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HFFNY TURNS 25: NEW YORK’S LONGEST-RUNNING LATINO FILM FESTIVAL MARKS A MILESTONE - APRIL 3-10, 2025

 HFFNY kicks off April 3 at DGA Theater with the NY premiere of FENÓMENOS NATURALES, the directorial debut of Cuban filmmaker Marcos Diaz Sosa, followed by a Q&A with actor Reinier Diaz

The festival closes on April 10 with the NY premiere of MALECÓN by Carlos Larrazabal, who will join the audience for a discussion

Special programs include a tribute to the late Afro-Cuban filmmaker Jorge Luis Sánchez, a showcase on Ibero-American Surrealism, and films on son, cumbia, and reggaeton as part of Carnegie Hall’s Nuestros Sonidos Festival

All foreign films have English subtitles

New York, March 15, 2025-. Havana Film Festival NY(www.HFFNY.com), a project of The American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba (AFLFC), the Oldest Latino Film Festival in NYC marks 25 years of storytelling. HFFNY 2025 will run from April 3-10, featuring over 35 award-winning films from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Panama, Spain, Venezuela, and Latino-Americans, many in their World, US, and NY premieres; accompanied by panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and other special events hosted by leading figures in Latin American cinema. More than 20 filmmakers will be coming to New York to participate in the festival. All foreign films are English subtitled.

"We are thrilled to celebrate this 25th anniversary, a milestone that underscores our unwavering commitment to building cultural bridges between Cuba and the U.S., while fostering an ongoing dialogue with Latin America and Latinos in the diaspora. Reaching this moment as an advocate for the arts fills me with immense pride," said Carole Rosenberg, President of AFLFC.

This year's Festival promises a captivating array of narratives designed to stimulate minds and spark meaningful discussions. Offering tales of suspense, adventure, social justice, musical expression, and love, the films featured have garnered acclaim on the global festival circuit, earning prestigious accolades.



"This year, more than ever, we are deeply committed to highlighting stories that reflect the richness of Latino life, including LGBTQ+ voices, powerful dramas that dive into the female experience, eye-opening documentaries, or surreal works that take us to unexpected places and Indigenous perspectives. Through the power of film, we aim to not only entertain but also strengthen the connections between our communities and the city, showcasing the diversity, beauty, and resilience that define us,” — Diana Vargas, Artistic Director of HFFNY

HFFNY rolls out the red carpet at the iconic DGA Theater on Thursday, April 3, at 6 pm, to officially welcome the directors and 45 films that will be part of the festival, with the NY premiere of Fenómenos Naturales (Natural Phenomena), the award-winning movie by scriptwriter and director Marcos Diaz Sosa (Cuba-Spain). This Cuban riff on The Wizard of Oz from director Marcos Díaz Sosa, adapted from his short film, is a whimsical yet heartfelt story of a young woman seeking the best for her family and learning that a certain maxim is often true: there is no place like home. Actor Reinier Diaz will be present for a Q&A session. After the screening on opening night, a spectacular fiesta celebrating the 25 years of HFFNY will be held at the new Copacabana.

The program continues the next day at one of the most beloved arthouses of the city, the Quad Cinema, Friday, April 4, at 2:00 pm with the special presentation of Buscando a Casal, the last feature Afro-Cuban filmmaker Jorge Luis Sanchez, who passed away recently. The festival ends on Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 and 8:30 pm with the New York premiere of Malecón by Carlos Larrazabal about Elvis, a young man that in a desperate attempt to raise money for his escape, starts working for Sebastian, and quickly becomes his right hand. As Elvis gets sucked in Havana’s underworld and hustles to save money, he also struggles to protect what he cares more about: Yuli’s love and Martin’s friendship.

Sur-Real: Fantasy & Vision in Ibero-American Cinema, a program inspired by Glauber Rocha’s "Sur-Realismo," will celebrate filmmakers who blur the lines between reality, dreams, and politics. Showcasing pioneers like Luis Buñuel (The Exterminating Angel) and Glauber Rocha (Black God, White Devil), alongside contemporary voices like Pablo Berger (Blancanieves), it highlights how Ibero-American cinema fuses the fantastical with social and historical complexities. The program includes screenings of two iconic short films—Salvador Dalí’s Un Chien Andalou and Álvaro Cepeda Zamudio & Gabriel García Márquez La Langosta Azul—followed by a panel discussion with Professor Ana María Hernández on April 5, 1:00 PM. This program will be free of charge.

HFFNY is proud to be a partner of Carnegie Hall’s prestigious Nuestros Sonidos Festival that celebrates the diversity of creative voices in the Latino world. With a program titled Honoring Latin Rhythms on Screen: From Son to Reggaeton; a cinematic showcase that dives into the diverse musical expressions across Latin America: from Tango to Cuban Son, Reggaeton, Rock en Español, and Mexican Country. This program includes documentaries, narrative features, shorts, film premieres, and beloved classics newly remastered.

Narrative Features – New York Premieres

• YO VI TRES LUCES NEGRAS | I SAW THREE BLACK LIGHTS - NY Premiere

Santiago Lozano| Colombia-Mexico-France-Germany | Fiction | 2024 |87 min

• RAIZ | THROUGH ROCKS AND CLOUDS - NY Premiere

Franco Garcia Becerra | Peru-Chile | Fiction | 2024 |83 min

• DESPIERTA MAMA - NY Premiere

Arianne Benedetti | Panama | Fiction | 2024 | 99 min

• MEMORIAS DE UN CUERPO QUE ARDE /MEMORIES OF A BURNING BODY - NY Premiere

Antonella Sudasassi | Costa Rica-Spain | Fiction | 2024 | 90 min

• LA INVENCIÓN DE LAS ESPECIES / ON THE INVENTION OF SPECIES - NY Premiere

Tania Hermida | Ecuador-Cuba | Fiction | 2024 | 92 min

• CULPA CERO | NO GUILT - NY Premiere

Valeria Bertuccelli, Mora Elizalde | Argentina-Spain | Fiction | 2024 | 101 min

• LINDA - NY Premiere

Mariana Wainstein| Argentina-Spain | Fiction | 2024 | 100 min

• MATRIOSHKA - NY Premiere

Jorge Forero | Colombia - | Fiction | 2024 | 88 min

Documentaries – Premieres

• ¡QUBA! - World Premiere

Kim Anno | U.S. | Documentary | 2025 | 70 min

• LIFE IS DANCE/ LA VIDA ES BAILAR - World Premiere

Eirene Houston | Scotland-Cuba | Documentary | 2024 | 80 min 

• REAS

          Lola Arias | Argentina-Switzerland | Documentary | 2024 | 80 min

• EL HUARO - U.S. Premiere

Patricia Wiesse Risso | Peru | Documentary | 2024 | 84 min

• LA TIERRA DE LA BALLENA - NY Premiere

Armando Capó | Cuba | Documentary | 2024 | 78 min

• PRODIGAL DAUGHTER - NY Premiere

       Mabel Valdiviezo | U.S. | Documentary | 2024 | 85 min

• ALMA DEL DESIERTO / SOUL OF THE DESERT

Monica taboada | Colombia | Documentary | 2024 | 87 min

Box Office and Discounts

HFFNY offers discounted ticket prices through its selection of Festival Passes. It also advertises time-limited reduced-price sales for screenings and events on its social media pages. For more information, follow us on social media at @hffny and visit us at www.HFFNY.com.

Sponsors and Supporters

HFFNY is made possible with the generous support of public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Ideal Glass Studios, Ron Barceló, the Consulate General of Peru in New York, Marujita’s Tamales, The New Copacabana, Janus Films, FeelMedia Sales, Habanero Films, ICAIC and Hunter College.

To request interviews with HFFNY organizers and invited guests as well as high-resolution images, contact at programming@hffny.com / 212.687.2146

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