The GuadaLAjara Film Festival in Los Angeles (GLAFF), aims to showcases the best of Latinx/e, Latin America and BIPOC cinema as well as serve as a bridge that unifies and connects diverse stories and experiences with the goal of creating a borderless film industry, will return for their 12th Edition in Downtown Los Angeles from September 29th through October 1st, 2022.
This year, as usual, the programming will include films by Latin American filmmakers that were showcased at their sister festival, the 37th Guadalajara International Film Festival held this past June in Guadalajara, Mexico and a special curated selection of films from Latinx/e and BIPOC filmmakers in the United States.
“GLAFF’s commitment to support Latino/x/e organizations that are making a difference in our community through activism and organizing is one of our most important achievements. We could not be more honored to have the opportunity to recognize trans civil rights activist Bamby Salcedo with the Arbol de la Vida Lifetime Humanitarian Award”, states Ximena Urrutia, Executive Director of GLAFF.
Salcedo, who was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, is one of the most visible Latina Transgender Civil Rights Activists in both the United States and Mexico, giving a voice and fighting for the rights and justice of trans Latina and non-binary communities in both countries. Bamby co-founded the national TransLatin@ Coalition in 2009 alongside a group of Transgender, Gender nonconforming and Intersex (TGI) immigrant women in Los Angeles, CA as a grassroots response to address the specific needs of TGI Latin@ immigrants who live in the United States. GLAFF is also thrilled to share that our most recognized and respected Latina activist, legendary civil rights leader Dolores Huerta will be honoring GLAFF with her presence to present Bamby with her award on Closing Night, Saturday, October 1st.
Some of this year’s highlights include the Mexican-American animation documentary Home is Somewhere Else, as the festival’s Centerpiece Film. Co-directed by Carlos Hagerman and Jorge Villalobos, the feature documentary provides a window into the hearts and minds of young Dreamers and undocumented immigrants in the United States. The story told in the voice of their own protagonists comes to life with stunning imagery, each animated in its unique style.
GLAFF’s Closing Night film will be Omara, a documentary directed by Hugo Pérez, produced by Dana Kuznetzkoff and Frida Torresblanco. The film is a beautiful and intimate portrait of one of Cuba’s most adored national treasures and global musical icon Omara Portuondo.
GLAFF will continue with its Work In Progress (WIP) LATINO program through which the festival has been supporting Latin American Filmmakers for over 7 years. Within the framework of GLAFF’s 12th edition, WIP LATINO 7 will focus on supporting projects that focus on the topics of border, migration, human rights, social and political themes centered around the Latino and Latinx community. This important initiative, which has supported projects that have gone on to have successful festival runs, is made possible by the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA and the festival’s sponsors.
The festival will also be hosting several curated industry masterclasses and a networking industry brunch.
This year the film festival will take place throughout several venues in Downtown Los Angeles, including The Theatre at Ace Hotel, Grand Park, Alamo Drafthouse and The Secret Movie Club. Tickets are available. For a full list of GLAFF’s programming, schedule and to purchase tickets please visit: www.glaff.org.
