Milwaukee has its fair share of film festivals, but too often the foreign language film category groups together Spanish and other language films. For the third year in a row, Marcus Theatres’ CineLatinofestival will dedicate its screens to diverse Spanish-language format films from Mexico to Paraguay – and even more in between.
CineLatino features 15 films dubbed, subtitled and original Spanish-language movies at three Marcus Theatres locations with a variety of special activities that help raise money for the community including local Hispanic health and education efforts. "We like to act local, but think global," notes Marcus Theatres Field Marketing Manager Juan Valenzuela.
Oak Creek's South Shore Cinema was home to the first two years of the festival, but expanded locations now include theatres in Sturtevant and Brookfield. "The Latino community doesn't just exist in Milwaukee," says Valenzuela. "The Latino community in Waukesha is thriving and the Latino community in Racine is thriving, and we're just very fortunate to have locations that can actually serve those audiences out there who we felt are underserved when it comes to cinema."
CineLatino kicks off Wednesday and runs through April 14, and includes a new mobile filmmaker contest called Next Gen Cine. Local filmmaker Marcelo Martinez will lead workshop participants in the basics of mobile filmmaking, including editing, lighting, sound design and videography.
"The point of this workshop is using what you have and also kind of about how restriction can make you more creative," says Martinez. And if there's one lesson he wishes to impart on his students, it's don't be afraid to fail.
"Just keep trying, just keep making films. Even if they come out and you don't want anybody to see them, you made something and that is something to be proud of. Failure is actually the most important thing that can happen," he explains.
Martinez grew up watching films, including Spanish-language films, but he "never really saw [himself] in films."
"It's important to not depend on other people to tell your story, it's important for you to tell your own story and everybody does have that ability with their phone," he notes, "and that's what makes me really excited about leading [the Next Gen Cine workshop]."
Valenzuela adds that showing global films and encouraging the next generation of diverse filmmakers is important not just to expand Marcus Theatres but to show their audiences that they matter.
“It’s not just about growing the business, it’s not just a business opportunity," he says. "It’s about the connection with the community and being authentic, and the recognition that goes along with that.”
