14 May Philadelphia Organization Spotlight: Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival

BY ERICK BARRAGÁN RAMÍREZ

The cinéSPEAK Journal publishes a monthly Philadelphia Organization Spotlight highlighting a local film or moving image focused organization, business, or collective doing unique and impactful work.

Philadelphia is a city where diverse Latino immigrant groups converge. While many people have one narrow image of Americans from beyond our country’s southern border, the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival (PHLAFF) reminds audiences of the great diversity among Latino people, stories, and artists. Under the guidance of Marángeli Mejía-Rabell, Festival Director & Chief Curator, and made up of a team of mostly Latinx women, PHLAFF celebrates the diversity of Latin American cultures through cinema as a language.

cinéSPEAK spoke with Kirsten Senske, Senior Programmer of Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival, about their work, programing, and the upcoming 2024 festival. 

cinéSPEAK: What is unique about The Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival within the Philadelphia landscape?

PHLAFF: The Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival (PHLAFF) was established in 2012 and has become the Greater Philadelphia region’s only festival showcasing the extraordinary and innovative work of emerging and established Latine/x/a/o filmmakers.

PHLAFF’s programming focuses on the diverse experiences and realities of our people. PHLAFF has evolved into an international film festival that brings the best of Latine/x/a/o stories to a wide audience. PHLAFF attracts a diverse audience, developing a new space in the Philadelphia region where filmmakers, actors, producers, and creatives can meet with other artists, engage with audiences, and present and discuss innovative work.

cinéSPEAK: What impact do you hope your organization has in the Philadelphia community?

PHLAFF: The Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival is dedicated to nurturing emerging and established Latine/x/a/o creatives and filmmakers by providing capacity-building opportunities and a far-reaching platform for sharing stories. We curate spaces where filmmakers, actors, producers, and creatives can meet with other artists, engage their target audiences, and present and discuss innovative work. 

By celebrating the richness and diversity of the Latine/x/a/o experience, PHLAFF fosters cross-cultural understanding and dialogue, uniquely meaningful in the culturally and historically vibrant city of Philadelphia.

cinéSPEAK: Tell us something exciting that is coming up for the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival. 

PHLAFF: Our 2024 season will be approximately six weeks long. During the run of the festival, our programming will be full of exciting in-person and virtual events for those local to the Philadelphia region and international viewers to enjoy.

Audiences can expect the integration of other disciplines besides film as part of our programming. Starting [this year], the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival began accepting submissions of works in the following disciplines: musical acts, dance, poetry/spoken word, and [theater]. Selected artists are to be featured in PHLAFF 2024 showcases. 2024 marks our first season as the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival [we were previously the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival] and we are truly excited about this new chapter. We are also working with the inaugural cohort of Los Fellows and our Cultural Producers in Residence, Wilfredo Hernandez and Jennifer Mota.

We have a phenomenal lineup that brings together emerging creatives as well as beautiful films by PHLAFF alumni. Our event schedule will be released on our website, so keep an eye out for upcoming events!

cinéSPEAK: What are some of the programs or opportunities at your organization that folks can get involved in?

PHLAFF: Audiences can get involved with PHLAFF by attending festival events (to be listed on our website) and following us on social media to stay tuned for upcoming events and opportunities. They can stay up to date via our website and Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. 

*Featured Image: Image of audience members at PHLAFF in a previous year. Courtesy of PHLAFF.

Would you like your organization to be featured in a future spotlight? Please fill out the Philadelphia Organization Spotlight form. The cinéSPEAK Journal maintains sole discretion over the publishing of any information provided via the form. Questions: journal@cinespeak.org.

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Erick Barragán Ramírez is an immigration specialist at Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia, PA.  In addition to being an avid cinephile he serves as a board member of the Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia. With a background in law studies in Mexico, he came to the US in 2017 and actively volunteers at various organizations supporting immigrants in Philadelphia, including the Welcoming Center, the Consulate of Mexico, and the online radio Philatinos.