Cuenca’s La Orquídea film festival begins Friday, features 80 movies from 18 countries

The sixth edition of the La Orquídea Cuenca Film Festival begins Friday with the screening of Aquarius, starring special festival guest, Brazilian actress Sonia Braga.

Special festival guest Sonía Braga.

The festival includes 80 films from around the world, including 20 from Ecuador.

Braga, known for her Golden Globe performances in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Moon Over Parador, will be honored at Friday night’s invitation-only festival inauguration at the Carlos Cueva Theater on the campus of the University of Cuenca.

In addition to movie screenings, the festival includes dozens of film workshops at area universities and high schools. “One of our objectives is to promote the art of film to students interested in entering the field,” says Rebeca Alvear, festival director. She says that students will meet with actors, writers, cinematographers, and directors to discuss a wide-range of film-making topics.

“In some of the activities, students will see films projects in progress and learn about the issues that directors face during production,” she adds.

Among the foreign films on the festival program are works from Australia, Iran, France, Britain, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Mexico, Bulgaria and Argentina.

Ecuadorian productions include ‘Guagua’, ‘Si yo muero primero’, ‘Chuquiragua’, ‘Tierra de Mujeres’ and ‘Ukamau y ke’.

Films will be shown at Multicines Milenium Plaza, Pumapungo Theater, Sucre Theater, Carlos Cueva Theater, Casa de la Cultura Theater, and the University of Azuay Autocine.

For the schedule, map of theater locations, and to see film trailers, go the festival website.