In an event aimed at bringing together filmmakers, community members and organizations to showcase the richness and diversity of Hispanic experiences through film, the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank announced Tuesday that it will hold the inaugural N.J. Hispanic Film Festival from Oct. 4-6.
The festival, a part of Hispanic Heritage Month, is being presented by OceanFirst Bank — with the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey serving as a supporting sponsor.
The festival will show more than 15 films, including:
- “I Carry You with Me” (Audience Choice Winner at Sundance Film Festival 2020, Sony Pictures Classics)
- “Totem” (Academy Award submission, Best International Feature Film, 2023)
- “No” (Sony Pictures Classics)
- “Quinceañera” (Sony Pictures Classics)
- “Your Monster” (Midnight Horror)
- “Nosotros Los Pobres” (Golden Age classic)
- “Encanto” (Walt Disney)
The festival also will feature six international shorts, including two from last year’s Breakthrough Filmmaker Fest — “Con Mis Dedos” and “Subjective Worlds.”
Programming also will showcase family programs, talkbacks and cultural workshops. A panel discussion on Undocu-Filmmaking, led by the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective and industry experts, is scheduled, as well as a panel on Women in Media, led by Doris Martinez, founder and owner of DFez Content Media Management and Latino Circuit TV.
The closing night will feature a concert with Xol Azul Band at the Vogel.
Carlos Medina, CEO of the SHCCNJ, said the event will be impactful.
“I am deeply passionate about diverse storytelling, particularly stories that reflect the Hispanic and Latin American communities,” he said. “These are stories of perseverance, courage and resilience that resonate with both Hispanic and non-Hispanic audiences.
“I am very proud of the Count Basie Center for the Arts for supporting the Hispanic community and championing diverse storytelling.”
Heidi Ewing, director of “I Carry You With Me,” who will participate in an audience talkback after the screening of her film, also was grateful.
“I’m so happy that the Count Basie Center is giving Hispanic cinema the attention it deserves and am so glad to participate in this wonderful celebration,” she said.
Count Basie CEO Adam Philipson said the theater is honored to be a part of the show.
“A core foundation of the Basie Center’s mission is to make the arts an inclusive experience for all,” he said. “This festival puts the spotlight on Hispanic culture and celebrates the vibrant diversity that is a wonderful part of our community.”
