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The Dragon Defense La defensa del dragón
Synopsis
A former chess champion, a homeopath, and a watchmaker – old friends Samuel, Marcos, and Joaquin seem to belong to another era. Routine days find them on well-worn paths from work to the cafes and casinos of Bogotá and home. As the stresses of life pile up, the three wonder if they will ever take a risk again. Lighthearted charm and affecting pathos permeate this bittersweet slice-of-life drama about facing failure and turning over a new leaf.
Screenings & Events
In-Person Screening
Wed, Jul 19 @ 6:30pm CDT
at Chicago Cultural Center
Tickets will be available starting Monday, July 3.
Media
Sponsors

Vicenta B
Synopsis
Vicenta is a Cuban santera who possesses the gifts of being able to see into the future and communicate with spirits. She lives harmoniously with her only son, and has loyal customers who come to her for spiritual guidance. When Vicenta’s son decides to leave the country in search of opportunity, she suddenly finds herself deep in a crisis of her own belief—the spirits are no longer speaking to her. Vicenta embarks on a journey to hear the spirits once more, confronted by her solitude in a country where it seems that everyone is losing their faith. Carlos Lechuga (Melaza, Santa & Andrés) returns to the Festival with this lyrical and meditative study of faith, tradition, and human connection.
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream Oct 13 @ 12:00pm CT through Oct 23 @ 11:59pm CT for a 48-hour watch window. Available in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin only.
Media



Film Credits
- Claudia Calviño, Samuel Chauvin, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Consuelo Castillo, Dag Hoel, Carlos Lechuga
- Fabián Suárez, Carlos Lechuga
- Joanna Montero
- Alexis Álvarez Armas
- Denise Guerra
- Linnett Hernández Valdés, Pedro Martínez, Mireya Chapman, Ana Flavia Ramos, Eduardo Martínez, Aimee Despaigne
- Velia Diaz de Villalvilla, Daniel "Gato" Garcés Najar
- Santiago Barbosa Cañon
- Claudia Calviño
- Cacha Films, Promenades Films, Motto Pictures, DAG HOEL FILMPRODUKSJON, Romeo

The Kings of the World Los reyes del mundo
Synopsis
Streetwise teen Rá receives a long-awaited letter from the government certifying his rightful inheritance of family land snatched away decades earlier by paramilitary groups. Intoxicated by the prospect of a place to finally call home, he gathers his found family of brothers—five boys scavenging on the streets of Medellin—and together they embark on a journey across a landscape whose lush forests and inveigling mists conceal a pandemic of pervasive violence. Along the way, they encounter others inhabiting the margins of a society in turmoil, who alternatively offer lessons in courage and kindness, brutality and greed. Swinging between unbridled delirium and bitter reality, Roger Ebert Award-winning director Laura Mora’s (Killing Jesus) kaleidoscopic road movie follows an at-once surreal and perilous odyssey into the legacies of violence in contemporary Colombia.
Winner
58th Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo: Best Production Design. Learn more…

Screenings & Events
Media



Film Credits
- Cristina Gallego, Mirlanda Torres Zapata
- Laura Mora, María Camila Arias
- Sebastián Hernández, Gustavo Vasco
- Daniel Rincón
- David Gallego A.D.F.C.
- Carlos Andrés Castañeda, Davidson Andrés Flores, Brahian Stiven Acevedo, Cristian Camilo David Mora, Cristian David Campaña, Laura Mora
- Carlos E. García
- Leo Heiblum, Alexis Ruiz
- Ciudad Lunar, La Selva Cine, Iris Productions, Tu Vas Voir, Talipot Studio, Mer Films, Caracol TV
Sponsors
International Competition Patron
Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum Family Foundation

Synopsis
Inside a state-run shelter for teenage girls in Bogotá, Colombia, filmmakers Clare Weiskopf and Nicolás van Hemelryck invite ten subjects to imagine a 15-year-old classmate named “Alis.” As they describe this fictitious person, some recount her troubled past and indominable nature; others, her sexual experiences, or their own romantic relationships with her. In time, “Alis” begins to take shape as a complex projection of their own identities, revealing intimate truths about the traumas, loves, and lives of the interviewed adolescents. In this impressively crafted documentary–winner of the Youth Jury Prize and the Teddy Award for Best Documentary at the Berlin Film Festival–Alis uses its innovative conceit to create an insightful and moving portrait of youth and resilience.
Winner
58th Chicago International Film Festival Gold Hugo and OutLook Special Mention. Learn more…

Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream Oct 13 @ 12:00pm CT through Oct 23 @ 11:59pm CT for a 48-hour watch window. Available in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin only.
Media



Film Credits
- Radu Stancu, Alexandra Galvis
- Tatiana Andrade, Anne Fabini, Gustavo Vasco, Clare Weiskopf, Nicolás Van Hemelryck
- Gustavo Vasco (ECCA), Anne Fabini
- Helkin René Díaz G. (ADFC)
- Marius Leftărache
- Miguel Miranda, José Miguel Tobar
- Lise Lense-Moller, Vlad Radulescu, Nicolás Van Hemelryck, Clare Weiskopf, Ramona Grama
- Casatarántula
Sponsors
Documentary Sponsor
Documentary Patron
Cynthia Stone Raskin
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Memories of My Father El olvido que seremos
Synopsis
Beloved by his boisterous family and the Medellín communities he cared for, Doctor Héctor Abad Gomez was a prominent physician, tireless public health activist, and cherished father. This adaptation of the tender memoir by son and celebrated author Héctor Abad Faciolince moves between sun-dappled carefree days in the 70s and a starker, foreboding late 80s defined by violent forces and ideological extremes to chronicle the life and times of Dr. Abad, a courageous and resolute man of principle.
Screenings & Events
Post-Screening Discussion
Post-screening discussion led by Professor Juan Martinez, Northwestern University
Post-screening discussion presented by: