Latin American and Spanish Film Festival 2025
10th to 12th & 16th to 19th October 2025
The Latin America & Spain Film Festival (LASFF) is a cultural event dedicated to contemporary cinematographic productions from Latin America and Spain.
We are delighted to present the 23rd edition of the Latin America & Spain Film Festival (LASFF) in New Zealand. Throughout the years, LASFF has showcased Latin American and Spanish films with diverse themes, aiming to help the New Zealand audience understand and get closer to our cultures.
Moreover, it is a non-profit event that aims to bring together Latin American, Spanish, and other New Zealand communities through the big screen.
This year’s Festival has 8 participating nations: Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Cuba and Peru.
Films:
Kobra Self-Portrait | Kobra Auto-Retrato
Drama | Director: Lina Chamie | Exempt | 84 Mins | Spanish | Country: Brazil
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Brazil to New Zealand
Sleepless all night, Kobra remembers his life, from the poor childhood in the outskirts of São Paulo to the international recognition of his work. The events unfold between reality and dream. In an intimate journey, we get to know a rebellious, self-taught youngster doing graffiti illegally on the streets of São Paulo´s suburbs, up to worldwide fame as a muralist and peace activist.
Em uma noite de insônia, Kobra revê sua vida desde a infância difícil na periferia até o sucesso mundial como muralista. Os acontecimentos se desenrolam entre a realidade e o sonho, desde o grafite ilegal nas ruas de São Paulo até pintar grandes murais em mais de 30 países. Kobra, que representa tantos outros em suas batalhas, passa a entender o poder da arte de rua como voz política e democrática.
Fri 10 October 6:30pm | Book Here
Sat 18 October 10:30 am | Book Here
Dear Gentleman | Estimados señores
Drama | Director: Patricia Castañeda | PG | 98 Mins | Spanish | Country: Columbia
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Columbia to New Zealand
Dear Gentlemen brings to light the little-known sufraggist movement in Colombia. Set in 1954, the film follows Esmeralda Arboleda, a fiercely intelligent leader who sparks a revolution in a society deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions – a revolution that culminates in a fierce and decisive debate.
A women group embarks on a historic struggle to bring the issue of women’s right to vote before the National Constituent Assembly. With bold marches, radio appearances, and a brilliant media strategy that puts them on the front page, they achieve their goal, but the real challenge begins during the debate, where they face fierce opposition.
Esmeralda Arboleda must endure personal attacks from the assembly members, and just as she is about to speak, she receives a heartbreaking call: her son has suffered a serious accident. She is torn between her duty as a mother and her commitment to the cause, with an unfavorable outcome.
Although all seems to be lost, her perseverance leads to a historic victory when women’s suffrage is finally approved, marking a turning point in Colombia’s history.
Estimados Señores arroja luz sobre el poco conocido movimiento sufragista en Colombia. Ambientada en 1954, la película sigue a Esmeralda Arboleda, una líder ferozmente inteligente, que enciende una revolución en una sociedad arraigada en tradiciones patriarcales, que culmina en un encarnizado y decisivo debate.
Un grupo de mujeres se embarcan en una lucha histórica para llevar el derecho de voto femenino a la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente. Con marchas audaces, apariciones en radio y una brillante estrategia mediática, que las coloca en primera plana, logran su objetivo, pero el verdadero desafío comienza en el debate, donde enfrentan una feroz oposición.
Esmeralda Arboleda, debe soportar ataques personales por parte de los asambleístas, y justo cuando está por intervenir recibe una llamada desgarradora: su hijo ha sufrido un grave accidente. Se debate entre su deber como madre y su compromiso con la causa, con un resultado no favorable.
Aunque parece que todo está perdido, su perseverancia lleva a una victoria histórica cuando finalmente se aprueba el voto femenino, marcando un antes y un después en la historia de Colombia.
Fri 17 October 5:15pm | Book Here
Sun 19 October 3:00 pm | Book Here
Giants of La Mancha | Gigantes: Una Aventura Extraordinaria
Animation | Director: Gonzalo Gutiérrez | G | 88 Mins | Spanish | Country: Argentina
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Argentina to New Zealand.
12-year-old Alfonso, heir of Don Quixote, and his three imaginary musical rabbits are joined by Pancho and Victoria to save their beloved town of La Mancha from a huge storm, created by an evil corporation seeking to own the land.
Gigantes es una aventura extraordinaria que cuenta la historia de Alfonso, un niño de 12 años muy decidido y con una gran imaginación, que ve una terrible amenaza en una serie de tormentas que azotan a su pequeño y pintoresco pueblo, obligando a sus habitantes al exilio. El, junto a sus valientes amigos, Pancho Panza y Victoria, harán lo imposible para detener esta situación.
Sun 12 October 1:00pm | Book Here
Sun 19 October 1:00 pm | Book Here
The Promise | La Promesa
Drama | Director: Oscar Blancarte | M | 104 Mins | Portuguese | Country: Mexico
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Mexico to New Zealand.
In a remote and picturesque town, like many in Mexico, with people leading simple, everyday lives, that of a rebellious boy with infinite potential changes thanks to the teachings of his grandfather and teacher, and to books.
En un alejado y pintoresco pueblo, como muchos de los que hay en México, con personas de vidas sencillas y cotidianas, la vida de un niño rebelde y con infinito potencial cambia gracias a las enseñanzas de su abuelo, su profesor y los libros.
Sun 12 October 3:00pm | Book Here
Sun 19 October 10:30 am | Book Here
Out In the Open | Intemperie
Drama-Western | Director: Benito Zambrano | R16 | 103 Mins | Spanish | Country: Spain
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Spain to New Zealand.
Out in the Open tells the moving story of a friendship between a young boy who sets out on a journey across the desert, fleeing from the village’s ruthless overseer, and a shepherd who has long lived on the margins of society.
Intemperie narra la conmovedora historia de amistad entre un niño que emprende un viaje a través del desierto huyendo del implacable capataz del pueblo, y un pastor que hace tiempo que vive al margen de la sociedad.
Sun 12 October 10:30am | Book Here
Sat 18 October 3:00pm | Book Here
Maria
Biography/Drama | Directors: Pablo Larrain | M | 123 Mins | English | Country: Chile
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Chile to New Zealand.
Maria Callas, the world’s greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity.
Maria Callas, la cantante de ópera más grande del mundo, vive los últimos días de su vida en el París de los años 70, mientras confronta su identidad.
Sat 11 October 10:30am | Book Here
Thu 16 October 7:15pm | Book Here
The World of Nelsito | El Mundo de Nelsito
Drama | Director: Fernando Pérez | M | 102 Mins | Spanish | Country: Cuba
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Cuba to New Zealand.
Dramatic comedy that introduces us to Nelsito, a 16-year-old autistic boy. After running away from home, he is the victim of a car accident. From his stretcher and through his imaginary pen, Nelsito reveals the dark and hidden side of all those he lives with and those around him: perverse children, murderous women, adorable swindling girls… Now recovered, Nelsito returns home. There we will meet those same characters, now simple neighbours, real, everyday people, but which are the real ones, those common mortals or the ones he has imagined?
Comedia dramática que nos presenta a Nelsito, un chico autista de 16 años. Tras escapar de casa es víctima de un accidente de coche. Desde su camilla y a través de su pluma imaginaria, Nelsito nos va revelando el lado oscuro y oculto de todos aquellos con los que vive y le rodean: niños perversos, mujeres asesinas, adorables muchachas estafadoras… Ya recuperado, Nelsito vuelve a casa. Allí conoceremos a esos mismos personajes, ahora simples vecinos, gente cotidiana y real. ¿Pero cuáles son los auténticos? ¿Esos comunes mortales o los él ha imaginado?
Sat 11 October 3:00pm | Book Here
Sat 18 October 1:00pm | Book Here
Hatun Phaqcha, The Healing Land | Hatun Phaqcha, Tierra Sana
Documentary | Director: Delia Ackerman | Exempt | 98 Mins | Spanish | Country: Peru
This movie is brought to you by the Embassy of Peru to New Zealand.
“HATUN PHAQCHA, THE HEALING LAND” highlights the nutritional potential of Peru’s native foods, the importance of its cultural heritage, and the need to ensure its survival.
“Hatun Phaqcha, Tierra Sana” destaca el potencial nutritivo de los alimentos nativos del Perú, la importancia de su herencia cultural y la necesidad de asegurar su supervivencia.
Thu 16 October 5:15pm | Book Here
Fri 17 October 7:30pm | Book Here
