by Belisa Serna Hennington
In its fifth year, The Panamanian International Film Festival in Los Angeles brings Panafest 2019, a celebration of cinema, culture, and community, to The Downtown Independent Theater Los Angeles on October 18, 19, and 20. The three-day event includes cultural activities, panels, and films. A new addition to Panafest 2019 is a prestigious judging panel that includes Juan Escobedo, Juan Agustin Marquez, Angela Ortiz, and Sabrina Precario.
The Panafest 2019 film selection is brought to life through films with inspiring themes like immigration, profiling, diversity, and identity. The films range from heartwarming comedy to a technologically sophisticated thriller, to a horror film based on a Panamanian folk tale.
“The Latino community is under attack and the creative community is striking back against stereotypes and marginalization,” said Carlos Carrasco, Artistic Director of The Panamanian International Film Festival in Los Angeles. “Panafest 2019 will share the work of a vibrant group of innovative storytellers whose fresh voices and perspectives illuminate things that matter to us all.”
Panafest 2019 Line Up
- Migrante by Ezequiel Dalinger and Daniel Iezzi (Argentina)
- And the Brave Shall Rise by Adam Schlachter (USA)
- There Goes the Neighborhood by Angelique Molina (USA/Panama)
- Chico Heron and the Last 42 by Alberto Serra
- Turnover by Linda Palmer (USA)
- Raúl Julia: The World’s a Stage by Ben DeJesus (USA)
- Hope of Pineapples by Jorge Cajar (Panama)
- Darién, Vienen o Van by Andrea Victoria Calderón (Panama)
- Truth in Silence (Nadie nos quita) by Juan Daniel Pinzón (Panama)
- Banalities by Rafael de Andrade (Brazil)
- The Serpent’s Skin by Adrian Cruz García (Costa Rica)
- Chronicles: Sol & Javi (Crónicas: Sol y Javi) by Ernesto Gutierrez (Costa Rica)
- Deliver by Ricardo Farias (Cuba)
- El Uniforme No Se Esconde by Juan Quirós (Panama)
- Arnold by Mona Lisa García (Panama/USA)
- Juan Melgar Junín by Sebastian Touma (Panama)
- Sundae by Halsam Ortega (Panama)
- Frog Boy (Niño Rana) by Laura Zenobi and Lucas Altmann (Argentina)
- Against The Stream (Contracorriente) by Carlos Asse (USA/Mexico)
- A Wish by Agustina Claramonte (Argentina)
- Processing Station by Rodrigo Espinosa (USA)
- Blue Cape (Capa Azul) by Alejandra López (Puerto Rico)
- Chimpanzees (Chimpancés) by Ull Galindez (Argentina)
- Los Riders del Rufina by Elvira Gálvez Límaco, Dara Nicole Ríos, José Daniel Cerdas, Obed Samudio (Peru/Nicaragua/Costa Rica/Panama)
- What Are You? by Anayansi Prado (Panama)
- Alpharaoh by Lidieth Arevalo (USA)
- Jeremy by Enrique Rico Diaz (USA)
- American Dream, Music Video by Los Rakas
- Intolerance No More by Sergio Guerrero (Mexico/USA)
- The Art of Devils (El Arte de Los diablos) by Benjamín Liao (Panama)
- Diablo Rojo/PTY by Sol Moreno (Panama)
- Panamá Radio by Edgar Soberón (Panama)
- Hunter by Shashank Varma (USA)
- Wall (Muro) by Alejandro Irias Leiva (Honduras)
- In Colors (De Colores) by Stephanie Willis (USA)
- The End (Fin) by Sabrina Macchi (Argentina)
- Final Frontier by Stephen Cervantes (USA/Panama)
- Un Polvo by Renzo Arteaga (Panama)
- Bite! by Danny Arroyo (USA)
- Home For Mom by Emiliana Ammirata (Venezuela)
- Four Women Away From Home (Cuatro Mujeres Lejos de Casa) by Pablo Riesgo (Spain)
- The Fur Day by Camille Sloan (Panama/USA)
- Honey, I’m Home by Gabriela Méndez (Panama)
- A Period Piece by Silvia Ray (US/Mexico)
- Papi Papilloma by Juan Escobedo (USA)
- Venus de Macho by Danny Hastings (USA/Panama)
- Jalisco by Kayden Phoenix (USA)
- To Play With Fire by Gabriela Paciel (USA/Cuba/Mexico)
- The Girl Next Door by Donna Bonilla Wheeler (US/Peru)
- Pozole by Jessica Mendez Siqueiros
- Control/Option/Escape by Gandja Monteiro (US/Brazil)
- Shy & Ketchup by Teresa Romo (Chile)
- Alejandro Busca Ayuda by Rafa Leonard (Panama)
- Kid Miguel (Chico Miguel) by Maximiliano Subiela (Argentina)
- Our Quinceañera by Fanny Véliz (USA)
Tickets for Panafest 2019 are available for purchase on www.eventbrite.com. For more information about The Panamanian International Film Festival in Los Angeles visit www.piffla.com.