“The mission of Cine Las Americas is to promote cross-cultural understanding and growth by educating, entertaining and challenging the diverse Central Texas community through film and media arts.”

These words are like samba music to the ears of NAICA. Maybe that is because the words “promote cross-cultural understanding and growth by educating” are tattooed on our arms. Literally. Just wait till short-sleeve weather starts breaking through the rain. (Maria also has a tat of Val Kilmer ’s face - but that’s another story.)

What makes the Austin-based Latin American film festival, Cine Las Americas, so unique? For starters, it is not simply a “Latin American” film festival. The indigenous component of Cine does not only reflect the intrinsic ties between Latin American countries and their indigenous populations but has grown to encompass US and Canadian aboriginal films as well with this year’s roster including Zacharias Kunuk’s much-lauded film, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen

Although Cine has been called a “highly politicized” film festival, NAICA likes to think of it as timely response to not only the dynamics of Latin American societies here in the US and abroad, but also the role that Indigenous cultures play in the ever-changing cultural climates that are our Americas.

What started out as a retrospective on Cuban filmmaking ten years ago has blossomed into a multi-faceted non-profit organization which not only cultivates an intimate and intricately programmed film festival each year but also facilitates filmmaking and educational programs throughout Austin and its surrounding communities.

Cine Las Americas gracefully negotiates the sometimes tight spaces between Latin, Anglo and Indigenous cultures in the Americas and reminds us all that a little cross-cultural dialogue never hurt anybody.

photo Maria Colon

Want to learn more about Cine Las Americas? Check out the following podcast with the Executive Director, Eugenio Del Bosque (above photo). And visit their website at www.cinelasamericas.org.