San Antonio’s CineFestival Celebrates its 45th year Under the Leadership of Eugenio del Bosque

San Antonio’s CineFestival Celebrates its 45th year Under the Leadership of Eugenio del Bosque

San Antonio is set to stage the 45th edition of CineFestival – the oldest Latino film festival in the nation. Albeit, this year’s event will not take place in its usual location, the historic Guadalupe Theater located on the West Side due to ongoing renovations. The film screenings have been moved to the Carver Community Cultural Center and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Park North.

Eugenio del Bosque, who took the reins of the festival four years ago, will be leading it once again. He joined the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in 2020 as a grants manager and director of the festival, and amidst the pandemic cancellation in the same year, he continued with the vision of showcasing Latino films across the U.S. and Latin America under his guidance.

Local and Regional Focus

Since del Bosque’s tenure began, the CineFestival has redirected its focus onto regional and local filmmaking, allowing for a more tailored view into the vast and diverse Latino culture. This approach, although initially met with skepticism due to concerns over attracting larger audiences, has morphed into a successful strategy that has differentiated the festival.

In addition to highlighting local films and smaller projects, del Bosque has decided to feature a select number of films made outside of Texas, to avoid creating an “echo chamber” and to keep the festival connected with the broader film industry. This balance captures the core Latino experience and the various facets of its representation in the filmmaking world.

Defining “Latino film”

An important aspect of structuring the festival’s program involves defining what constitutes a “Latino film”. According to del Bosque, a film is considered to be thematically Latino not only by its content but also if it has a substantial number of Latino artists involved in its production, making it relatable to the Latino experience.

The Opening Night

The 45th Annual CineFestival is set to commence on a softer note, with an opening night featuring free screenings at the Carver. Following these screenings, “Tamale Season,” a local film that is entirely San Antonio-centric, will be premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse for the audience.

Expectations for the Festival

Del Bosque expressed his excitement for the upcoming festival, highlighting that the audience can expect a variety of films they won’t be able to see anywhere else with the possibility of seeing themselves reflected in these stories. For the artists, it offers an opportunity for networking and bonding with their peers. Ultimately, del Bosque envisions the festival as a means to “create a movement and make more things happen for filmmaking in San Antonio.”

Marking its 45th year, the CineFestival promises to once again celebrate the beauty and diversity of Latino culture and its representation in films while creating a unique platform for artists to showcase their work and engage with their community.

For further information visit the Guadalupe’s official website. The 45th Annual CineFestival will take place from July 11 to 14, 2024.

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San Antonio is set to stage the 45th edition of CineFestival - the oldest Latino film festival in the nation. Albeit, this year's event will not take place in its usual location, the historic Guadalupe Theater located on the West Side due to ongoing renovations. The film screenings have been moved to the Carver Community Cultural Center and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Park North.
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