NYWIFT Blog

Its seventh edition runs October 29-November 6

New York, NY – Maravilla, the New York-based organization dedicated to raising awareness of Latin America through films and the arts, announces its seventh edition of the Ecuadorian Film Festival in New York (EFFNY), with the support of media partner Telemundo and includes Queens Museum, Nuyorican Poets Café, the Barrymore Film Center, and fiscal sponsor New York Women in Film & TV.

EFFNY is the renowned international film festival outside of Ecuador, and the only one in the United States, bringing together Ecuadorian filmmakers in various genres, including feature-length narratives, documentaries and shorts. Its mission is to open a window into this diverse country and inspire people to have meaningful conversations while celebrating Ecuador and cinema. 

With every edition, the festival’s audience of Ecuadorian and non-Ecuadorian cinephiles and Ecuador lovers from the NYC-Tristate area continues to expand. 

“It’s a beautiful space full of good energy, where experiences are exchanged with the different authors of our cinema. EFFNY is a necessary window for Ecuadorian cinema to have an international projection and to be able to share our films with the Ecuadorian community from New York City. Projecting our culture to the world is the only way to keep it alive, awake, and, above all, to make it grow,” said cinematographer Simon Brauer, a former attendee. 

EFFNY is a great platform connecting diverse audiences and filmmakers in attendance who are eager to share their stories and process. This year, EFFNY expects to host established filmmakers and other important guests, that include Javier Andrade, whose film Lo invisible will represent Ecuador at the 95^th Academy Awards in the Foreign Film selection; Helena Gualinga, featured in the documentary Helena from Sarayacu; Sebastián “Zuko” Carrasco, a former professional mountain climber who lost the use of his legs, and is featured in Free and Beyond the Summit; producer and screenwriter Felipe Troya, from To Oriente; director Galo Semblantes from Legend of Tayos, director Alfredo León from Submersible; director Paúl Venegas from Emptiness; director Marcos Echeverría from the web-doc Where We Were Safe; and directors Gabriel Zhiminaicela and Christian Espinoza from the short film A Body Over the Sea. 

EFFNY will present two awards: Best Feature-Length film and Best Short. And for the first time, the festival will cross the Hudson River to New Jersey for closing day, Sunday, November 6, at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee. “We are so very proud to be a part of such an exciting event. The Barrymore Film Center looks forward to partnering with the Ecuadorian Film Festival not only this year but in the many years to come,” said its president, Nelson Page. 

Eleven feature films compete for Best Picture. Legend of Tayos, directed by Galo Semblantes; Submersible, directed by Alfredo León, To Oriente, directed by Jose´Mariá Aviles; Yellow Sunglasses, by Iván Mora Manzano; Emptiness, directed by Paúl Venegas; Samson, directed by Pável Quevedo Ullauri; The Preacher, directed by Tito Jara; Those Who Are Missing, directed by José María León; Helena from Sarayacu, directed by Eriberto Gualinga; Beyond the Summit, directed by Isabel Guayasamín; and Lo invisible, directed by Javier Andrade. 

For the complete list of films with synopsis, corresponding dates, and screening times, visit facebook.com/EcuadorianFilmFest or effny.org.

HIGHLIGHTS: 

Opening Day:     Queens Museum, Saturday, October 29

Special Event:    Where We Were Safe Project, Nuyorican Poet’s Café, November 5

An ongoing interactive oral history archive that focuses on collecting memories about the lost and destroyed Salsa music places in New York City, such as ballrooms, clubs, record stores and outdoor venues.

Closing Day:     Barrymore Film Center, Fort Lee, NJ, Screenings & Awards, November 6

A representative of Shorts.TV will present the Best Short Film.

Special Presentation: Historias Por Contar program winner 

“Un Cuerpo Sobre el Mar,” presented by the US Embassy in Ecuador in

partnership with America Film Showcase and Fundapi. 

ABOUT EFFNY:

The Ecuadorian Film Festival in New York launched in June 2015. Since then, EFFNY has been held in person, except in 2020 when it was held virtually with the support of zine.ec (Ecuadorian VOD platform).

ABOUT OUR FISCAL SPONSOR NYWIFT:

The preeminent professional association for women in the New York entertainment industry, NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers. NYWIFT is part of a network of more than 60 women in film organizations worldwide, representing more than 15,000 members.

Tickets go on sale Friday, October 7th. EFFNY will announce its Jury in early October.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Follow on all platforms @EcuaFilm