Tag: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Film, Family, and Frida: What’s New at the 46th CineFestival San Antonio

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center announces the 46th CineFestival San Antonio. Photo: CineFestival San Antonio, used with permission.

🎬 46th CineFestival San Antonio: A Celebration of Latinx Film, Music & Culture

July 9–13, 2025 | Multiple Venues Across San Antonio

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is thrilled to unveil the full program for the 46th annual CineFestival San Antonio, taking place July 9–13, 2025. As the city’s original and longest-running Latinx film festival, CineFestival promises a vibrant showcase of stories that reflect the diverse cultural tapestry of San Antonio, Texas, and the Latinx experience in the U.S. and beyond. (CineFestival San Antonio, 2025)

👉 Full schedule, festival passes, and tickets available online.

⚠️ Please Note: Due to mature content and unrated films, parental discretion is advised. All non-English films include English subtitles. Programming and times subject to change.

📍 Screening Venues

Hosted by the Carver Community Cultural Center, the festival will span four iconic locations across the city:

  • Little Carver Civic Center, 226 N Hackberry St
  • Jo Long Theatre, 226 N Hackberry St
  • Santikos Mayan Palace, 1918 SW Military Dr
  • SAY Sí, 1310 S. Brazos St

🎥 Festival Highlights

With 95 films on the lineup—including 12 features and over 25 screenings of short films—this year’s festival is an expansive tribute to Latinx voices in cinema.

  • 33 films by San Antonio-based artists
  • 38 films produced in or connected to Texas
  • 16 films nominated for the Mesquite Award for Best Texas Short Film

🌟 Headlining Documentaries

Two highly anticipated documentaries will lead this year’s program:

  • Selena y Los Dinos, directed by CineFestival alumna Isabel Castro, tells the story of the Queen of Tejano Music through never-before-seen footage. Produced in collaboration with Selena’s siblings, the film will premiere with Castro and some cast members in attendance.
  • Take It Away, by Adrian Alejandro Arredondo and Myrna Perez, follows the life and legacy of beloved Tejano music host Johnny Canales, whose show introduced legends like Selena and Ramon Ayala to mainstream audiences.

“At CineFestival, we share the pride that Selena y Los Dinos brought to Mexican American communities of Texas and beyond.” – Eugenio del Bosque, Festival Director

🎬 Featured Films

Here are some of the standout features included in the 2025 program:

  • Carnalismo (dir. José Luis Cano) – A vibrant film exploring cumbias, lowriders, and brotherhood in Durango, Mexico.
  • Hola Frida (dir. André Kadi & Karine Vézina) – An animated journey into the whimsical early life of Frida Kahlo.
  • Prodigal Daughter (dir. Mabel Valdiviezo) – A deeply personal documentary on family, immigration, and healing.
  • Spring of the Vanishing (dir. Andrew Glazer) – A chilling look into the crisis of disappearances along the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • The Ladder (dir. Emilio Miguel Torres) – A poetic sci-fi tale exploring age, ethics, and reinvention.
  • The Place In Between (dir. Laura Perez) – A San Antonio-shot road trip dramedy about grief, reconnection, and unexpected bonds.
  • Uvalde Mom (dir. Anayansi Prado) – A gripping portrayal of a mother’s courageous act during a tragedy that shocked the nation.
  • Valentina or the Serenity (dir. Ángeles Cruz) – A poignant story of Indigenous resilience and childhood love.

🏆 Texas and San Antonio Showcases

  • Mesquite Award Nominees: 16 Texas short films (13 narratives, 3 documentaries) showcasing local talent.
  • Vistas de San Antonio: Featuring My Rocking Chair by Alejandro Aldana and 17 shorts made by students and local creatives from Northwest Vista College, St. Mary’s University, UIW, and UTSA.
  • Texas Showcase: 15 short films from across the state, reflecting the bold and fresh perspectives of emerging filmmakers.

🎞️ Shorts & Youth Films

The festival also proudly presents:

  • U.S. Latinx Shorts Program – A diverse slate of award-winning and thematically rich short films by Latinx creators nationwide.
  • Youth Films – Projects by filmmakers aged 18 and under, representing schools and media programs in San Antonio, Texas, and neighboring states.

🤝 Supported By

The 46th CineFestival San Antonio is made possible with generous support from:

City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture,
San Antonio Film Commission,
Texas Commission on the Arts,
National Endowment for the Arts,
The Ford Foundation,
San Antonio Area Foundation,
H-E-B, and AARP.

🎟️ Don’t miss this landmark celebration of Latinx stories on screen!
Get your passes and explore the full lineup today:
👉 CineFestival San Antonio

Photo: CineFestival San Antonio, used with permission.
Photo: CineFestival San Antonio, used with permission.

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center announces partnership with SAY Sí

Both groups will present an intense four week theatrical workshop in June for San Antonio area youth. Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s youth theater company Grupo Animo will collaborate this summer with Teatro ALAS, the youth theater company of SAY Sí. Both youth groups will form to present an intense four-week theatrical workshop that will lead to an original play written by the students. This unique collaboration is offered to students between the ages of 13 and 18 at no cost. (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2024)

Due to the pending renovations of the historic Guadalupe Theater, classes will take place at SAY Sí, 1310 S. Brazos, San Antonio, TX 78207, June 3 to 28, 2024, Monday through Friday from noon to 5p.m. with a final performance on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 7p.m. SAY Sí is located down the block from the historic Guadalupe Theater.

“These two westside youth theatre troupes have an amazing opportunity to share their methods and creative voices as well as celebrate solidarity in this collaboration.” – Amalia Ortiz Teatro ALAS Studio Director

“In light of recent events across the world, it’s imperative that we empower students to harness their innate abilities, fostering creative expression and collaborative engagement to articulate their perspectives and emotions regarding the world around them. Grupo Animo is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment where all members feel welcome, regardless of race, gender, economic background, or sexual orientation. We recognize the transformative power of Chicano, Latino, and Native American arts and culture in reshaping our perceptions of the world.” – Jorge Piña, Guadalupe Theater Arts Director

Grupo Animo is the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s resident youth theater company, founded in 1993 and consisting of youth (ages 13-18) from all backgrounds and areas of San Antonio, and Bexar County. Under the mentorship of professional teaching artists and directors, Grupo Animo company members are guided through a four-week summer theater experience, allowing them a platform to make their voice heard through thought-provoking, engaging and culturally relevant, performance-based Teatro/Theatre.

Grupo Animo’s mission is to use Teatro/Theatre to instill an understanding of the value of culture, creativity, and community.

SAY Sí is a national award-winning year-round, long-term, nonprofit arts-based youth development program for San Antonio area students in grades 6 through 12 that provides opportunities for these students to develop artistic and social skills in preparation for higher educational advancement and professional careers. SAY Sí programs serve over 200 students from all of San Antonio’s school districts and has an active public schedule of art events. SAY Sí accepts diverse students from all areas of San Antonio, but first priority is given to students from low economic households.

Teatro ALAS (Activating Leadership, Art & Service) operates as a collaborative ensemble known as the ALAS Youth Theatre Company. Committed to the creation of new and original performance work by, for and about San Antonio youth, ALAS challenges students to draw from their own experiences, observations, and insights to produce theatre of relevance to their lives and their communities. Emphasizing leadership skills and civic engagement, ALAS creates work that addresses community needs and concerns, challenges prejudices and social injustice, and celebrates diversity and difference.

Grupo Animo and Teatro ALAS’ goal at the end of the program is to teach students basic history and practice of Teatro/Theatre, acting, teamwork, poetry, creative writing, movement and performance. The summer program will culminate with a student showcase created and performed by the student members.

Grupo Animo instructors include Clint Taylor and Sarah Tijerina.
Teatro ALAS instructors include Lilith Tijerina and Solstiz Ibarra-Campos.

DATES: June 3 to 28, 2024
TIME: Noon to 5p.m.
LOCATION: SAY Sí, 1310 S. Brazos, San Antonio, TX 78207
PHONE: SAY Sí – (210) 201-4950
PHONE: GCAC – (210) 271-3151

To register for this summer’s production, please visit Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The deadline to RSVP is June 1, 2024.

Grupo Animo Class of 2023. Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, used with permission.

Tickets on sale now for 42nd annual Tejano Conjunto Festival

The legendary festival to feature the best in Tejano Conjunto music. Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Tickets are on sale now for the 42nd Tejano Conjunto Festival (TCF) en San Antonio, May 15-May 19, the first and longest-running conjunto festival in the country. It is internationally recognized as the most influential event for this beloved South Texas musical tradition. TCF will encompass five robust days of live performances and dancing, including a special Seniors Dance and Conjunto Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2024)

The free Seniors Dance will be held on Wednesday, May 15, for seniors ages 55 and older with music from Los Hermanos DeLeón and Felipe Perez y sus Polkeros. The Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, May 16, will feature a special dinner and dance. It will showcase esteemed Hall of Fame inductees from previous years including Bene Medina y su Conjunto Águila, Eddie “Lalo” Torres, Boni Mauricio y Los Máximos, Ruben Garza y La Nueva Era, and Santiago Jimenez. Jr., who has been nominated for three Grammys. Both the Seniors Dance and the Hall of Fame event will take place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9186, 650 VFW Blvd, and are co-sponsored by KEDA Radio.

The main weekend line-up for the 42nd Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival at Rosedale Park, 303 Dartmouth St, will feature three days of the best in conjunto music from Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, 2024.

On Friday, May 17, the Festival kicks off with Conjuntazzo with Joel & Sarah, Los D Boys, Gilberto Pérez Jr. y su Conjunto, Los Conjunto Kings de Flavio Longoria, David Flores y Los Tremendos Alacranes, and Los Desperadoz.

On Saturday May 18, the festival features student conjuntos from Rio Grande Valley, Retoño, J.R. Gómez y Los Conjunto Bandits, Mando y La Venganza, Conjunto Prestigio, Bernardo y sus Compadres, Impozzible, Los Tellez, Los Monarcas de Pete y Mario Díaz, Ruben de la Cruz, Los Cucuys de Rodney Rodriguez, and Lázaro Pérez y su Conjunto.

On Sunday, May 19, the Tejano Conjunto Festival starts with student conjuntos from San Antonio and then closes out with the Texas Sweethearts, Linda Escobar, Susan Torres y Conjunto Los Pinkys, Cindy Ramos y su Conjunto, Los Delta Boyz, Santiago Garza y la Naturaleza, Eva Ybarra y su Conjunto Siempre, Los Texmaniacs with Flaco Jimenez, and Los Fantasmas del Valle.

Prepare for an unforgettable experience as these legendary performers ignite the stage with their mesmerizing melodies and infectious rhythms.

The festival draws an enthusiastic  audience of more than 10,000 fans, dancers, and musicians from across Texas and the United States, as well as Mexico, Europe, and Asia. The crowd has grown over the years to include legions of fans who return each year to dance and celebrate Conjunto culture. The Tejano Conjunto Festival has become a model for many other Conjunto festivals that have appeared since it started in 1982, and is credited with highlighting the singular music and culture of South Texas Tejanos. This year’s events will be held at Rosedale Park (303 Dartmouth St) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9186 (650 VFW Blvd). Tickets and sponsorship packages are now available.

TCF is one of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s most beloved annual events. Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Executive Director, Cristina Ball is the director, Dan Margolies is the producer. It was founded by Juan Tejeda, the first Xicano Music Program Director of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, who continues to serve as an advisor. 

“Celebrating the Tejano Conjunto Festival is a vibrant tribute to the heartbeat of San Antonio’s and South Texas’ rich cultural landscape encompassing music, dance and community spirit. Like the soulful melodies of conjunto music, this festival resonates as a beacon of Tejano and Chicano heritage, unity, and empowerment, echoing through generations with enduring strength and resonance.” – Juan Tejeda, the first Xicano Music Program Director of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and founder of the Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio

“This year’s festival holds the promise of an unforgettable celebration,  shining a spotlight on the rich traditions of Tejano and conjunto music. We’re looking forward to creating lasting memories at this remarkable event.” – Cristina Ballí, Executive Director at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary organization. Located in the heart of San Antonio’s westside, the Guadalupe is one of the largest community-based organizations in the US with the mission to cultivate, promote and preserve traditional and contemporary Chicano, Latino, and Native American arts and culture through multidisciplinary programming.

2024 Official Poster. Poster Overall Contest Winner Designed by San Antonio native Anna Arce

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s 43rd annual CineFestival

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center announces the 43rd annual CineFestival at the historic Guadalupe Theater. Photo: google

San Antonio’s original Latinx film festival returns on July 6 through July 10 at the historic Guadalupe Theater with a large Texas filmmaker presence. Featuring 85 films, including 22 films from San Antonio and 24 films in the Lone Star State, CineFestival San Antonio continues to support local and regional filmmakers while offering a well-rounded program to local audiences that also includes national and international films that highlight artistic excellence and diversity. (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2022)

“The amazing response that CineFestival San Antonio got this year to our call for entries, receiving a record number of submissions from filmmakers from across the State and the US, local and international, is a testament to the privileged position San Antonio has as a cultural hub, bridging the cultures of South Texas and the state’s borderlands with the rest of Texas and beyond. This response means focusing the film festival in local and regional works while reflecting artistic excellence in Latinx and indigenous filmmaking is the right path for a festival with such an amazing history to continue in a relevant trajectory that is meaningful to both audiences and participating artists.” – CineFestival Programmer Eugenio del Bosque.

The 43rd annual CineFestival San Antonio will feature 24 screenings showcasing 12 feature films and 73 short films. The festival will open on July 6 with the San Antonio premiere of PEPE SERNA, LIFE IS ART (Dir. Luis Reyes, 2022), a joyous look at the life and work of groundbreaking Mexican-American character actor Pepe Serna, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas whose hundred-plus charismatic scene-stealing roles paved the way for generations of Chicanx actors in Hollywood and beyond. 

The closing night film will be the world premiere of ‘Cuerpo,” directed by San Antonio’s own Mark Zuñiga, an ambitious horror film set in 18th century San Antonio exploring the culture and clashes between the Spanish colonists and the indigenous people they are trying to convert; a recipient of the San Antonio Film Commission’s local filmmaker grant, “Cuerpo” is a passion project produced and shot in the San Antonio area with local cast, crew, and an original score. 

Other feature films include:  

  • World premiere of the comedy “An Awesome Action Movie,” directed by Luis Antonio Rodriguez and shot in McAllen, Texas, and starring veteran Mexican actor Hector Soberón;
  • Sundance acclaimed documentary “Mija” by Isabel Castro;
  • Mexico’s powerful documentary “Comala” by Gian Cassini, which has strong ties to San Antonio;
  • “A Run for More” by Ray Whitehouse, which follows Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe as the first trans woman to run for city council in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas;
  • SXSW laureate Iliana Sosa’s “What We Leave Behind,” a love letter to the El Paso native director’s grandfather and an intimate and insightful exploration of her own relationship with him and his homeland;
  • The social justice horror film “Madres” by Ryan Zaragoza, co-written by San Antonio native Marcella Ochoa who will be in attendance and will also offer a master class for registered filmmakers.
  • “Jockey” by Clint Bentley, featuring an award-winning performance by Mexican-American thespian Clifton Collin’s Jr., grandson of Aguilares, Texas native character actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, most famous for his humorous sidekick roles in 1950s and 1960s John Wayne westerns.
  • “Earth Mother,” directed by Austin’s Brandon Polanco and starring San Antonio’s Annette Mia Flores.
  • “Capitol Barbie” by New Mexico native Riley Del Rey is a TV pilot, and a new programming line for CineFestival. A political show about a translatina on Capitol Hill, “Capitol Barbie” deals with delicate and socially pertinent themes, raising questions and opening conversations around racism, homophobia, and transphobia in the work place. The screenplay is written by trans and indigenous filmmakers Riley Del Rey and Violet Martinez.

The Mezquite Awards will be bestowed in two main categories: Audience Awards for the public’s favorite feature film and Jury Awards for Best Texas Short Film. A panel of industry professionals will be part of this year’s festival jury, who will choose the jury award-winning documentary and narrative films from a collection of 14 short films made in Texas, including works from Austin, Buda, Denton, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio. 

The ever-popular San Antonio showcase will featuring eight short films made by local artists, including works made by Nathaniel Avila, Guillermina Zabala, Esmeralda Hernandez, Ái Vuong, Samuel Díaz Fernández, Lisa Salinas Sosa, Miguel Contreras IV, Raymond Ramos, and Violeta de León Dávila. 

43 CineFestival San Antonio will offer ten free screenings, including Family Day with the Texas premiere of “Ainbo, Spirit of the Amazon” by Richard Claus and Jose Zelada, a US-Peruvian animated feature in the spirit of “Moana” and “Frozen;” and Senior Cinema, featuring an exclusive reprise screening of the documentary “Pepe Serna: Life is Art” dedicated to San Antonio’s elderly film lovers.

Free screenings will also include short film showcases including the Texas short film showcase featuring works from Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Greenville, El Paso; a selection of international short films from Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Spain, and Venezuela; a collection of short films showcasing Latinx and indigenous talent from around the US; and the always eye-opening Youth Day screenings, featuring films made by artists 18 years old or younger which includes works made in San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley, Dallas, Arizona, Connecticut, Peru, and Spain. 

All 43 CineFesitval San Antonio screenings will take place at the historic Guadalupe Theater, located at 1301 Guadalupe Street, San Antonio, TX 78207. Full festival schedule and tickets are available online. Individual tickets are $8 and festival passes are $40. The 43 CineFestival San Antonio is made possible thanks to the continuing support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the San Antonio Film Commission, the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, and the Ford Foundation. 

 

Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, used with permission.

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center announces Groupo Animo 2022 summer theater camp

Grupo Animo members Class of 2019: ‘Youth Nation Network.’ Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, used with permission.

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center announces Grupo Animo 2022, a summer theater camp for students between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. This three-week theatrical camp is at no cost to students and will take place at the historic Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St, from July 5 to 22, 2022. Camp will take place Monday through Friday from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Its summer program will culminate with a student showcase created and performed by Grupo Animo company members on Saturday, July 23 at 7p.m. (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2022)  

Grupo Animo is the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s resident youth theater company consisting of youth (ages 13-18) members from all backgrounds and areas of San Antonio and beyond. Under the mentorship of professional teaching artists and directors, Grupo Animo’s company members are guided through a three-week summer theater experience, allowing youth a platform to make their voices heard through thought-provoking, engaging, and culturally relevant, performance-based Teatro.  

“It is critical, even more so now in light of recent events in Uvalde, that students are taught to use their natural talents to creatively express themselves, working cooperatively to share their thoughts and feelings about the world they live in. We strive to provide a safe space for our members to feel comfortable no matter what race, sex, economic background, or sexual orientation. Lastly, we understand that through Chicano, Latino, and Native American arts and culture, we can revolutionize how we imagine the world.”  – Jorge Piña, Guadalupe Theater Manager.

Founded in 1993, Grupo Animo’s mission is to use teatro/theatre to instill an understanding of the value of culture, creativity, and community. Grupo Animo’s goal at the end of the program is to have taught students basic history and practice of teatro/theatre, acting, teamwork, poetry, creative writing, movement, and videography.

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center presents ‘Interview With a Mexican!’

‘Interview With a Mexican!’ is scheduled for May 6 and 7 at the Guadalupe Theater. Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, used with permission.

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center proudly presents ‘Interview With A Mexican!,’ scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, 2022 at the historic Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., San Antonio. The performance begins at 8p.m. with general admission tickets for $12. ‘Interview With A Mexican!’ is a touring production by Denver-based Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center.  (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2022)

‘Interview With A Mexican!’ is an original play by Su Teatro Executive Artistic Director and resident playwright Anthony J. Garcia. It was inspired by Gustavo Arellano’s column ‘Ask a Mexican’ using satire, humor, and political incorrectness to examine stereotypes, anti-immigration politics, and misconceptions outsiders hold about Mexican culture.

“We at Su Teatro are so excited to bring this explosive and humorous play to the Westside of San Antonio,” said Garcia. “The last time we performed at the Teatro Guadalupe was in the early 1990s,” he added. “Su Teatro’s work and contribution to theater is widely recognized,” said Guadalupe Theater Manager Jorge Piña. “I am very honored Su Teatro is returning to the Guadalupe stage.” 

The production is made possible with support from the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture and the National Performance Network.

Su Teatro is one of the oldest Chicano theater companies in the United States and is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary. The company has established a national reputation for home-grown productions that speak to the history and experience of Chicanos. Garcia has created over forty original plays and adaptations. Su Teatro develops work focused on demystifying the Chicano identity and celebrating the experiences, history, language, and culture of Chicanos, Mexicanos, and Latinos throughout the Americas. They have performed throughout the country along with more than thirty theatrical seasons at their own cultural and performing arts center in Denver.

‘Carmen From Mexico’ returns to the Guadalupe Theater

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Teatro Salon announces the return of ‘Carmen From Mexico’ this April 15 and 16. Photo: Anthony Garcia, used with permission.

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Teatro Salon proudly announces the return of Anna De Luna’s original solo performance of ‘Carmen From Mexico.’ Scheduled for April 15 and 16, 2022 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., curtain is at 8 p.m. with general admission of $12. ‘Carmen From Mexico’ was presented as a world premiere at the historic Guadalupe Theater in 2021 to sold out audiences. Tickets are available here. Teatro Salon is a project of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center that showcases and helps develop new work by theater artists. (Teatro Salon, 2022)

‘Carmen From Mexico’ is an original solo multimedia play with live musical accompaniment that reflects the playwright’s own personal family history of her mother’s “illegal” immigration from Mexico to South Texas. Playwright Anna De Luna portrays her mother Carmen (in several stages of her youth) in this powerful true story of survival, struggle and yet sometimes comical experiences of adapting to South Texas racism and prejudices.

“We are so excited to bring back Anna De Luna’s wonderful and powerful one-woman show, and especially thrilled knowing that our production of Carmen From Mexico has been selected to tour the stage of Denver’s own Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center scheduled for April 22 and 23, 2022.” – Jorge Piña, Guadalupe Theater Manager.

“I am so honored to back at the Guadalupe Theater stage, having presented this production as a world premiere at this historic theater last year.” – Anna De Luna.

De Luna has performed in various leading roles at the Guadalupe Theater and Jump-Start Performance Company.  She also appeared at the Public Theater in ‘Anna In The Tropics,’ for which she received the San Antonio Globe Award for Best Actress.  She produced her original solo plays ‘Chicana Atheist,’ ‘The AIDS Lady,’ and ‘My Arab Fall’ with sustaining success.  In 2016 De Luna was selected Creative of the Month by the City of San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development.  ’Carmen from Mexico’ was first presented as a short 20-minute work-in-progress at the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival in 2018 and at Jump-Start Performance Company in 2019.

Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, used with permission.

41st Annual CineFestival

cine19
Courtesy photo, used with permission. 

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center recently announced the official film lineup for the nonprofit’s 41st Annual CineFestival sponsored by the San Antonio Film Commission. This year’s festival will take place Thursday July 11 through Sunday July 14 with the theme ‘Frontera in Focus.’ Of the films featured in this year’s lineup, 30 of the films were shot in Texas or directed by Texas filmmakers with 17 of the films directed by San Antonio filmmakers or shot in San Antonio. The four-day Latino film festival will feature 42 films from Latino artists, including the Texas premiere of Phoenix, Oregon, starring San Antonio native Jesse Borrego. Now celebrating its 41st year, CineFestival is the longest running Latino film festival in the country. Festival details and schedules are available online. (Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 2019)

‘The Infiltrators,’ directed by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, will open the festival on July 11 at the Guadalupe Theater. The festival’s opening night will serve as the South Texas premiere for the film, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the NEXT Innovator Award. The Infiltrators tells the true story of young immigrants who get arrested by the Border Patrol and put in a shadowy for-profit detention center on purpose. Marco and Viri are members of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, a group of radical Dreamers who are on a mission to stop deportations. The best place to stop deportations, they believe, is in detention. When Marco and Viri try to pull off their heist, a kind of “prison break” in reverse, things don’t go according to plan. By weaving together documentary footage of the real infiltrators with scripted re-enactments of the events inside the detention center, ‘The Infiltrators’ tells this incredible true story in a boundary-crossing new cinematic language.

‘Premature,’ directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green, will close out the festival on July 14 at the Guadalupe Theater. The critically acclaimed film follows Ayanna, who is making the most out of her last summer in Harlem before heading to college. She is bold, confident and not really looking for love, until she meets the slightly older Isaiah. After one of those rare first dates that last for hours, she knows there is something different about him. Ayanna has found herself at an intimidating crossroads: one foot is still under her mother’s roof, while the other is primed to step out on her own with Isaiah. ‘Premature’ debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and makes its South Texas premiere at CineFestival.

CineFestival will also feature the Texas premiere of ‘Phoenix, Oregon’ directed by Gary Lundgren on July 13. Starring Jesse Borrego and indie film veterans James Le Gros (Drugstore Cowboy, Living in Oblivion), Diedrich Bader (Napolean Dynamite, Office Space) and Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express, True Romance), ‘Phoenix, Oregon’ takes a comedic look at the existential crisis many face when trying to find meaning and relevancy at midlife.

Tickets can be purchased online. Ticket options include:
• Festival Badge – $50 (Includes all Films)
• Evening Film Tickets – $10
• Daytime Film Tickets – $8
• After Parties Admission – Free (beverages available by donation)

Guadalupe Theater
1301 Guadalupe Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
(210) 271-3151