LA OLA NYC 2018 – Independent Films from Spain

Now in its 4th edition, the annual film showcase brings the best independent contemporary films from Spain to New York from June 15 to June 17.

LA OLA is an annual showcase of the best independent contemporary cinema from Spain, offering a curated selection of critically acclaimed films in Los Angeles, Mexico City and New York City. The 4th Edition of LA OLA takes place in the emblematic Anthology Film Archives, in Manhattan. The showcase is designed to support the international visibility of new Spanish cinema, rarely distributed through mainstream commercial channels. The Spanish filmmaking scene is emerging as one of the most fertile and successful in Europe, with a new generation of filmmakers who are winning great recognition at prestigious international film festivals (such as Locarno, Berlinale, Rotterdam or Cannes). LA OLA represents a rare opportunity to see internationally awarded films in three of the world’s cultural capitals. This is a not-to-be-missed event for devotees of contemporary international cinema and a pivotal cultural meeting point for two continents.

Júlia Ist

• On Saturday, June 16 at 8 pm. Q&A with director Elena Martín and the producers after the show.
• Directed by Elena Martín, Spain, 2017, 90 minutes. In German and Catalan with English subtitles. Watch trailer.
• Preceded by Santa Ana, by César Pesquera, 2017, 8 minutes. In English.

Julia decides to leave Barcelona to study in Berlin. She won’t think about leaving home too much, ready for an adventure. The city, cold and gray, gives her an icier welcome than she expected, and confronts her expectations with the harsh reality: Julia’s new life seems to be far from the one she imagined in the classrooms of Barcelona.

Donkeyote

• On Sunday, June 17 at 5:30 pm.
• Directed by Chico Pereira, Spain, 2017, 86 minutes. In Spanish with English subtitles. Watch trailer.
• Preceded by The Disinherited (Los Desheredados), by Laura Ferrés, 2017, 18 minutes. In Catalan and Spanish with English subtitles.

Manolo, who leads a simple life in Southern Spain, loves two things: his animals and wandering through nature. Against the advice of his doctor, he decides to plan one last trek in the U.S., the brutal 2,200-mile Trail of Tears, but not without his donkey. As their adventure continues, Manolo’s wondrous friendship with his animal finds a beautiful equilibrium. Will they find the American West? More importantly, will they be able to see life as it is, and not as it should be?

Niñato

• On Friday, June 15 at 8 pm. Q&A with the director Adrián Orr after the show, followed by a reception sponsored by Cervezas Alhambra.
• Directed by Adrián Orr, Spain, 2017, 72 minutes. In Spanish with English subtitles. Watch trailer.
• Preceded by Aliens, by Luis López Carrasco, 2017, 23 minutes. In Spanish with English subtitles.

David, aka “Niñato,” a young, unemployed single father and occasional rapper, lives with his parents, his child, his sister, and his niece. In the midst of this rather peculiar family life, he tries to preserve a few minutes for himself and his passion for rhyme and music. David’s dedication to keeping his dream alive reinforces his concern with the education of the children, especially the youngest, Oro. Little by little, Oro’s growing confidence and his father’s passion seem to reinforce each other in mutual harmony, and we sense that David has succeeded in passing on what Oro needs to find his own way in life.

The Sea Stares at Us from Afar (El mar nos mira de lejos)

• On Sunday, June 17 at 8 pm. Q&A with Manuel Muñoz after the show.
• Directed by Manuel Muñoz, Spain, 2017, 92 minutes. In Spanish with English subtitles. Watch trailer.
• Preceded by “Quiasma”, by Tono Mejuto, 2018, 12 minutes.

The legend of an ancient and forgotten civilization lies buried beneath a large expanse of dunes. For more than a century, certain travelers have reached this remote and desolate territory looking for the traces of ancient inhabitants, the ruins of a city, or perhaps a sort of lost utopia. Ignorant of these myths and the romantic delusions of archaeologists and adventurers, a few men, barely visible among the sands, today inhabit in solitude that place facing the sea.