Ola Doubles in Size and Venue

By simultaneously entertaining cinephiles and enlightening those seeking to learn more about world culture, Organizacion Latino Americana, or OLA, of Eastern Long Island is changing perspectives and stereotypes about the Latino community, one film frame at a time.

Now in its fifth year, the OLA Latino Film Festival—which will be held in two days of screenings three weeks apart at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton and Guild Hall in East Hampton—has doubled in size and scope from previous years, according to OLA Executive Director Minerva Perez Scelza. This year, a “journey” theme figures prominently in the festival.

“We have made a big journey as an organization in growing the film festival to this size, but this year’s films are also all about journeys,” Ms. Scelza said. “And at the end of these journeys, we know that we are bringing a positive message to the rest of the community.”

Focusing on presenting films that provide insight into Latin American culture while raising awareness of the positive impact of Latinos around the world, this year’s festival offerings include movies about a famous author, a man and his dog who journey across Argentina, two children who trek across Cuba and an adolescent who struggles with the inner turmoil of being born into the wrong body.

“The films are so different, but what ties them together is this theme of journey, and in some loose way, the journey in these films can be translated to our journeys here on the East End as well,” Ms. Scelza said.

Much more than a film festival organizer, OLA is a non-profit outreach organization that promotes social, economic, cultural and educational development of the Latino community here on the East End. By bringing films to such venerable mainstream cultural institutions as the Parrish and Guild Hall, Ms. Scelza said, OLA’s hard work has begun to pay off and she has witnessed the positive ripple effects of the organization’s work.

“Sometimes we see that there is not a great message being put out there about the Latino community, but this film festival is a real prime way to celebrate the positive aspects,” Ms. Scelza said. “I hope that the celebration won’t just end with watching a film, but with really building a positive image within the rest of the community.”

The first installment of the fifth annual OLA Latino Film Festival will be held at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton on Friday, October 3, followed by a second evening with two new films at Guild Hall in East Hampton on Saturday, October 25.

The screenings at the Parrish are free and will begin at 7 p.m. with “A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman,” a Chilean film about the acclaimed author of “Death and the Maiden.” The second film will be “El Perro,” from Argentina, the story of a man and his dog who trek across the Patagonian landscape.

A reception will precede the screenings at 6 p.m.

The Guild Hall screenings will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for both films, “Viva Cuba,” a modern day story about puppy love as two children cross the island of Cuba together, and “XXY,” the tale of a sexually confused 15-year-old.

A free rum bar, sponsored by the Rums of Puerto Rico, will begin at 6:30 p.m. for ticket holders.

For advance ticket purchases at Guild Hall, call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.theatermania.com.

For more information about the OLA Latino Film Festival, call 726-6526 or visit www.HolaOla.org.