Filmmakers from Colombia and Venezuela headed to Grand Rapids to participate in 8th GRLAFF

This spring, Colombian director Catalina Mesa will be coming to Grand Rapids to discuss her documentary, Jericó: El Infinito Vuelo de los Días (Jericó: The Infinite Flight of Days), on Friday, April 6 after the film is screened at 8 pm at Wealthy Theatre.

The documentary weaves together the everyday encounters and conversations of women of different ages and backgrounds living in a small Colombian town called Jericó, revealing their wisdom, personal tragedies, and comedic take on life.

Another guest director at the festival will be Gustavo Rondón, from Venezuela, who will

be sharing his perspective after the showing of his first feature film, La Familia (The Family), on Saturday, April 7 at 8 pm. The film is about Andrés and his son Pedro who live in the outskirts of Caracas but who hardly see each other, until one day Pedro gets into serious trouble and father and son must flee their home in a journey that brings them closer in ways they could not have imagined. Rondón will also be speaking about another Venezuelan film that he edited, El Amparo, after that film’s screening on Saturday, April 7 at 5 pm.

A number of other films will also be followed by panel discussions with special guests.