The Hispanx / Latinx Film Festival unveiled a three-day cinematic showcase at UT Dallas, spotlighting screenings of a diverse range of Latin American and Spanish productions spanning numerous genres.
The motion picture gathering – made possible with support of School of Arts, Humanities and Technology (AHT) faculty, The UT Dallas Center for US-Latin America Initiatives (CUSLAI), and Pragda – presented three films available via streaming on March 20 and 21 and screenings of two films at JO 3.516 on March 22.
In September, Assistant Professor Dr. Angela Rodriguez Mooney won a grant from Pragda, a well-known Latin American and Spanish film distributor that specializes in renting movies and film festivals to universities within the United States and abroad.
“The history of Latin American and Spanish cinema is rich, with a diverse range of films that have achieved critical acclaim and popularity not only in Latin America and Spain, but also internationally,” Dr. Mooney said. “There are numerous genres of films produced in those regions, from comedies and dramas to horror and thriller films. They also reflect cultural diversity, with films that explore the diverse regions, languages, and traditions of many countries.”
The grant, sponsored by Pragda, Spain Arts and Culture, and the Secretary for Culture of Spain, offered coverage for up to 40% of the expenses for a maximum of five films chosen from their extensive collection. CUSLAI managed the remaining costs, while the center’s faculty and students actively contributed to the selection of films featured in the festival.
The event was free to the public and incorporated introductions and brief presentations by our affiliated AHT faculty. On March 22, CUSLAI launched the festival with an evening of festivities outside the Jonsson Performance Hall with live music by the Bass Junkies, fresh grilled tacos from the Taco Taxi, signature mezcal concoctions by Zunte Spirits, pop-up tents with community guests, and film-snack-fanfare offerings of popcorn and cotton candy.