EOU to Host First Hispanic Film Festival in April

EOU Hosts Inaugural Hispanic Film Festival in April 2025

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Spanish Department at Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is proud to host its first Hispanic Film Festival throughout April 2025, bringing a series of powerful films that explore themes of identity, resilience, and cultural heritage. Through a PRAGDA grant and the support from the Vending Committee, the Multicultural Center, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), and the Diversity Committee, this festival is open and free to the EOU community and the public, offering an opportunity to engage with Hispanic cinema. Community support makes a difference! Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.

The films feature a mixture of English, Spanish, and Spanglish and will have English subtitles. Lastly, the films are recommended for mature audiences as they deal with sensitive topics. 

The featured films include:

• Home is Somewhere Else – This animated documentary, produced by Alejandro González Iñárritu, provides a deeply moving look into the lives of immigrant youth and their undocumented families, highlighting their struggles and dreams.
• Cassandro – Starring Gael García Bernal, this biographical drama follows the rise of Saúl Armendáriz, an openly gay amateur wrestler from El Paso who transformed the world of Lucha Libre with his persona, “Cassandro,” and achieved international stardom. 
• Boca Chica – Directed by Gabriella A. Moses, this coming-of-age drama follows Desi, a 12-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a famous singer. However, her aspirations are challenged by the harsh realities of her hometown, including deception, exploitation, and betrayal from those she trusts most.
• Nobody’s Watching – A film by Julia Solomonoff that tells the story of Nico, an Argentine actor who leaves behind a promising career after a painful breakup. Seeking success in New York City, he soon realizes that talent alone is not enough to navigate a new life on his own. 
• In the Heights– In Washington Heights, a sympathetic New York bodega owner saves every penny every day as he imagines and sings about a better life.

The Hispanic Film Festival will feature five films, each screened in person at Schwarz Theatre on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The films will also be available online for one week following their in-person showing, with the exception of Cassandro and In the Heights, which will be available only during the in-person screenings. The schedule is as follows:

• Home is Somewhere Else – April 9 (available online April 9–16)
• Cassandro – April 16 (in-person only)
• Boca Chica – April 23 (available online April 23–30)
• Nadie nos mira – April 30 (available online April 30–May 7)
• In the Heights – May 7 (in-person only)

Films available online can be accessed for one week following their in-person screening.

To stream the films, follow this link: https://pragda.com/sfc-event/sfc-eastern-oregon-university/ 

To access the stream you will need a user id and password, provided here: 

User ID: SFC@EasternOregonUniversity

Password: EasternOregonUniSFC2025!

“We are excited to bring this lineup of compelling films to Eastern Oregon University,” Dr. Sandra Nava Nieto, Assistant Professor of Spanish, said. “Each film tells a unique story that highlights the complexities of identity, immigration, and cultural expression, providing our community with a meaningful opportunity for reflection and discussion.”

The Hispanic Film Festival is part of EOU’s ongoing commitment to fostering cultural appreciation on campus. Attendees are encouraged to participate in post-screening discussions and engage in conversations about the themes presented in the films.

The Spanish Film Club series was made possible with the support of PRAGDA, Spain Arts and Culture, and the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain. For more information about the festival, please, contact Dr. Sandra Nava Nieto at snavanieto@eou.edu.