The true story of Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso that rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world but also his own life.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures at UMass Lowell is excited to invite you to our Latin Film Festival on Identity and LGBTQ+ Experiences, hosted at the Luna Theater during the Fall of 2024. This festival will showcase five films that explore diverse narratives within the Latin LGBTQ+ community.

This festival is made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Pragda Film Club Grant, with additional support from the Provost Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Saab Center for Portuguese Studies, the River Hawk Scholars Academy, the Department of Sociology, and the Latin American Studies and Film Studies minors at UMass Lowell.

We are pleased to announce that entrance to all film screenings is free, and the festival is open to the entire community. However, seating is limited, so once all the seats are taken, no more admissions will be allowed. Be sure to arrive early to secure your spot!

Please note that all films will be screened on Thursdays at 7:30 pm:

September

Cassandro—Mexican-(Spanish)—Thursday, September 12

October

Alice junior—Brazil (Portuguese) Thursday, October 3^rd

Bad hair—Venezuelan (Spanish) —Thursday, October 17^th

November

Don’t call me son—Brazil (Portuguese) – Thursday, November 7^th

December

My Emptiness and I- Spain (Spanish)—Thursday, December 12^th

Each screening will include an introduction to the film and LGBTQ+ themes relevant to the country in which the film takes place, followed by the screening itself and a Q&A session. The films will be presented in their original languages, Spanish or Portuguese, and all screenings will include English subtitles.