Film festival added to Downey's Dia de los Muertos Festival
A still from “El Trompetista,” one of six short films to be screened Sunday at Downey’s Dia de los Muertos Art Festival.
DOWNEY – Viva la Vida, a film festival of award-winning shorts, has been added to the sixth annual Downey Dia de los Muertos Art Festival, taking place this Sunday at the Downey Civic Center.
Shown throughout the day inside the 738-seat Downey Theatre, the 10-12 minute features range from animation to actors, from fantasy to realism, with underlying messages that express and reflect the importance of family and tradition in the Hispanic community.
Viva la Vida is presented by Cinema Culturas, a Riverside based non-profit that espouses film to talk to and for the Hispanic community. It stages annual film festival in various venues.
The Downey film festival is part of Cinema Culturas’ latest production, titled “From Coachella Valey to the City of Downey.”
“Viva la Vida visualizes the shared Latino experience, be it in the fields of Coachella or the city life in Downey,” festival organizers said.
“Cinema Culturas aims to capture the festive spirit of the Latino community through the art of visual storytelling and create a narrataive of unity that honors life by celebrating our rich Southern California diversity,” said Cony Martinez, founder and president of Cinema Culturas.
Six films are scheduled to be screened Sunday:
“Lluvia en los Ojos,” directed by Rita Basulto
“El Trompetista,” directed by Raul Robin Alejandro Morales Reyes
“Ramona,” directed by Giovanna Zacarias
“Carnitas,” directed by Barbara Miryam Balsategui Tovar
“Los Ases del Corral,” directed by Irving Sevilla and Manuel Baez
“Polvo de Estrellas,” directed by Aldo Sotelo Lazaro
Admission to Downey’s Dia de los Muertos Art Festival is free. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In addition to the film festival, the event includes live musical performances, Aztec dancers, an expanded altar display, sugar skull decorations, vendors, food trucks, and more.