In various parts of the Andes, a diverse range of films is challenging the hegemonic practices of film production, archiving, and distribution. These productions emerge from marginalized communities, using simple, often outdated devices to make films. These films resonate with sectors of society that have felt underrepresented by mainstream media, showcasing histories and memories that are often lost in the complex socio-political contexts from which they arise.

On the 9th and 10th of October, we will present a selection of these films curated and introduced by three Latin American scholars who are part of the book Small Cinemas of the Andes: New Aesthetics, Practices and Platforms (2023). After the screenings, they will also engage in a discussion with the audience.

This program is organized in collaboration with the Centre for Research and Documentation on Latin America (CEDLA) at the University of Amsterdam and their seminar: Cinema & Culture in the Andes. The seminar takes place on October 10 and is free of charge. If you wish to attend, please follow this link: https://www.cedla.nl/events

Peruvian Horror Cinema: La casa rosada
Palito Ortega Matute | 2016 | Peru | 111’ | Spanish, EN subtitles

Adrián Mendoza (52), a father and widower, faces a difficult struggle for survival alongside his children, Juan de Dios (12) and María del Carmen (10), due to the effects of the internal conflict in the turbulent city of Ayacucho during the 1980s. Amid the chaos, he is detained by the authorities and labeled a suspected terrorist. His position as a university professor complicates his fate. In an atmosphere of pain, chaos, and disappearances, his children begin a tireless search, where every path leads them to the feared 'Casa Rosada.'

This is the posthumous work of Palito Ortega Matute, one of the most prominent filmmakers of Peruvian regional cinema.