This selection of six Colombian films that will be screened during the festival are Real Women Have Curves, Toma de la Embajada (The takeout of the Embassy), Te Busco (Looking for You), Golpe de Estadio (Time Out), Bolivar soy Yo (Bolivar is Me) and Soplo de Vida (Breath of Life). Like most other countries around the globe, Latino films have particular stories to tell, based on either political or cultural perceptions from film makers’ views. Come along and enjoy!

Tuesday 9 March – 7:15 p.m. Room G210
Real Women Have Curves (English)
Directed by Patricia Cardoso
Audience Award Dramatic – Sundance Film Festival 2002

Based on Josefina Lopez’ play, which was inspired by her own experiences. The film tells the story of a first-generation young Mexican-American woman from East Los Angeles who struggles to strike a balance between her mainstream ambitions and her more traditional cultural heritage as she attempts to forge her own path in life.

Thursday 11 March – 7:15 p.m. Room Y215
Bolivar Soy Yo (Bolivar is ME, Spanish)
Director Jorge Alí Triana
Award winner at Mar de Plata and Toulouse Fil Festivals.

Santiago, the actor starring in a soap opera as Simón Bolivar, becomes delusional taking on the persona of the Great Liberator. He accuses the show’s producers of misinterpreting history. Wavering between sanity and lunacy, Santiago decides to accomplish Bolivar’s dream: to create the United South America. Wrapped in his own delirium, he forces a summit of all the "Bolivarian" nations. The actress portraying Manuela Saenz (Amparo Grisales) is sent to restore his sanity. This comedy shares with  Don Quixote the theme of reality, illusion and a feel for the comic ironies of life.

Friday 12 March – 5:45 p.m. Room K05
Toma de la Embajada (The Embassy takeover, Spanish)
Directed by Ciro Duran
Award winner at Cartagena Film Festival 2001, Public’s Best Film and Soundtrack at International Cremona (Italy) Film Festival - 2001

Based on a true story of when in Colombia, the M-19 guerrillas raid reception at the Dominican Republic embassy and take hostages that include 14 ambassadors, notably the United States Embassador, Diego Ascencio. They demand freedom for 311 jailed comrades

Monday 15 March – 7:15 p.m. Room S75
Golpe de Estadio (Time Out)
Directed by: Sergio Cabrera

As bullets fly between Flavio Caballero's revolutionaries and short-fused fireplug César Mora's rural policemen at the remote "New Texas" oil exploration site, guerilla love blooms between Nicolás Montero and Julio Medem muse Emma Suárez—but all combat stops at 3:00. Why? Colombia's in the ‘94 World Cup, that's why! And even tracking down a traitor comes in second before protecting those TV antennas—hey, what about a little truce? "Against the horror, humor," in the tradition of Benigni's JOHNNY STECCHINO and LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, from the director of THE STRATEGY OF THE SNAIL.

Tuesday 16 March – 7:15 p.m. Room Z036
Soplo de Vida (Breath of Life, Spanish)
Directed by Luis Ospina
Awards: Best Colombian Film, Best Director, Cartagena Film Festival; Special Mention-Best Actor [César Mora], Havana Film Festival.

The story is about the young Golondrina, who is found dead in a cheap hotel in Bogota. The former policeman Emerson is, by chance, hired as private detective to investigate the crime. Without knowing the true identity of the victim, he reconstructs the puzzles in Golondrina's life in the course of his investigation. He finds out that four men played an important role in her life: Martillo, a boxer who lost his last fight, the bullfighter José Luis, the corrupt cop Medardo and the blind lottery-ticket seller Mago. And he gradually finds out that his own life was also linked to the beautiful Golondrina. Soplo de vida is a subtle, yet unmistakable attack on the mentality of the Latin-American male - of whom little can be expected - and also on the social and political structure of Colombia.

Wednesday 17 March – 7:15 p.m. Room S75
Te Busco (Looking for You, Spanish)
Directed by Ricardo Coral

Te Busco reconstructs William's memories of the time when as a precocious five-year-old boy he lived with his wildly imaginative uncle Gustavo. The boy becomes an accomplice in Gustavo's intricate mission to seduce Jazmín, a gorgeous singer that performs in a shopping mall in Bogotá. To pull this off, Gustavo hatches a plan to assemble his musician friends and forms a band for the sole purpose of inviting Jazmín to be the lead singer. The group has its moments of glory, and as William goes along with the dreams of his uncle, he discovers the meaning of love, friendship and betrayal. This hilarious film, filled with infectious Salsa music, was the highest grossing Colombia film when it opened in 2002.