Founded in 2002 by Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, the Tribeca Film Festival not only set out to celebrate the art of filmmaking in New York City, but also to help revive the lower Manhattan neighborhood of Tribeca in the post-September 11th era. Starting at 150,000 attendees in its first year to drawing over 450,000 in 2015, the diverse film festival has expanded way beyond the Hudson River to reach others in the international film community—all coming together to celebrate the productions of emerging and established filmmakers from NYC and across the globe.
With the annual fest just around the corner, ‘LLERO brings you the must see Latino films — with productions spanning from Cuba to Argentina — that you should check out at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.
Pelé: Birth of a Legend
From the slums of Brazil to center stage at the world’s biggest sporting event, this biopic chronicles Pelé’s rise to become the youngest-ever World Cup winner, at the age of 17, was nothing short of a miracle. Its got life lessons, heart and even some laughs. In the vein of Straight Outta Compton this inspiring biopic is perfect for introducing a new generation to the greatest soccer player of all time. With Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, Seu Jorge, Colm Meaney.
El Púgil (The Boxer)
Written, directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker, Angel Manuel Soto, El Púgil (which literally means a hand-to-hand combatant in Spanish — or a boxer) tells the come up story of super featherweight, Puerto Rican boxer, Angel “Tito” Acosta. Following Acosta from his humble beginnings in the Barrio Obrero in Santurce to becoming a world champion, the Spanish-language short film shows how a boy who had to quit school because he was too poor to pay tuition found his life’s passion in boxing and used it to get to the top.
Film Showings:
Thurs. 4/21 – 5:45 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-10
Fri. 4/22 – 6:15 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 4
Sat. 4/23 – 11:45 AM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park
El Charro De Toluquilla (The Charro of Toluquilla)
Documenting the everyday life of professional Mariachi singer, Jaime García, The Charro of Toluquilla explores the many facets of the Mexican musician — from wild nights full of women, alcohol and music, to his estranged relationship with his young daughter and her rigidly religious mother. The Spanish-language film — which is written, directed and co-produced by Jose Villalobos Romero — also explores how García leads these two polar opposite lives while also struggling with the fact that he is HIV-positive.
Thurs. 4/14 – 7:30 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-9
Fri. 4/15 – 7:00 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 9
Tues. 4/19 – 4:00 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 9
Thurs. 4/21 – 7:45 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-8
La Cosa Humana (The Human Thing)
Cuban film director, Gerardo Chijona Valdés, brings to Tribeca La Cosa Humana (The Human Thing), which tells the story of low-level crook, Maikel Hernandez (played by Héctor Medina), who breaks into the house of a famous Cuban writer named Justo (played by Vladimir Cruz) and steals what turns out to be a draft to the writer’s upcoming book. After hearing about an upcoming literary competition, Maikel, who is tired of living in debt, decides to submit the stolen manuscript for the contest, but not before making some changes to it as to not give himself away. Unbeknownst to him, though, Justo enters the competition as well.
Fri. 4/15 – 8:00 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-3
Tues. 4/19 – 9:30 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-1
Thurs. 4/21 – 9:45 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 5
Fri. 4/22 – 7:00 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 9
Memories of a Penitent Heart
One of FILMMAKER magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” Cecilia Aldarondo brings us Memories of a Penitent Heart — the story of her uncle, Miguel, who passed away from AIDS. Twenty-five years prior, Miguel moved from Puerto Rico to New York City where he lived as an openly gay man working in theater. Decades after her uncle’s death, using home movies and interviews with family members including Miguel’s former lover, Aldarondo explores the battles Miguel endured — from family drama, the struggles of growing up as a gay Catholic, and his fight with the deadly disease. Memories of a Penitent Heart also delves into the stories of the many Latino artists that perished during the early days of the AIDS epidemic.
Film Showings:
Fri. 4/15 – 7:30 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-9
Sun. 4/17 – 10:00 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 9
Wed. 4/20 – 9:15 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 4
Sat. 4/23 – 5:00 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-3
The Tenth Man (El Rey Del Once)
Daniel Burman’s Spanish-language film, The Tenth Man, depicts the life of an Argentinean Jewish man named Ariel (played by Alan Sabbagh), who after years away is called on by his father to return home to the Jewish neighborhood known as El Once in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ariel’s father is a macher — a very important person — within their community, so growing up it was difficult for Ariel to develop a close bond with his father because he was hardly around due to his many obligations. The Tenth Man explores the complexities of the father-son relationship as it relates to the main character’s religious upbringing.
Fri. 4/15 – 6:15 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-6
Sun. 4/17 – 3:15 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 4
Tues. 4/19 – 3:30 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-1
Wed. 4/20 – 9:30 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 6
Aire Quemado (Winds of Furnace)
Written and directed by Yamil Quintana, Aire Quemado (Winds of Furnace) is a short film following the misadventures of Santiago, Miguel and Antonio, three adolescents from a small community in Mexico scourged by violence from drug trafficking. In a Stand by Me-like storyline, the three friends spend an afternoon joking around and chatting about their life goals while also dealing with the harsh realities that surround them in their day-to-day lives.
Film Showings:
Mon. 4/18 – 8:30 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-4
Wed. 4/20 – 4:30 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-9
Sat. 4/23 – 5:30 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 8