Speaking Spanish on the silver screen

Marlborough rolled out la alfombra roja for cultural learning at the opening night of Marlborough’s first Latin America and Spain Film Festival.

Chilean Consul in New Zealand Maria Alejandra Farias Munoz joined a full house at Connect Blenheim for the first film, the historical family documentary Beyond My Grandfather Allende.

The film was directed by the granddaughter of the former Chilean president on the 50^th anniversary of Pinochet’s coup d’etat.

Films from Spain, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, and Mexico screened throughout the four-day festival, stretching from children’s animation film Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon, political and legal thriller Argentina 1985 and the Peruvian dark comedy Las Mejores Familias.

Consul Munoz says the nationwide festival had great support and was pleased to see it expand to another area of New Zealand with plenty of Spanish speakers.

“The credit goes to the volunteers in every venue that put in hard work to be able to present the festival and present our culture to not only Spanish speakers but anyone eager to learn.

“We chose ‘Beyond My Grandfather Allende’ because of how privately the documentary reaches into Chilean history, and I’m always surprised at how knowledgeable New Zealand is about the history of Chile.

“From my point of view this festival brings together all of the Spanish-speaking embassies to work together which is great to see too.”

Marlborough Multicultural Centre Chairwoman Matilde Figuracion was pleased to be able to bring films of different cultures to an eager audience in Blenheim.

“New Zealand has a love of film whether its watching or making them, and we share similarities and nuances between filmmakers from across different languages.

“Films are a great way to create intercultural connections, and each of these films make people think and consider how similar we all really are.”

Opening night guests were greeted by a traditional Easter Island/Rapa Nui performance Marcelo Gonzalez and Monse Reyes, and a short film from Spanish born Blenheim resident Vanessa Martinez, Living Abroad.

“Films present culture and personality like no other, and it allows many of us to reconnect with our culture’s stories as well as share with others”, said Vanessa.

Marlborough District Councillor, and former MMC Manager, Deborah Dalliessi and Community Partnerships Advisor Jodie Griffiths were at the festival.

Events like the Latin America and Spain Film Festival were a great way to create more cultural wealth, Deborah explains.

“The more we can create a cultural wealth of new events … and finding new ways to create cross-cultural connections, the better."

“Being able to provide opportunities to showcase our vibrant, colourful community in its entirety is a major goal of our new contestable Community Grants and having such a successful night to kick off our first grant recipient’s event is great to see”, agreed Jodie.