Many voices: Films of the Caribbean to be shown Nov. 8-11

Cross-cultural encounters are hallmarks of life in the Caribbean region, home to people whose traditions — from African to Spanish, French, English and indigenous — are as diverse as their voices.

While Caribbean artists are at the forefront of worldwide movements in music, literature and the arts, their vibrant filmmaking is less well-known. The third annual Madison CineFest Nuestra, “Many Voices: Films of the Caribbean,” showcases recent films and filmmakers from Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Martinique and the United States, Nov. 8-11 at the Majestic Theatre, Memorial Union Play Circle and UW Cinematheque.

The Cinefest opens with the Wisconsin premiere of the acclaimed independent film “The Blue Diner (La fonda azul),” winner of Best Feature Film and Audience Award, 2001 New York Latino Film Festival.

Other highlights and Wisconsin premieres include “Life and Debt,” a searing Jamaican-made documentary about the effects of globalization; “90 Miles,” a personal documentary about a family’s journey from Cuba to America and back again, with filmmaker Juan Carlos Zaldívar in person; “‘Caribbeing,” new short films by Trinidadian experimental filmmaker Yao Ramesar, appearing in person; and “Waiting List (Lista de espera)” the latest film from acclaimed Cuban director Juan Carlos Tabío (invited to appear).

The film programs were assembled by CineFest curator Ray Santisteban, independent film and video curator and filmmaker and former UW–Madison lecturer, and special guest curator Jane Bryce, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. She will give the CineFest opening lecture on films of the English-speaking Caribbean.

The CineFest is presented by a University-student-community coalition including Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies; the Wisconsin Film Festival; the UW–Madison Arts Institute the Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee; Cine-Club Latinoamericano; UW Cinematheque; and Organization of Latino Arts. The Cinefest is part of the “Multiple Caribbeans: Performance, Displacement and Identities” series sponsored by Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies.

The CineFest Coordinating Committee includes: William Ney, assistant director, Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies; Mark Fraire, grants programs and services specialist, Wisconsin Arts Board; Mary Carbine, director, Wisconsin Film Festival, UW–Madison Arts Institute; Guillermina de Ferrari, assistant professor, Spanish and Portuguese; and UW–Madison students Khadine de Paiva, CineClub Latinoamericano, Sandy Lucas, Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee, and Martin Pflug, CineClub Latinoamericano.

Funding for Madison CineFest Nuestra programs was provided in part by Associated Students of Madison, Nave, Title VI, University Lectures Committee and presenting organizations. Additional sponsors and partners include the Historic King District Association, the Majestic Theatre, Isthmus, Centro Hispano of Dane County, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research.

For more information, call (608) 262-2811.