Cinema de Mayo returns with featured filmmaker, ballet folklorico, live music

It’s time for CINEMA DE MAYO, our three-day long celebration of Mexican culture, actors and films on May 3, 4 and 5. Our celebration includes the screening of three short films by filmmaker Paloma Martinez and live performances by Christian Peña, a University of Houston-Victoria student, and the VISD Ballet Folklorico dance group directed by Elsa Piña.

Admission is free with a $5 suggested donation for adults.

Concessions, including pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) and more, will be for sale at the Junior League of Victoria screenings on Friday. Thanks to our two venues, the Junior League of Victoria and Aero Crafters, for opening their doors to us for this special 3-day celebration. Sponsors include the Law Offices of Marek, Griffin and Knaupp, Walker Keeling LLP, To Do Victoria, Molly O’Connor Kemp and kleancorp international.

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019

7 p.m. 🎸 Live music by Christian Peña, University of Houston-Victoria student and Gonzales, TX native 🎸

8:15 p.m. 📽 CRISANTO STREET (2017) dir. Paloma Martinez

 In the shadow of Silicon Valley, a hidden community thrives despite difficult circumstances. For one resident, eight-year-old Geovany Cesario, impending change is bittersweet. When the time comes to leave Crisanto Street, Geovany uses his camera to document the day.

8:30 p.m. 📽 MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (2004) dir. Walter Salles

 The dramatization of a motorcycle road trip Che Guevara went on in the youth that showed him his life’s calling.

SATURDAY, May 4, 2019

7 p.m. 💃 VISD Ballet Folklorico performance

8:15 p.m. 📽 GIRL, 14  (2017) dir. Paloma Martinez (World Premiere)

As three teens prepare for their Quinceañera celebration, each learns what it means to come of age as a Mexican-American woman.  

8:30 p.m. 📽 SELENA (1997) dir. Gregory Nava

 The true story of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart topping albums on the Latin music charts.

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019

7 p.m. 🎸 Live music by Christian Peña

8:15 p.m. 📽 ENFORCEMENT HOURS (SANCTUARY CITY HOTLINE)  (2017) dir. Paloma Martinez

In a climate of xenophobia and confusion, a San Francisco hotline aims to provide limited assistance to a targeted population.

8:30 p.m. 📽 FROM PRADA TO NADA (2011) dir. Angel Gracia

 A Latina spin on Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” where two spoiled sisters who have been left penniless after their father’s sudden death are forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles.  In a climate of xenophobia and confusion, a San Francisco hotline aims to provide limited assistance to a targeted population.

Featured Live Acts

• Christian Peña 
• VISD Ballet Folklorico

Featured Filmmaker

PALOMA MARTINEZ

Paloma began her storytelling career as a labor organizer in her native Texas. With her films, she hopes to empower communities and spark dialogue.

In 2018, Paloma was named one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker. Her short documentaries have been featured in The Guardian and The New York Times Op-Docs and screened at leading festivals including Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Doc NYC, and San Francisco International Film Festival, winning multiple awards.

Crisanto Street won both the Golden Gate Award for Best Short Documentary and Best Family Film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Her co-directed short The Shift was shortlisted for the BAFTA Student Film Awards.

A graduate of Stanford University’s Documentary Film MFA program, she is proudly from Houston and is currently working on a project in Mexico.

Before each film, short films by Martinez will be shown. Saturday’s screening of Girl, 14 will be the short’s World Premiere screening.

*All screenings are outdoors, weather permitting

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