FREE
EVENT
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RATED 18+
15
LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL IN AUSTRALIA
Dear Cinema Lover,
Now in its 15th consecutive year, the Latin American Film Festival in Australia (LAFF) returns with a selection of 14 movies representing Latin America at its finest. The Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay have partnered once again to bring the biggest festival of its kind to cities throughout the country.
Latin American cinema, a source of great talent, vivid colours and rich stories, is still underrepresented in Australian screens. LAFF provides an opportunity to reach the Australian public through the universal language of film. Furthermore, in keeping with the spirit of LAFF as a not-for-profit event, all of our screenings are free of charge and open to all members of the public.
In many cities, the opening of LAFF is an opportunity to bring the community together with Latino-flavoured events, and to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of Latin American communities to Australian multiculturalism. As a vibrant region with growing ties to Australia, we rely on cinema to remind us of our shared love of stories and our common humanity. We believe cinema is one of our best tools to foster mutual knowledge and awareness.
LAFF receives the very generous support of the Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR), as well as our numerous sponsors throughout Australia, including universities, clubs, and members of the Latin American communities and their friends.
We thank each and every one of them for making the festival possible.
FOREWORD
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Colleagues from the Australian government,
Heads of missions in Canberra,
Members of the ANU community,
Dear cinema lovers,
It is with great satisfaction that the Latin American Embassies in Canberra
bring once again to the Australian public a selection of movies from the Latin
American cinema. In its 15th edition, the Latin American Film Festival confirms
its role in the cultural scene in Australia: bring to this country movies that will
depict our region, our peoples, our traditions and our societies.
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In the last 15 years, the Latin American film Festival has maintained its main feature of a non-profit event that creates bridges between Australian and Latin American, thanks to the generous efforts from the Latin American embassies in Canberra and also the federal government of Australia, through the Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR).
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On behalf of the Latin American Embassies in Canberra, I am particularly glad to open the festival this year. May I introduce you to the work of this young Brazilian director, Julia Rezende. With “Como é Cruel Viver Assim” (or “how cruel it is to live like this”), Julia presents us with characters who are unable to do anything that makes sense of their impoverished and aimless lives. Basically, everything these characters want can be summed up in one word: acknowledgement, recognition.
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The accurate creation of the characters only makes it clear the struggles that a large portion of the population faces, living hand to mouth. If the characters' socioeconomic profile is something to cry about, the sequence of pathetic actions taken by them, on the other hand, guarantees good laughter.
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“Como é Cruel Viver Assim” is almost a theater on screen. Famous for her previous comedies, Julia surprises us by opting for a nervous camera that constantly brings us closer to her characters and opens a window to observe the tragic dimension proper to those who are constantly forgotten by society. As the film addresses issues such as ethics, morals, self-esteem, hope and violence, it invites us to reflect upon the lack of perspectives so common among human beings.
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Thank you all very much for coming tonight to the ANU to celebrate with us the excellence of Latin American cinema and experience the challenges and the beauties of our region.
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Cordially,
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H.E. Sérgio Eduardo Moreira Lima
Ambassador
Embassy of Brazil in Australia
