As the profile of Ibero-American cinema, the Spanish- and Portuguese-language films of Latin America, continues to rise on the festival circuit, a strong commitment to experimentation remains in the cinema emanating from the region. First-rate film schools in Cuba, Argentina, and Mexico, among other nations, are producing a new generation of filmmakers who eschew the proliferation of digital techniques, returning to tactical analog modes of production (This program features work made on Video8, Super 8, 16mm, Super 35mm, and VHS). Playing with notions of self-reflexivity and nostalgia, real and imagined, these filmmakers test the boundaries of both narrative and documentary genres. Showcasing the diverse voices of these talented young artists, each of the six films highlight the vision and ingenuity of Ibero-America. These shorts have screened at Cannes, Toronto International Film Festival, and New York Film Festival, along with strong Latin American showcases such as the Morelia, Mar del Plata, Valdivia, and Havana film festivals. Curated by Josh Gardner of Cinema Lamont, Detroit.
Josh Gardner founded Cinema Lamont in 2017, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that fosters cross-cultural understanding through the power of world cinema. Based in Detroit, Cinema Lamont was a winner of a 2017 Detroit Knight Arts Challenge and a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Cinema Lamont’s preeminent program is Cine Mexico Now, an annual festival of contemporary Mexican cinema. Gardner has also contributed to Intellect’s Directory of World Cinema: Argentina 2 and is a film festival correspondent for Cinema Tropical’s TropicalFRONT. He was formerly the Associate Film Programmer & Public Relations Manager at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre in Washington, DC. There, he organized the AFI Latin American Film Festival, DC Caribbean Film Fest, and the New African Film Festival.