Colombian Film Festival 2013: New York Set to Host the First Festival in March

By Mariana Dussan (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Feb 18, 2013 05:03 PM EST

Tags First Colombian Film Fetsival, New York, Manhattan, Tribeca, Tribeca theaters, March 20-24, Spring, Colombian Embassy in Washington, Colombian Consulate in New York City

This spring, Colombia will be known for more than its bountiful coffee and violence problems as the art of filmmaking takes over NYC.

The "Plan de Promoción de Colombia en el Exterior" (Plan to promote Colombia Overseas), A cultural initiative by Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Colombian Embassy in Washington and the Colombian Consulate in New York City bring the first ever Colombian Film Festival.

Juan Carlos Carvajal, filmmaker and critic who has covered major film festivals in the U.S., will be directing the event which will take place in the Tribeca Theaters in Tribeca from March 20-24, just one week before the famous Tribeca Film Festival takes place.

According to the festival's site, the festival was first set to premier on December 2012 at the Instituto Cervantes of NY, an institution that was founded by the Spanish government in 1991, but then it was decided that the Tribeca theaters would be a more appropriate setting for the event because it would allow for the films to be shown in their original formats and with the best technology and quality possible.

Quality is surely one thing the crowd will get as Colombian films that have been nominated and won awards at prestigious festivals like Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, San Sebastian Film Festival and Guadalajara Film Festival will be featured.

The purpose of the festival is not only to elevate the image of Colombia to a higher artistic statute but to make the country a part of the very limited group of Latin American Nations that have the privilege of having a film festival in the United States which are Cuba and Brazil.

Over 45 entries replied to the festival's first submission. The program will feature films, documentaries, shorts, forums, experimental, animation, U.S. and World Premieres and press conferences. There will be actors, producers and directors presenting each of their films, they will also attend forums, press conferences and opening night festivities.