Society, and Women in Film & Video.
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