Fest will celebrate Hispanic and Latinx/e culture, storytelling, and artistic expression 

RED BANK, NJ –  The Count Basie Center for the Arts is proud to announce the inaugural NJ Hispanic Film Festival, taking place Friday, October 4- Sunday, October 6, 2024, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event will bring together filmmakers, community members, and organizations to showcase the richness and diversity of Hispanic experiences through film. The festival is being presented by OceanFirst Bank. The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey is a supporting sponsor.

“I am deeply passionate about diverse storytelling, particularly stories that reflect the Hispanic and Latin American communities. These are stories of perseverance, courage, and resilience that resonate with both Hispanic and non-Hispanic audiences,” said Carlos Medina, President & CEO The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. “I am very proud of the Count Basie Center for the Arts for supporting the Hispanic community and championing diverse storytelling.”

The festival will show more than 15 films, including: I’ll Carry You With Me (Audience Choice Winner at Sundance Film Festival 2020, Sony Pictures Classics), Totem (Academy Award Best Foreign Film 2023),  No (Sony Pictures Classics), Quinceañera (Sony Pictures Classics), Your Monsters (Midnight Horror), Nosotros Los Pobres (Golden Age Classic), Encanto (Walt Disney) and six international shorts, including two from last year’s Breakthrough Filmmaker Fest –  Con Mis Dedos and Subjective Worlds. Programming will also showcase family programs, talk backs and cultural workshops. A panel discussion on Undocu-Filmmaking, led by the Undocumented Film Collective and industry experts is scheduled, as well as a panel on Women in Media, led by Doris Martinez, Owner/Founder DFez Content Media Management and Latino Circuit TV.  The closing night will feature a concert with Xol Azul Band at the Vogel.

“I’m so happy that the Count Basie Center is giving Hispanic cinema the attention it deserves and am so glad to participate in this wonderful celebration,” said Heidi Ewing, director of I’ll Carry You With Me, who will participate in an audience talk back after the screening of her film.

“A core foundation of the Basie Center’s mission is to make the arts an inclusive experience for all,” says Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “This festival puts the spotlight on Hispanic culture and celebrates the vibrant diversity that is a wonderful part of our community.”

More details, including a full program schedule, are available here.

Count Basie Center for the Arts

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that embrace and amplify the diversity of the region.  As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. The Basie Center has hosted an array of world-class artists, including Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Brandi Carlile, Crosby Stills & Nash, Tony Bennett, Diana Ross and Ringo Starr. Count Basie Center programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.