The Hispanic Graduate Student Association (HiGSA) is celebrating its fifth annual “Cinehassee” Iberoamerican Film Festival all month long, featuring films that highlight indigenous communities. Film festival director, Luis Porto, says the theme emerged after careful planning to highlight the history and continued cultural importance of these communities in Latin America and beyond. 

“I find it interesting how we’re influenced by our indigenous communities,” says Porto. “It is sad how the evolution and transition into modern culture has often left behind these indigenous communities. The festival organizers wanted to highlight movies that bring attention to how indigenous communities can be found in our modern culture.” 

One of the final films to be shown in this year’s festival, “El sueño del Mara’akame” strives to accomplish that goal on Friday, Oct. 22. The film follows Nieri, a Huichol Indian who dreams of playing with a rock band in Mexico City. In this coming-of-age tale, Nieri’s father, the shaman of the tribe, wants a different life for his son.

Porto says the film fit the criteria for this year’s festival because it juxtaposes both modern and traditional values and highlights the Huichol tribe.

As an avid cinephile, Porto is intrigued by films that speak to the breadth of humanity in its many facets. One of his favorite films is the sci-fi drama, “The Martian,” starring Matt Damon.   

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