Latin American film fest opens

Entertainment: The comedy Vino para Robar (To Fool a Thief) by Argentina's young director, Ariel Winograd, will open the event. - Photo http://chicagolatinofilmfestival.org

The festival will feature 13 cinematographic works from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Colombia, as well as Chile, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Haiti, and Venezuela.

The event, which opens tonight and runs until Saturday, is part of a series of activities promoting Latin American culture to the people of Viet Nam.

"The Film Week aims to bring Latin American cinematography and culture closer to Vietnamese audiences through social, political and historical themes. Audiences will have a chance to enjoy profound works of the continent," said Jorge Rondon Uzcategui, Venezuelan ambassador to Viet Nam.

On this occasion, the ambassador expressed hopes that Venezuela and Viet Nam could work together to make a film on Nguyen Van Troi, a Vietnamese national hero in the American war who became quite familiar to the Venezuelan people.

Jean Lesly Benoit, Haitian ambassador to Viet Nam, told Vietnam News Agency that under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) and General Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), the heroic fights of the two nations against French colonialism had numerous similarities.

The ambassador added that Haiti Culture Week in Viet Nam in January 2015 would feature a range of art performances, photo exhibits and a cuisine festival.

The comedy Vino para Robar (To Fool a Thief) by Argentina's young director, Ariel Winograd, will open the event. The film won a special award at the Huelva Latin American Film Festival in Spain in October last year.

The opening night will be followed by a Spanish-Venezuelan work: Bolivar, The Man of Difficulties. The movie is a historical drama directed by Alberto Alberto depicting the epic story of Simon Bolivar, known as the greatest leader of Latin America's independence movement. He was known as "The Liberator" due to his thirst for the liberation of Latin America from Spanish colonisers.

Also reflecting this historical theme is Toussaint Louverture, which will wrap up the festival. Through this work, Haiti's filmmakers highlight the life of revolutionary leader Gen Louverture, who led black slaves in the fight for independence against French colonisers.

The event also features other movies such as Heleno, Route of the Moon, Salt, Viva Cuba and Days of Santiago. Most of the films will be shown with Vietnamese subtitles while some will have both English and Vietnamese subtitles.

Daily screenings will take place at 6pm and 8pm at Cinematheque, 22 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ha Noi. Entrance is free but on a first-come, first-served basis.