The rich cultures of Latin America will be explored on the big screen when the 11th Latin American Film Festival in Australia comes to the Illawarra this week.
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Gala Cinema in Warrawong will be the venue for 13 films from across Latin America from September 4 to 6, with free entry to all movies.
It is the third year Wollongong has been included in the annual travelling film festival, which is hosted by the Latin American Embassies of Australia and Spanish and Latin American Community Organisation (SALCO). The festival will include films from Uruguay, Venezuela, Paraguay, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and El Salvador.
SALCO community development officer Bertha Quiros said last year's festival was well received, with about 50 per cent more people in attendance than there were in 2013.
"The first year we had a lot of elderly people, the second year we had families with younger children, which was good, and this year we're hoping to get a lot more young people," Ms Quiros said.
Local high school students will help by being ushers and promoting the event on Facebook.
"I think it's of great importance to show the diversity of Latin American countries, to show the artistic side and educating people on the multiculturalism of Latin America," Ms Quiros.
Spanish-speaking communities are the second largest ethnic minority in Shellharbour and the fifth largest in Wollongong.
The Uruguayan embassy is the host this year so the festival will kick off with a film from Uruguay - Mr Kaplan, which is about a Jewish man, who at 76 starts questioning his worth and the relevance of his community. He meets an elderly gentleman who is suspected of previous Nazi involvement.
Other films include Flores Raras (Brazil), featuring Australia's Miranda Otto; Azu (Venezuela), about a Latino sugar cane farmer who buys an African slave; and Costa Rican comedy Maikol Yordan de Viaje Perdido.
Ms Quiros said no bookings were required but seating was limited.
Year 11 and 12 students from the International Baccalaureate CAS program at Elonera Montessori School, Mount Ousley, have volunteered to work as film ushers.
■ For movie times and information, go to islaf.org.au and laffaustralia.wix.com/laffaustralia.