Caixa Cultural Brings Argentinian Film Festival Back to Rio

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Next Tuesday, November 7th, Caixa Cultural, in Centro, opens the second edition of “Histórias Extraordinárias” (Extraordinary Stories), festival dedicated to the contemporary Argentinian cinema. Over twenty productions will be screened until November 19th in the event, which will also include debates with filmmakers.

“Histórias Extraordinárias” aims to present the Argentine cinema‘s scene that is still little known by the Carioca audience.

Most of the films being displayed in the festival had little repercussion in Brazil so far. However, some among the selected ones have been awarded in important festivals, both in Argentina and abroad.

Among the festival’s highlights are the winners of the two latest editions of Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival: Andrea Testa and Francisco Marquéz’s “The Long Night of Francisco Santis” (2016), which portrays the context of Argentina’s military dictatorship; and “The Little Match Girl” (2017), directed by Alejo Moguillansky, whose plot is inspired by Danish writer Andersen’s namesake story.

The festival also pays tribute to Argentina’s “nuevo cine” (New Cinema), which celebrates its twentieth birthday this year. Thus, some of the most emblematic works from this movement will be screened at Caixa Cultural, like the shorts’ compilation “Histórias Breves I” (Short Stories I, 1995) and the more recent “Bonanza” (2001), documentary run by Ulises Rosell.

In addition, the audience will have the opportunity to check Melisa Liebenthal’s “The Pretty Ones” (2016), documentary awarded at Rotterdam’s Film Festival and still unreleased in Brazil’s movie theaters. One of the great promises for the festival is the praised “Zama” (2017), by Lucrecia Martel, inspired in Argentine writer Antonio di Benedetto’s namesake novel.

Besides the film exhibition, “Histórias Extraordinárias” will promote debates with filmmakers and scholars from the audiovisual area. Renowned director Milagros Mumenthaler will participate in the opening night’s panel discussion, on November 7th, at 5PM, to talk about her latest production “The Idea of a Lake” (2016).

Gonzalo Aguilar, one of the most influential thinkers on Argentine cinema, will lead a debate on November 18th at 4:30 PM. For more information about the other panels, check the event‘s full program.

What: “Histórias Extraordinárias: Cinema Argentino Contemporâneo” (Extraordinary Stories: Argentina’s Contemporary Cinema)
When: November 7th to November 19th – check the event for time details
Where: Caixa Cultural do Rio de Janeiro – Avenida Almirante Barroso, 25 – Centro – Tel: (21) 3980-3815
Entrance: R$2 – R$4