SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

It’s the third most widely spoken language in the world, and so it’s no surprise this year’s Spanish Film Festival is spoilt for choice, with 36 features, three visiting filmmakers and a handful of premieres.

Says Festival Director Natalia Ortiz, “I hope that audiences enjoy this selection of the best in contemporary cinema from the Spanish speaking world, and immerse themselves in these stories of life, love, music, food, football, horror and more.”

For horror you can’t go past Alex de la Iglesia’s The Last Circus, a twisted take on the love triangle trope starring two clowns and a beautiful woman. Pan’s Labyrinth’s Guillermo Del Toro also features with the closing night thriller Julia’s Eyes, as well as Rage, a film Del Toro produced about the underworld lives of a recently arrived couple from South America.

To Hell With The Ugly ticks the light-and-easy rom-com box, with enough gruesome gags and machismo to have guys groaning from only about halfway in. It’s charming, utterly watchable, and contains a nice message about comb-overs not making the man. Chico and Rita trades the comedy in for sensuality, in this stunningly realised animation for adults that follows the ill-fated love affair of two Cuban musicians in 1950s New York and Havana. Director Tono Errando will be in attendance to lift the curtain on the creation process.

And football? Look no further than Hermano, the can-do tale of brothers who kickstart their lives from slums to soccer stardom, penned by Festival guest Australian Rohan Jones. (AB)

May 11-22, Palace Norton St & Chauvel Paddington, prices vary, spanishfilmfestival.com