It's Time For OLA’s Annual Film Fest

It’s time once again for OLA’s (Organización Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island) annual Latino Film Festival of the Hamptons.

This year’s festival — the 16th — runs November 15 through 17, with three films offered at venues on both the North and South Forks. The lineup includes dark comedies from Cuba and Colombia, and an animated family film from Argentina and France.

The festival kicks off Friday, November 15, when a bit of old Havana comes to the Parrish Art Museum (279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill) with a Cuba-themed evening featuring a screening of “Antes Que Llegue el Ferry (Before the Ferry Arrives),” a film directed by Juan Caunedo Domínguez, Vladimir García Herrera and Raúl Escobar Delgado.

A dark comedy portraying a near-future Havana still in the midst of the restoration of U.S.-Cuba relations, “Before the Ferry Arrives” explores the sense of expectation and ambiguity experienced by Cubans when it was announced in 2015 that, after more than 50 years, a ferry service would resume between the two countries. Bold in form and structure and mixing elements of animation with live action, experimental and documentary film, this debut of the three directors captures a time of uncertainty and vertigo as Cuba continues to wait for the first ferry to arrive. The film was an Official Selection of the 2018 Ventana Sur and BAFICI film festivals, and the 2019 Málaga Spanish Film Festival.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. with a bilingual docent-led tour of the Parrish’s current exhibitions. Photographer Tria Giovan will join the tour and give a short talk on her photos from the 1993 series “The Cuba Archive” that are on view in the museum’s current “Artists Choose Artists” exhibition. A cocktail reception follows the tour.

The film begins at 7 p.m. and includes a post-screening discussion with the filmmakers via livestream. Tickets are $12 (free museum members).

On Saturday, November 16, at Guild Hall (158 Main Street, East Hampton) OLA will screen “Amalia la secretaria” (Amalia, the Secretary), the story of a cranky secretary at a small company on the verge of a crisis who sabotages office equipment in order to spend time with the handyman. The film is suitable for ages 13 and up.

Prior to the screening, there will be a 6 p.m. reception as well as a live dance performance by Folklore Colombiano. The film begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a brief conversation with the actors. Tickets are $10 ($20 for preferred seating).

Finally, on Sunday, November 17, at 2 p.m., OLA will screen “Pachamama” (Mother Earth) at the Greenport High School (720 Front Street, Greenport). Pachamama is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. She is also known as the earth/time mother. This animated film is free and appropriate for all ages. Greenport High School will be exhibiting student artwork in the style of the film.

For more information on the 16th annual OLA Latino Film Festival of the Hamptons, visit olaofeasternlongisland.org.