The 16th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival is proud to announce this year's Brazilian Films.

During the upcoming 16th San Diego Latino Film Festival (March 12-22) at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center, the San Diego Brazil Carnaval and San Diego Latino Film Festival will be co-presenting the following new and wonderul films from Brazil...

O Pai O
SUN. 3/15 at 8:30 PM
THU. 3/19 at 8:00 PM
Dir. Monique Gardenberg
(2007, 98 min, Brazil, Portuguese w/ English Subtitles, Comedy, Feature Narrative)
It’s Carnival time in the historic site of Pelourinho (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil), and we become immersed in the lives of tenement dwellers in this falling-down slum, who survive with creativity, irony, humor and music. Carnal and spiritual joys combine in Bahia with its unique spoken dialect that adds to this spirit. O Pai O, with its throbbing Carnival rhythms, takes on life’s harsh absurdities and contrasts. A comedy, drama, tragedy, musical, and documentary all at the same time, that deals with a gritty look at politics, corruption, violence, poverty, social and sexual prejudices, religious conflicts and predatory tourism as well. Starring SDLFF 2008 tributee Lazaro Ramos.

OS DESAFINADOS
SUN. 3/21 at 4PM

Dir. Walter Lima
(2007, 139min, 2008, 35mm) STARRING RODRIGO SANTORO!  Infidelity, death, broken dreams and political unrest swirl together with the sizzling bossa nova music at the heart of this affectionate look at four idealistic young musicians who journey from 1960s Rio to New York with dreams of transforming Brazilian music — and the country itself.

Loki
SAT. 3/21 at 12:30 PM
Dir. Paulo Henrique Fontenelle
(2008, Brazil, 120 min., Portuguese w/ English subtitles, Feature Documentary)
Film biography of the notorious musician Arnaldo Baptista, former lead singer of the Brazilian rock band Mutantes. The artist portrays his life in a painting, while remarkable archive footage illustrates his career. Interviews with Tom Zé, Nelson Motta, Gilberto Gil, Sean Lennon and others.

Children of the Amazon
SAT. 3/14 at 5:00 PM
Dir. Denise Zmekhol
(2007, Brazil, 72 min., English, Portuguese and Monde w/ English subtitles, Feature Documentary)
Children of the Amazon follows Brazilian filmmaker Denise Zmekhol as she travels a modern highway cut deeply through the Amazon rain forest, in search of the Surui and Negarote, indigenous children she had photographed fifteen years before. Zmekhol’s journey poetically tells the story of what has happened to life in the largest tropical forest on Earth since a 2000 mile highway now runs through the heart of it. The Amazon’s environmental devastation, resistance and renewal remind us that we all share the same planet.  Director will be IN ATTENDANCE at screening!

Pindorama
SAT. 3/21 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Roberto Verliner, Lula Queiroga, and Leo Crivellare
(2008, Brazil, 81 min., Portuguese w/ English subtitles, Feature Documentary)
“Viva o Circo-Teatro” Filmmakers, Roberto Verliner, Lula Queiroga, Leo Crivellare, capture the circus celebration of this Brazilian artistic cultural tradition. It’s an exemplary world of simplicity, humanity, fun and bravery. Charles, Zuleide, Gilberto, Cleide, Rogerio, Claudio and Lobao are the seven dwarfs, all sons of the mythical Pindoba, the smallest and funniest clown in the world. Together, they form the Pindorarma Circus, and they travel from town to town throughout northern Brazil.

* * * * * SPONSORS  * * * * * *

During this VERY difficult economy, the 2009 San Diego Latino Film Festival is forever indebted to the following wonderful sponsors for this year's festival: San Diego Union-Tribune, Macy's, Bank of America, AT&T, Neighborhood House Association, Sharp Healthcare, Enlace, Amtrak, Northwestern Financial, City Of San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, SanDiego.com, MTS, Yogurt Land, University of Phoenix, National Endowment for the Arts, County of San Diego, Nickelodeon, Univision KBNT 17, Telemundo 33, MyTV 13, La Invasora 99.7, Pulsar 107.3 FM, Jack FM 100.7, Azteca America San Diego, El Latino Newspaper, Uniradio, San Diego Reader, El Mexicano, Latino Public Broadcasting, San Diego State University, California State University San Marcos, Brazil Today, Gente Bien Magazine, Radio Latina 104.5 FM, La Mejor 99.3 FM, Z90.3 FM, Magic 92.5 FM, EXA 91.7 FM, Universidad de las Californias, Anheuser Busch, American Latino Tv, Babycakes, Advantage Homes, San Diego Padres, Tequila Sauza, TijuaNEO, The Merk Restaurant, The Keating Hotel, SE San Diego Hotel, Circulo, Hitachi, TijuaNeo, Diario San Diego, ProChile, U.S. Mexico Consulate, San Diego CityBeat, KPBS TV/Radio, 10 News, Rage Magazine, Bacchus House, McDonalds, and Yolanda S. Walther-Meade.

Lazaro Ramos in O PAI O

Important Festival Links:

List of Special Guests for SDLFF 09 (as of 2/20). More confirming everyday!

Complete line-up of Films

Trailers of Films & Festival Promos

Festival On-line Box Office here!