Jacksonville, Fla. (November 13, 2008) VIVA CINEMA! Jacksonville’s Latino Film Festival will be taking place November 14th – 16th, 2008 at various downtown venues, including, MOCA, The Jacksonville Public Library Downtown, The Jacksonville Landing Courtyard and the new Jacksonville Landing Cinematheque, where a new experience in watching independent movies will be unveiled.

For six years, The Jacksonville Film Festival has presented the most captivating feature films the world has to offer. Last May, more than 12,000 people attended the festival, exhibiting films and hosting filmmakers from over 20 countries, including, France, England, Brazil, Canada, Iran, Japan, Afghanistan, Spain and many more.

“It was clear that some of the most vibrant and innovative movies in the world were emerging from our Latin American neighbors to the south. VIVA CINEMA, once a seed planted within the annual Jacksonville Film Festival, has now grown to become a festival of its own reflecting the growth and diversity of this great city,” stated Jesse Rodriguez, Jacksonville Film Events Executive Director.
“Winn-Dixie is honored to be a part of this inaugural event in our hometown of Jacksonville,” said Andrea Rodriguez multicultural marketing specialist for Winn-Dixie. “We look forward to the positive impact the Jacksonville Latino Film Festival will have on the First Coast as it showcases the arts of our multicultural neighbors.”

Other major sponsors include Regions Bank, The Jacksonville Landing, Brunet-Garcia Multicultural Advertising, Eco Latino and Sleiman Enterprises. “Regions Bank has always focused on sponsoring the arts in Jacksonville to help stimulate the growth of this great city,” stated Marty Lanahan, North Florida Area Executive. “We are proud to build on this by being a part of the inaugural Jacksonville Latino Film Festival: VIVA CINEMA.”

Everyone is welcome to attend the Florida premieres of some of the newest Latino films representing over 15 countries. We are showing films from the brightest new Latino film makers from South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and the United States, including the directorial debuts by Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, and many others. All of the films are subtitled in English or Spanish with the exception of our Brazilian film, Not By Chance, which is Portuguese with English sub-titles.

During the festival, celebrate and enjoy the diverse Live Latino entertainment of music artists from Chicago, Orlando, New York, and Puerto Rico , featured every night at the Jacksonville Landing Courtyard on the Winn-Dixie Stage. All music shows are free of charge and open to the public.

Participating Sponsors include Jacksonville.Com, Dripsblack, The City Of Jacksonville, HavanaJax, Bacardi, Hola Noticias, 1160 AM Latino Hits, EU, PRI, Latino In The City, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, and our host hotel, The Omni – Jacksonville, offering special rates to those who want to stay in the city and make a weekend of it.

“These movies are a looking glass to great stories about people and places that some of us couldn’t imagine if we tried”, Rodriguez said. “As our world becomes smaller the need to embrace and understand other cultures becomes extremely important. International cinema is the most powerful medium that an audience can connect with. Jacksonville Film Events is the platform to make that possible.”

Rodriguez is also proud to announce the incredible line up of films that include winners from film festivals including Cannes. “We are also excited to include events that the entire family can enjoy.”

All tickets can be purchased in advance on line by visiting – http://filmfestival.jacksonville.com

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS!
OPENING NIGHT! – $25.00
The Jacksonville Landing Cinematheque
Friday November 14, 2008 / 6:00pm
Winn Dixie Presents – An Evening With The Film Directors including, Thomas Whelan of THE ART OF TRAVEL, Mitchell Teplitsky of SOY ANDINA, and a special presentation and tribute to Leon Ichaso.

The evening will feature complimentary cocktails courtesy of Bacardi, the Cuban samplings of Havana Jax and debut of the new Winn & Lovett premium appetizers from Winn-Dixie.

FAMILY DAY WITH WINN-DIXIE – FREE ADMISSION!
Museum Of Contemporary Art
Sunday November 16, 2008 / 2:00 p.m.
Screening of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE – USA

CLOSING NIGHT! $15.00 (Includes after party at Jacksonville Landing Cinematheque)
The Jacksonville Public Library Auditorium – Downtown
Sunday November 16, 2008 6:30 p.m.
DANCE OF MY HEART – USA/Cuba

Screenings at Jacksonville Landing Cinematheque – All screenings $8.00
(All films have either English or Spanish Subtitles)

Saturday November 15, 2008 / 1:30 p.m.
THE ART OF TRAVEL – USA, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru

Saturday November 15, 2008 / 3:30 p.m.
J.C CHAVEZ – Mexico

Saturday November 15, 2008 / 5:30 p.m.
LOKAS – Chile/Mexico

Saturday November 15, 2008 7:30 p.m.
DEFICIT – Mexico

Saturday November 15, 2008 / 9:30 p.m.
XXY – Argentina/Chile/Spain/France/Uruguay
WINNER – Critics Week Grand Prize & Golden Rail Award – Cannes Intl FF

Sunday November 16, 2008 / 12:30 p.m.
SOY ANDINA (I Am Andean) Peru

Sunday November 16, 2008 / 2:00 p.m.
STRAIGHT OUTTA PUERTO RICO – Puerto Rico

Sunday November 16, 2008 / 4:00 p.m.
Ṇo Por Acaso (Not By Chance) РBrazil

LOCATIONS
Jacksonville Public Library
303 N. Laura Street Jacksonville, FL 32202

MOCA Jacksonville – The Museum Of Contemporary Art
333 North Laura Street Jacksonville, FL, 32202

The Jacksonville Landing Cinematheque
Jacksonville Landing
2 Independent Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32202

The Jacksonville Landing Cinematheque is located on the 2nd floor next to Koja Sushi, you can either take the elevator or the staircase located in the corridor from the parking lot

For general information please feel free to call the information hotline: (904) 633-9399
To purchase tickets in advance for any of the films mentioned please visit
FilmFestival.Jacksonville.com

Read our previous post about opening night.