Sylvia Perel grew up in a culturally very active family: at home she could hear her father playing his own compositions, while every week she went out to the concerts of the National Symphony of Argentina, where two of her uncles played. That is why, when she came to work in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the United States, she was surprised by the degree of ignorance of Latin American culture.
She discussed this concern with the students and teachers she frequented, and they came to the conclusion that what was needed were more spaces for the dissemination of Latin American culture. However, this circle did not stop at analysis, but, with a marked social commitment, set about the task of investigating how a film festival was held, until it started with the San Francisco Bay Area International Latino Film Festival, which came to be held in 14 cities in California.
Over time, Sylvia would need a break from organizing a 16-day festival of activities every year, and for this she chose the magical town of Todos Santos. In this town in southern California, she came into contact with a vibrant artistic community and was quick to question how it was possible that across the border there was already a diversity of Latin American film festivals, while in the entire state of Baja California Sur there was not a single film festival. She was quick to respond to this call, and in 2004 she inaugurated the Todos Santos Film Festival with the collaboration of neighbors united by their love of art and community.
“That is the origin of the Todos Santos Festival: a festival of neighbors, of friendly people who want to enjoy the […] wonders of Spanish-language cinema,” she said.
Since then, the Todos Santos Film Festival has served as more than a festival, as a cultural movement that has a section dedicated exclusively to women in film, while opening spaces for the expression of members of different communities, such as the LGBTI+ community, and allocating an area to the preservation of the environment. “Our festival has a strong connotation of human rights,” she summarized.
In addition, this festival has made great efforts to promote local creation. On the one hand, one of its competitions is dedicated to film productions made in the state: “Made in Baja California Sur”. On the other hand, in 2006 the Leonardo Perel Film School was founded in Todos Santos, through which girls, boys, adolescents and young people have had access to workshops, courses and participation in local productions, such as The Little Prince in Todos Santos and Alice in Whale Country. All of the above has allowed the children and adolescents of the town to have more opportunities to create, learn and dream, while some of them, like the talented artist from Todos Santos, Frida Cota, begin training for their careers in film.
For all these reasons, the Todos Santos Film Festival has many reasons to celebrate its 20th anniversary from November 29 to December 1, 2024, and it will do so in the following way:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
At the Márquez de León Theater in Todos Santos, BCS, a selection of the films from the “Made in Baja California Sur” Contest will be shown at 2PM.
At 4:30PM, the film “Lluvia” by director Rodrigo García will be shown in the same place with the presence of actor Bruno Bichir, after an opening ceremony.
At the end of this film, there will be a celebration with mariachis at the door of the Márquez de León Theater, to start a march to the Café Doce Cuarenta in Todos Santos.
At 8PM, at the Café Doce Cuarenta in Todos Santos there will be a Cuban Night with salsa dancing on the occasion of the guest country: Cuba.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
On Saturday, three Mexican films by women will be shown at the Márquez de León Theater in Todos Santos, BCS:
“Amor y Matemática” by Claudia Sainte-Luce (1:30 PM).
“Valentina o la serenidad” by Ángeles Cruz (3:30 PM).
“La arriera”, the first film by Isabel Cristina Fregoso, who will be present (5:30 PM).
At 7:30 PM, the celebration will take place in the Public Plaza of Todos Santos, BCS with the following program:
“La Habana de Fito” by Juan Pin Vilar.
Live performances of Fito Páez’s music.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
At the Márquez de León Theater in Todos Santos, BCS, the winning films of the three competitions of the Todos Santos Film Festival will be announced at 1 PM:
Made in Baja California Sur: Film productions made in the state.
Mexican Short Film: Fiction or documentary short films, up to 20 minutes long, made in the country.
Cineminuto: An opportunity to create a one-minute film with the purpose of helping the community raise awareness about the environment.
“Alice in Whale Country” by Sylvia Perel will also be screened.
Later, in the same place, the following will be shown:
“El mundo de Nelcito” by Fernando Pérez (4 PM).
“A cielo Abierto” by Mariana and Santiago Arriaga (6 PM).
In addition, this edition of the Todos Santos Film Festival will be held in Todos Santos, Los Cabos and La Paz. A selection of Mexican short films will be screened at the Cerrito del Timbre in Cabo San Lucas on Saturday the 30th at 7PM. There is also the possibility of a university rally, in which a group of young people will prepare a film on Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th to be screened on Sunday the 1st at the Márquez de León Theater in Todos Santos, BCS.
You too can be an agent of change in your community. If you want to know more about the projects that the Todos Santos Film Festival is promoting, follow @FestivalCineTodosSantos and @festivaldecinedets.
Listen to episode 17 of Solo transit local with Sylvia Perel.
CALENDAR OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN LOS CABOS
(Please confirm events with organizers)
EVERY WEEK
Documentary Film Club
Every Tuesday at 8PM at Casa de Cultura “Prof. Alfredo Green González”, SJC
La Villa del Poeta: Space to share poetry
Every Wednesday, starting at 7:30PM at LaCirco
Cinema Vagabundo (traveling film club)
Every Thursday at 8:30PM, Los Cabos film lovers meet
OCTOBER
Friday, October 25 (8PM)
Dance: “Ecos en la oscuro” at Foro Vasconcelos
Saturday, October 26 (8PM)
Dance: “Ecos en la oscuro” at Foro Vasconcelos
Sunday, October 27 (7PM)
Theater: “God, are you there?” at Foro Vasconcelos
NOVEMBER
Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2
Day of the Dead in Todos Santos, BCS, Day of the Dead Todos Santos
Sunday, November 3
Dance: “Macehua” at LaCirco
Friday, November 15 to Sunday, November 17
Todos Santos Wellness Fest in Todos Santos, BCS
Saturday, November 16 to Sunday, November 24
Pa’h La Calle Los Cabos Fest
Saturday, November 23
Music Night: “Sanjosessions” at LaCirco
Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1
Todos Santos Film Festival in Todos Santos, BCS
Saturday, November 30
Family Show: “Radio Gorila, Supernova and Arrecife” at LaCirco
Source: cabomil
