National Hispanic Cultural Center

Beat the heat with the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s free Summer Film Series, beginning May 13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT
Stephen Hamway
505-412-3758
stephen.hamway@state.nm.us

Albuquerque, NM – The National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) invites New Mexicans to enjoy summer with a series of free community film screenings over the next several months, beginning with the 1993 cult favorite Bound by Honor (Blood In, Blood Out) on Saturday, May 13. 

“Our Summer Film Series showcases a wide variety of classics, ranging from documentaries to magical realism-tinged thrillers,” said NHCC Interim Executive Director Zack Quintero. “Each movie showcases a different aspect of the Hispanic and Latina/o/e/x experience and will be accompanied by talks and activities that allow viewers to experience the movies from a new perspective.” 

The series kicks off with a 30th anniversary screening of Bound by Honor, directed by Taylor Hackford. This film, based on the true-life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, focuses on the intertwined lives of Chicano stepbrothers Paco and Cruz and their biracial cousin Miklo, who start out as members of a street gang in East Los Angeles.  

As dramatic incidents occur, their lives and friendships are forever changed. Bound by Honor was filmed throughout the Spanish-speaking areas of Los Angeles and inside California’s San Quentin State Prison, and has become a cult-classic film within the Mexican-American community. The film is rated R for strong violence, language, sex, and drug content. Before the film begins, join us for a reception, book-signing, and talk from Jimmy Santiago Baca! 

June films include El Cantante (2006) a biopic that traces the life of the late salsa singer Héctor Lavoe – on Friday, June 2, and The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) – which follows revolutionary leader Che Guevara’s early days riding through South America – on Friday, June 30. Before El Cantante begins, join us for salsa dancing with instructor Jessica Montoya at 6:00 p.m. The Motorcycle Diaries will feature a motorcycle show at 5:00 p.m. and a Capoeira dancing demonstration in honor of traditions of resistance with local dance academy Capoeira Girassol at 6:00 p.m. Both screenings begin at 7:00 p.m. 

The series resumes in August with a pair of films. On Thursday, Aug. 10, explore the history of the agave plant in Mexico and the Southwest in the documentary film Agave is Life (2014). Directed by David Brown, this film explores the story of agave through archaeological, ethnographic, and modern-day vignettes, closing with concerns about threats to the plant’s future. Enjoy food trucks and a cash bar beforehand, along with a performance by the University of New Mexico’s Mariachi Ensemble from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The film will be shown in conjunction with the NHCC’s forthcoming art exhibition Aliento a Tequila y el Arte de Agave 

Finally, head to the Center on Friday, Aug. 25 for a screening of the 2006 classic Pan’s Labyrinth, directed by Guillermo del Toro. This fantasy horror film with magical realism elements follows the story of a young girl in Falangist Spain who encounters a mythical world centered on an overgrown, abandoned labyrinth. This film is rated R for graphic violence and language. Join us beforehand for food trucks, a cash bar, and Spanish music. 

All events associated with the Summer Film Series are free, thanks to support from Bank of America. All films start at 7:00 p.m. in the NHCC’s Bank of America Theatre. To learn more and register, visit nhccnm.org/events. 

More about the National Hispanic Cultural Center The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities. The NHCC presents mission-related events throughout the year, some produced by its history, literary, performing, and visual arts programs, and others by partnering with external organizations. Events take place at its 20-plus-acre campus, which includes a plaza, an art museum, a historically designated building, a library, and a genealogy center. The NHCC is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and is further supported by the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. 


Related Photos

"Bound By Honor" Poster

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