XicanIndie FilmFest Director Daniel Salazar (left) with actor, director & drama professor, Hugo Carbajal

Article & Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media (see photo gallery below)

The XicanInidie XX Film Festival wrapped up its 20th annual edition with an array of films viewed by hundreds of Latino film enthusiasts. The festival took place over four days April 5-8 at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Denver.

Andrian Molina “Moina Speaks” performs as part of his debut for his first film festival screening of his dreamscape feature film ROOT

Along with the many moving and entertaining films the festival featured film makers, producers, celebrities and after parties. The first couple of nights were somewhat low in attendance due to cold and snowy weather but the both theaters were filled for the remaining two days.

This year’s festival was dedicated to the legacy of the Chicano Movement as told by a variety of film makers. Festival Director Daniel Salazar states in the festival program, that “there were so many new, moving documentaries about the Chicano Movement that could not be overlooked.

Jay Michael Jaramillo (left) with friends & family stands in front of his art work at Su Teatro. The art is also part of the feature film ROOT by Molina Speaks.

“It was just there, thus the theme for this year’s 20th edition of the XicanIndie Film Festival. Before the Resistance there was the Chicano Movement.” See more info and some of the trailers HERE

Abel Sanchez (center) brought his very entertaining film “Song For Cesar” featuring the music Jorge & Carlos Santana, Cal Tjadar, Azteca, Malo, Joan Baez, and many others who helped define the music & message of the United Farm Workers movement.

Su Tearto Artistic Director Tony Garcia says of this year’s festival, “The exciting news about our time is that we are in an incredible period of activism where teachers, teenagers and women are in the streets in huge numbers. The Chicano Movement was at it’s peak from 1965 to 1975. It galvanized a community and changed the face of this country even if a large section of the country refuses to believe it has changed.”

See our related article” “Who Really Killed Neva Romero & “Los Seis de Boulder”? XicanIndie Film Festival” HERE

Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media