Film festival CineFestival kicked off over the weekend at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and runs through Saturday. I spoke to its director, Jim Mendiola, about what's coming up.
"We start on Tuesday with Youth Screenings. We feature works made from area high schools. We have a curated program and we give them awards, and that's always a popular night."
Wednesday night they're honoring Texan Pepe Serna.
"He's made over a hundred films, three hundred TV shows, everything from Starsky & Hutch to Scarface to the two movies we're screening that night," he said. "Thursday's Throwback Thursday. We take two films from the vaults of the 38 years CineFestival has operated in. We're doing a film called Washington Heights, which is this feature narrative. And we're going to have the director present. And then we're doing an experimental documentary called Frontierlandia, which is about border culture, and that director will also be here."
Also showing is a music video called Frida's Heart from local filmmakers Daniela Riojas and Laura Varela. Then on Friday CineFestival plays the feature 600 Miles.
"It hasn't played in the states yet. It's about the gun running between the United States and the cartels. And then we're having this really interesting movie called Los Punks at 9 o'clock. It's a really great documentary, lot of fun," said Mendiola. "And then we close out Saturday with short films all day. In the evening we'll have a special screening of Bordertown, the animated Fox television series."
A San Antonio writer/actor plus the series creator will be there to talk to festival-goers. As always, CineFestival workshops help new talent find their way, and polish their craft.
"And we have these really amazing writer/directors from LA who are at the top of their game participating."
We have more on CineFestival here.
