Hispanic Film Festival begins Oct. 30

Augustana College will sponsor its 25th annual Hispanic Film Festival on Wednesdays, Oct. 30-Dec. 4.

The films, part of the college’s International Film Series, are free and open to the public.

All films will be shown at 7 p.m. in Hanson Hall of Science, Room 102. (The festival will not show a film Thanksgiving week.)

Oct. 30: Los pájaros del verano (Birds of Passage)

This 2018 drama is based on real events that took place in Colombia. “Birds of Passage” won best film at the Los Cabos International Film Festival and the Havana Film Festival.

IMDB description: During the marijuana bonanza, a violent decade that saw the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia, Rapayet and his indigenous family get involved in a war to control the business that ends up destroying their lives and their culture.

The unrated film runs just over two hours.

Nov. 6: Una sonrisa a la vida (Truman)

The comedy-drama “Truman” was the most awarded Spanish film of the 2015 with five Goya Awards, six Gaudi Awards, and many more.

Director: Cesc Gay / Argentina-Spain, 2015 / 108 minutes / Comedy-Drama (Not Rated)

IMDB description: Julián receives an unexpected visit from his friend Tomás, who lives in Canada. The two men, accompanied by Julián's faithful dog, Truman, will share emotional and surprising moments prompted by Julián's complicated situation.

The unrated film runs 108 minutes.

Nov. 13:  La carga (The Load)

This 2016 drama/romance from Mexico was named best film by Mexican Cinema Journalists.

IMDB description: In the late 16th century, a Tameme Indian man and a noble Spanish woman flee through the forests of the New World in search of freedom. Their frantic journey softens the tension between them and dissolves their longstanding differences and creates intimate bonds that threaten their very survival.

Rated R for some sexuality and nudity, the film runs 94 minutes.

Nov. 20: Julieta

This 2016 mystery is directed by Academy Award-winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar.

IMDB description:  Julietta is packing for a move when she runs into Bea, who was the best friend of her missing daughter Antia. Bea discloses that Antia is married with three children. Julietta rents an apartment in her former building, hoping that Antia contacts her. She decides to write the heartbreaking story of her life.

Rated R for some sexuality and nudity, the film runs 99 minutes.

Dec. 4:  Roma

Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón won a Best Director Oscar for this 2018 drama about a year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s.

The film follows the life of the families indigenous housekeeper, and is a semi-autobiographical take on Cuarón's upbringing in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City.

“Roma” also was nominated for an Academy Awards for Best Motion Picture and Best Screen Play.

The film runs two hours, 15 minutes, and is rated R.