OKCine Latino Film Festival returns to Capitol Hill for its 8th year

Latino filmmakers from all over the United States, Mexico, and Canada present their best big-screen offerings at the OKCine Latino Film Festival. The eighth annual iteration of this 3-day event will kick off with a ticketed opening night Friday, Apr. 22 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the jewel of 25th street, the historic Yale theater.

Featuring offerings from the well-established to the first-time filmmakers, this event is a celebration of the diversity of Latino cinematic creativity. OKCine offers an exclusive opportunity for film fans to meet the filmmakers and get a behind-the-scenes look at their experiences in the film industry.

The opening night activities will be held appropriately in the newly renovated Yale Theater. The lavish art deco interior harkens back to the day with the silver screen was king and the theater was at the heart of a community. This event and others like it showcase the ongoing revitalization of the Capitol Hill area by developers and community leaders working together. You can read more about The Yale Theater’s dramatic resurrection by developers Steve Mason & Aimee Ahpeatone in this article on VeloCityOKC.com.

Leading up to the festivities, OKCine also hosted the OKCine Latino Youth Film Institute Class VI. This invaluable resource gives Oklahoma youth exposure to the film industry through hands-on learning. Throughout this four-week course, each aspiring filmmaker learns the theories and processes of creating a film work of their own. From planning and scriptwriting to filming and editing each budding cinematographer is presented with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to start them down the path of movie-making. The culmination of this year’s class will be a short film created by the students which will debut at the opening night event.

Beyond the opening night, OKCine offers two days of film viewing events that are free and open to all to attend. Saturday, Apr. 23 from 12 to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Apr. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. The festival offerings are hosted at the Capitol Hill Library at 327 SW 27th street. These viewings include an assortment of films and documentaries that were submitted to the festival. Also, a panel of established filmmakers will be available to share their experiences in film and to further engage the community with the film industry.

Calle Dos Cinco in Capitol Hill and Chamber members Fowler Automotive and The Yale theater, alongside Dental Depot and Morelos Supermercado are proud to sponsor this innovative and inclusive event. Opening night tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at https://www.historiccapitolhill.com/okcine-latino-film-festival