Antonio Banderas's Presence Does Not Make It A Latino Film

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 21, 2006 5:00PM

It’s been a sad state of affairs at movie theaters over the past couple of weekends. When the top 5 is filled with Scary Movie 4, Benchwarmers and Take The Lead, you know something is horribly wrong. But this weekend, things are looking up. Chicagoist is excited about American Dreamz and The Sentinel (co-starring our man-crush Kiefer Sutherland) as well as this weekend’s 22nd Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival.

The first Chicago Latino Film Festival screened on a concrete wall. Since then, the fest has moved into actual theaters and is now the largest Latino film fest in the nation. The fest runs through May 3rd and will screen almost 100 films with over 70 visiting filmmakers from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal as well as the United States.

There are a few special programs during the fest and as usual, one features a Chicago focus. While the Chicago Connection program offers a historical look at Latino radio in the city (Radio Increible!), a morality tale on the concepts of death and religion (El Evangelista), and motherhood (Por Amor), we’re very base. So we’re putting down Night Fangs, a tale of vampiric lesbians, as our must-see pick.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for students and can be purchased at the venue. Films will be screened at Facets, the Gene Siskel Film Center, and the Landmark. Synopses and a schedule of all events are available at the Chicago Latino Film Festival website.