Latin American film festival in Dulwich Park to celebrate inclusion and diversity in film

By Frank Pachas

A Latin American film festival promises to challenge the invisibility the Latino community faces in London.

Non-profit organisation South Social Film Festival (SSFF) is launching Identities – a Latin American festival with a selection of independent short films, dance, music and regional cuisine at Dulwich Park.

The festival, which will take place on July 24 and 25, will pay special tribute to Latinx women, LGBT community, immigrants, black, indigenous and people of colour.

SSFF founder and director Paola Melli, 58, from Thurlow Park road in West Dulwich, said: “We’re excited to be able to launch Identities.

“Our festival is built around the concept of inclusion and celebrating diverse emerging talent from every corner of the world.”

SSFF will be an opportunity to welcome audiences and communities so they can engage with new art and fresh perspectives.

London-based Latino Filmmakers, Victor Fraga, Laura Plancarte, and Adelaida Monguillot, will participate in a special showcase with live Q&A.

Brazilian director and journalist Victor Fraga, 43, from Maitland Park Road in Camden, will present his documentary teaser, which will premiere in Cuba once it is ready.

His Anglo-Brazilian documentary the Coup D’Etat Factory will denounce long traditions of coups and media manipulation in Brazil and how this model is being spread to other countries.

Mr Fraga has been a London resident since 1997 and runs a company called Dirty Movies, which is a platform for provoking cinema

He said: “I am really thrilled Paola has given us a platform to showcase our art and talk about politics.

“Our current Brazilian government is a monster created by the media. We draw a lot of parallels with other Latin American countries, and with the UK as well.

“The UK doesn’t have a tradition of coups, but there’s a history of media manipulation. Like in Brazil, the UK media belong to millionaires who are very antagonistic towards the left wing.”

Mexican Filmmaker Laura Plancarte, 47, who lives in Hammersmith, will present The Mexican Dream, her new feature film about the real life of a Mexican domestic worker.

Ms Plancarte confessed her making of the film challenged her own perspectives of happiness as the documentary shows a woman who finds happiness despite her difficult job and life in Mexico.

Ms Plancarte, who has showcased three previous films in Britain and Europe, said: “The documentary opens questions about what is happiness. Is it a choice we make? Is it an attitude? What makes you happy?”

Argentine director Adelaida Monguillot will present La Estación (The Station), based on Waterloo Station, a poem and paintings by Andrew Johnston Davies.

Ms Monguillot, 50, who lives in central London, said: “The festival is a great opportunity to meet and reconnect with London’s diversity that has been challenged with the pandemic.”

SSFF will kick off at 5pm with food stalls and drinks, followed by children activities, plus Latin American dance workshops and it will finish with an audience award at 10.30pm.

Tickets are £35 with discounts for concessions. For more information visit: https://www.southsocialfilmfestival.co.uk/

Pictured top: Laura Plancarte