Past Events

This is the untold story of the women who fought on the front lines against the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza during Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution in the 1970s to bring about social and political reform. Despite their sacrifice, battlefield victories and in many cases extraordinary leadership and power during the revolution's early days, their battle for equality continues to this day, in the face of the new authoritarian regime of former Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Note: Director in attendance! Stay for a conversation and Q&A session with director Jenny Murray.

Fleeing from fellow officers, Santiago — an Argentinian policeman — crosses into Uruguay seeking refuge. With no money or shelter, but with plenty of kindness and wit, he begins to rebuild his life with help from the locals, and he even meets a woman he believes could be the love of his life… Un cabo suelto is a deadpan, endearing romantic comedy that had its World Premier at the Venice Film Festival and was Nominated for Best Ibero-American Fiction Comedy at the 2026 Platino Awards.

Based on true events. Marco explores the story of a concentration camp deportee who never existed. For years, Enric Marco, a charismatic man, was able to maintain, both in public opinion and in the view of his own family, a deeply complex lie: that he had been a prisoner in a nazi concentration camp. A man who rose to the presidency of the Spanish Association of Holocaust victims, Marco became a prominent figure for his supposed bravery and suffering until one day a journalist discovered that his survival story was, in fact, a fabrication.

Note: Stay for the discussion! The community is invited to stay after the screening and join in a public conversation around some of the issues that the film raises: What moves someone to impersonate a victim of an historical crime such as the Holocaust? What challenges do keepers of collective memory (victims, historians) face when confronted with the kind of fraud that the film exposes? More generally, how shall we deal in an age of information overload and celebrity culture with the phenomena of fake news, fraudsters, “catfishing” and other forms of lies? What ethical and intellectual mechanisms can be put in place to defend against the erosion of trust in others? Dr. Kristin Semmens, Associate Professor in the Department of History and the Holocaust Studies Graduate Program in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures at UVic, will introduce the discussion with a brief presentation entitled “Holocaust Memory in Spain”. Members of the Hispanic Film Society of Victoria will moderate. The conversation will follow the standard protocols of public debates. We acknowledge the sponsorship of the Critical Humanities Commons in the Faculty of Humanities, UVic, for sponsoring this film and activity.

Everything happens fast in Lima in the summer of 1992. Elena and her young daughters Lucia and Aurora are about to leave Peru. They are apprehensive about saying goodbye to a country, to family and to friends, as well as to Carlos, the elusive father and ex-husband who has all but disappeared from their lives. In the midst of Peru's political chaos, the announced departure will give rise to contradictory feelings, reviving regrets and generating new illusions. Centered on Carlos and his new-found bond with his daughters, Reinas is a moving tale of family relationships amid social upheaval.

This electrifying documentary traces the music’s journey from its gritty, migratory roots in 1960s New York to its modern-day home in Cali, Colombia—the city where salsa experienced its most enthusiastic following, celebrating its legacy and power to unite cultures. It delves into everyday life in Cali to portray dancers, collectors, young enthusiasts, and veteran masters who keep the tradition alive in cabarets, competitions, and streets. Featuring rare archival footage and intimate reflections from icons like Rubén Blades, Henry Fiol, and Willie Rosario, it celebrates the popular resilience of a genre that speaks deeply about identity, community, and passion.