Latin Films Shine at Sundance 2011

By Michael Lopez

Sure, Robert Rodriguez is an entertainment mogul now, but if it wasn't for Utah’s Sundance Film Festival, Machete’s mastermind may have never gotten his big break. The annual indie flick showcase is back in full swing this week and buzz is flying about a few other up-and-coming Latino directors with major moviemaking potential.

Launched more than 30 years ago by actor/director Robert Redford, Sundance gives budding filmmakers a forum to show off their work and find distributors to release their movies. The festival showcases everything from low-budget documentaries to stylistic shorts to foreign indie films, including these attention-grabbing films from Latin America:

All Your Dead Ones: Filmed in Colombia, Carlos Moreno’s All Your Dead Ones is not for the faint of heart. The story revolves around a farmer who wakes up to find a giant pile of dead bodies in his cornfield. No, this isn’t some twisted horror movie, but rather a moving and dramatic commentary on the increased violence caused by the country’s civil war.

The Cinema Hold Up: The ultimate nightmare for any filmgoer, Mexico’s The Cinema Hold Up follows four teens as they attempt to rob a local movie theater. Director Iria Gomez Concheiro portrays the pistol-waving kids as lost, drug-infested youths on a mission to add some excitement to their lives.

Elite Squad 2: Sundance isn’t a forum typically used to debut shoot-'em-up sequels, but this is a notable exception. Brazilian director Jose Padilha has already been to the fest three times, becoming a darling of critics and audiences alike. Elite Squad 2 indulges his wildest action fantasies with a special-forces military officer who wages war on Rio's toughest criminals.

Ticket to Paradise: Director Gerardo Chijona Valdes’ Ticket To Paradise tells the story of a young Cuban girl named Eunice who escapes a sexually abusive home life in 1993. Desperate to leave her small town, she hitchhikes to Havana with several other homeless teens. While there are some political undertones, the film is a true story about the bonds they formed on their journey.

What new independent films do you plan to see? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags All Your Dead Ones, Cultura, Elite Squad 2, Hot Stuff, Independent Films, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Sundance Film Festival, The Cinema Hold Up, Ticket to Paradise