By Georgia Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences
The Tampa Bay community will have an opportunity to screen Spanish and Portuguese-language films from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Spain, Brazil and Mexico, this fall, during a month-long film festival coming to the University of South Florida.
The festival, titled “Música, Sound, Espacios: A Latin American and Spanish Film Series” will be made possible, in part, by a grant from the Spanish government and support from the USF Humanities Institute and other community partners.
Olivia Cosentino
“The goal is to use film to bring together USF students, staff and faculty with members of the community to reflect upon, discuss and enjoy Latin American and Spanish music and culture,” said Olivia Cosentino, an assistant professor of film and new media in the College of Arts and Sciences and recipient of the grant. “This directly contributes to USF’s mission to develop and prepare global citizens.”
Students in Cosentino’s Latin American Film course helped her curate the five films that will be included in the festival.
“The films are from five different countries, and all incorporate musical forms — jazz, percussion, rap, flamenco — and intricate sound design,” said Cosentino, who teaches in the Department of Humanities and Cultural Studies. “I made sure to choose Cuban and Brazilian films because of Tampa Bay’s intertwined history with Cuba, and to represent our significant Brazilian student population at USF.”
The film series will include introductions from faculty and guest scholars, a question-and-answer session with a filmmaker and space for USF students and Tampa Bay community members to discuss music and sound in film.
“The films draw on familiar American fiction and nonfiction forms, yet their narrative themes and musical styles express culturally specific concerns, including migrating to pursue one’s dreams and the ill effects of tourism and globalization,” Cosentino said. “The subject matter experts introducing the films and running the Q&As will make the cultural context more legible to attendees.”
The festival will begin in the Marshall Student Center on Sept. 18 with “Chico and Rita,” an animated film from Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba and illustrator Javier Mariscal that celebrates Cuban culture and music with an epic love story. The festival will conclude on Oct. 16 with “La Cocina,” which will play at Sun-Ray Cinema in the University Mall.
Chico and Rita (2012)
This animated film from Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba and illustrator Javier Mariscal celebrates the music and culture of Cuba with an epic story of love, passion and heartbreak.
Tambores da diáspora (2021)
Directed by João Nascimento, this documentary weaves percussion performances with themes such as cultural racism, traditional drumming, technological drumming, African mythologies and other contemporary sounds.
Boca Chica (2023)
Juxtaposing the expectations and realities of a young girl approaching womanhood in the Dominican Republic, “Boca Chica” shines a light on the insidious child sex trade and the lives it destroys.
La Singla (2023)
One of the greatest mysteries in Flamenco history, “La Singla” is more than just a film about a child flamenco artist, the Roma community and the deaf community. This suspense thriller will uncover the universal story of an extraordinary woman whose mysterious gaze, unparalleled expression and deep connection to flamenco art captivates, moves and inspires audiences worldwide.
La Cocina (2024)
Set in the chaotic kitchen of a bustling Times Square restaurant, “La Cocina” is a gripping exploration of migration, power dynamics and the pursuit of the American dream.
This event is free and open to the public. For information on showings and locations, visit usf.to/film-series.