Chicana from Chicago

This weekend, starting Friday ,March 2 to Sunday Marc 4, in concert with International Women’s Day, the Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Festival, founded by Josefina Lopez (Real Women Have Curves), with newly installed Festival Director and Film Independent’s Project Involve selected filmmaker, Sandra Varona, celebrates their 6th year drawing attention to the growing number of Latinas working behind the camera.  Along with 20 films on tap, there will workshops and panels and obvio, fiestas, all taking place at newly renovated CASA 0101, a state of the art cultural theater that features a 99-seat theater, art gallery and learning center in the vibrant community of Boyle Heights.  When Lopez bought it over a decade ago, it was a tiny neglected storefront in a depressing neighborhood.  Today, this stretch on 1st has seen a visible revitalization thanks to artists like Lopez who are from the area and create opportunities to showcase the area’s cultural arts.  Over email Josefina said, “It’s exciting to see this festival grow and to finally have it presented at our new theater.  Bringing this many Latina directors and this much talent is a real celebration of our community, femininity, and creativity.   It’s going to be so much fun!”