Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma” is a great example of the amazing quality of Latino films.

The funny and interesting “Museo,” the music of Linn Da Quebrada in “Bixa Travesty,” Mexican horror movie “Feral,” the Mexican domestic drama “The Chambermaid” and the creepy Chilean stop-motion fairytale “La Casa Lobo” are just a few of the best of 2018.

The seventh annual Latino Film Festival Elgin will be presented from April 5-7 with planned showings of independently made drama and comedy movies from Dominican Republic, Cuba, Peru, Mexico and Costa Rica.

All movies are in Spanish with English subtitles.

The opening celebration will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at Elgin Community College in its Spartan Auditorium, 700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Guests will enjoy the presentation “What I feel for you / Lo que siento por ti.” The movie depicts stories of social inclusion: a mother caring for her two autistic youngsters; a couple trying unsuccessfully to have a child and a father supporting his child, a Special Olympics athlete.

An opening reception will follow.

On Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, there will be a selection of special movies shown at Marcus Theatres, 111 S. Randall Road in Elgin.

Saturday’s showings are intended for mature audiences. At 5 p.m., audiences will see “Mantis Nest / Nido de Mantis,” from Cuba. The film is a crime romance illustrating the migratory crisis from Cuba to the United States in 1994.

At 7 p.m. there will be a showing of Peru’s “All Can Fall / Caiga Quien Caiga” which tells the story of the capture of Vladimiro Montesinos, a former advisor of the country’s ex-president Alberto Fujimori.

Sunday’s showings are for all ages.

At 3 p.m., audiences can see Mexico’s entry of “In Times of Rain / Tiempos de Lluvia.” This is the story of an indigenous woman residing in Mexico City while her mom takes care of her son. There is a conflict when she wants to bring her child to live with her while his grandma thinks it is better for him to stay in the indigenous reserve.

Shown at 5 p.m., Costa Rica’s “The Dance of the Gazelle / El Baile de la Gacela” is a tale that proves how the love and passion for dancing have no age.

Latino Film Festival Elgin brings together audiences to celebrate these rich, personal stories and understand and appreciate various Hispanic culture aspects.

SOURCE: Latino Film Festival news release