Celebration of Argentine Cinema

Argentina’s cinematic history has projected international appeal since the early twentieth century. Shortly after 1895, when the Frenchman Louis Lumiere invented the motion picture camera, his fellow countryman Eugene Py became Argentina’s first established filmmaker and cameraman with his short movie La Bandera Argentina (The Argentine Flag). Audiences clamored for these early silent films, and Argentina was considered a pioneer in scientific and animated movies. By the 1930’s and with the addition of sound, films from Argentina led Spanish-language international cinema for over three decades. During this time, over 5,000 filmmakers produced more than 42 films a year with popular social criticism and political themes.

As television took over the imagination of the world and prohibitive censorship laws came into effect, film studios and cinemas fell on hard times. Fortunately, the country’s creativity continued to shine. By the late 50’s, Argentina received international acclaim as their “New Cinema” broke out with strong technical and aesthetic refinements.

During the 60s, audience tastes directed the film industry to focus on comedies that eventually evolved into controversial sex comedies during the 70s. With the downfall of General Galtieri and his autocratic regime in 1982, films quickly turned towards more serious themes and a revival of films that explored popular social criticism and political themes.

By the 90s, New Argentine Cinema brought a new wave of filmmakers to international attention.

With over 2,500 feature films to its credit, Argentina is now producing about 50 films a year, and rivals its own classic period in the 30s and 40s.

San Diego Latino Film Festival is proud to welcome Argentina, this year’s country in the festival “spotlight”. We hope audiences will enjoy the amazing array of films that have been selected, and take advantage of meeting our distinguished delegation representing Argentina’s Cinema.