Sydney Latin American Film Festival 2017

Overview

At a time when representation continues to prove an issue in cinema, this year's Sydney Latin American Film Festival is leading by example. Already responsible for showcasing the kinds of South American flicks that wouldn't make it to Australian cinema screens otherwise, the 2017 event — the fest's 12th — also features a lineup that boasts gender parity.

When SLAFF rolls into Dendy Opera Quays between September 7 and 11, half of its program will be directed by female filmmakers. That includes opening night's Havana-set On the Roof, Everything Else featuring Oscar-nominated Babel actress Adriana Barraza, and documentary When Guns Go Silent, about Colombian guerrillas trying to make peace with the government. Other highlights range from Bad Influence, about the issues and struggles of the Indigenous Chilean Mapuche people to Dominican sports drama Sambá (a hit at this year's Tribeca Film Festival) to closing night's Bad Lucky Goat, about two siblings on the run after accidentally killing a farmyard animal.

In total, SLAFF 2017 will screen eight features, two documentaries and seven shorts across its five-day stint, highlighting the latest movies from Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. And if that's not enough excitement, the bookending screenings will feature parties and performances.