MIAMI LATIN FILM FESTIVAL

BY MARTA BARBER

After opening Wednesday with Finally, the Sea, the Miami Latin Film Festival begins in earnest its eighth consecutive year with an even more ambitious festival. Included in the presentations are 38 feature films, 17 documentaries and 27 shorts from 20 different countries. Screenings will be held at Miami Beach Regal and Cypress Creek cinemas. In addition to countries whose offerings are festival regulars -- Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil -- there is a strong presence from Chile, Colombia and Peru. There are also rarer submissions from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Portugal and countries not usually associated with Latin culture such as Romania (at least Latin as it is interpreted in the United States) and Austria.

With its ample repertoire, the Miami Latin Film Festival offers South Florida an opportunity to watch films that rarely are distributed in this country. You may know the Almodóvars of Spain, the Lombardis of Peru or the Barrencos of Brazil. But the festival opens a door into the lesser-known film productions of these countries besides offering a peek into their cultures. For 10 days, from today through April 25, moviegoers will have a plethora of themes to choose from -- romantic comedies to drama to thrillers.

Tickets cost $9 for screenings at Regal South Beach and $8 for Cypress Creek and will be available at the theater of choice. For more information see www.hispanicfilm.com or call 877-877-7677.