Film News: 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival Opening Night with ‘Yuli’ on Mar, 28, 2019

CHICAGO – One of the oldest Latino Film Festivals is right here in the Windy City, as the 35th edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) kicks off with a Cuban/Spain/UK/German film entitled “Yuli” on March 28th, 2019, at the AMC River East 21 in the Streeterville neighborhood. This Opening Night and its gala after celebrates a Night of Cuba. Although the event is sold out, click here [21] for additional information.

Opening Night of the 35th CLFF Celebrates Cuba Night with ‘Yuli’
Photo credit: ChicagoLatinoFilmFestival.org

Spanish director Icíar Bollaín (“Even the Rain”) and her partner Paul Laverty (Ken Loach’s longtime collaborator) try something completely different with this adaptation of acclaimed Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta’s autobiography. Yuli, the nickname given to Acosta by his father Pedro, runs wild in the streets of Havana where he participates in dance-offs with other kids. Recognizing Yuli’s natural talent, Pedro forces him to attend Cuba’s National Dance School. Yuli is reluctant at first, but is eventually seduced by this world. Seventeen years later, he would become the first black artist to dance the role of Romeo in the Royal Ballet in London. Combining a straightforward narrative with scenes where Acosta is seen working with his company on choreographies based on his life, “Yuli” is a moving fusion of dance, words and images. The film will re-screen on March 30th, 2019.

The 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival will take place from March 28th - April 11th, 2019, and will feature over 100 feature-length and short films from Latino countries and the United States, primarily shown at AMC River East 21 (see website for other venues). All of the films will be shown in their original language, with English subtitles where appropriate. The audience will also have the opportunity to participate in discussions with visiting filmmakers after most of the screenings. For a PDF version of the full schedule, click here. [22]

[24]	By PATRICK McDONALD [25] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [24]