2012

When hungry, flesh-eating zombies begin to take over the island of Cuba on the anniversary of the revolution, the official media refers to the reports as isolated incidents provoked by dissidents paid by the US government. Fortunately for the future of the nation and before widespread panic fully sets in, Juan and his friends come to the rescue. Once they figure out that the only way to beat the zombies is to destroy their brains, Juan realizes there is an upside to this situation: they can confront the zombies and make some money out of it at the same time.

In the Kuikuro homeland of the Upper Xingu of central Brazil, the people make preparations for the Jamurikumalu ritual: a festival of singing and dancing that is only performed by women. The problem is that the only woman who knows all the songs is seriously ill. With refreshingly sexually suggestive commentary and comedic elements, this astounding documentary follows the Kuikuro in a race against time to preserve the knowledge of their elders and the practice of their traditions before they are lost forever.

Created as a cinematographic diary for Zafirah, the directors’ three-year-old daughter, this documentary is a poignant testimony about the era of human migration in which we live. It records the faces and stories of the people who congregate around the train, which represents the symbolic vehicle of escape for the thousands who travel through Mexico to the United States each year. And, it captures the participation of people who voluntarily provide assistance to the migrants.

Between 1982 and 1996, the Ixil and K’iche’ people took refuge in the mountains as a last resort to save themselves from the massacres carried out by the Guatemalan army, which took the lives of more than 200,000 indigenous people. After those fourteen years, the communities ended up settling in the northeastern part of the range, an area currently under siege due to its wealth of natural resources. This evocative documentary is a celebration of the resilience of people preparing to defend themselves against another coming war. A chant of hope from a community that will not give up.

This is the inspiring story of Irina Layevska, the son of militant communists, who grew up defending socialism and the Cuban Revolution. Identifying with the ideologies of Che Guevara and even resembling Che physically, Irina worked tirelessly for the cause. However, as an adult Irina faced even greater challenges. Born into a male body that was suffering increasing physical disability, Irina took on a new revolution: to become a woman.

Impressive and rigorous, this visually engrossing film essay narrates the continual confrontation of two versions of history: that of the conquerors and the conquered. And it does so in a location that is at the same time concrete and symbolic: La Recoleta, the iconic cemetery of Buenos Aires. With quotations from noteworthy writers read aloud near the tombs, the film creates a sort of “dialogue of the dead,” and outlines a dramatic chronology of modern Argentine history from 19th century civil wars to 20th century dictatorships.

Manuel, 9, has an old ball with which he plays football every day in the countryside. He dreams of becoming a great goalkeeper. His wishes seem set to come true when Ernest, his father, gives him a new ball. But an unexpected accident sends the ball flying into a minefield. Despite the danger, Manuel refuses to abandon his treasure… He convinces Julián and Poca Luz, his two friends, to rescue it with him. Amid the adventures and kids' games, the signs of armed conflict start to appear in the lives of the inhabitants of "La Pradera".

I remember the night when the history of my family changed. They called us from Peru to inform us that my Aunt Sibila was in prison, accused of being a member of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path). I was seven-years-old at the time and because of my parents’ silence about her, she became a great mystery in my life. Director