57 Films in 8 Days: CRFIC11° Brings the Best of Cinema to Costa Rica

Published on 18 October 2023

CRFIC11°
announces full programming of its eleventh edition
em>The eleventh edition of the CRFIC offers at least one title from each Latin American and Caribbean country, reinforcing the idea that we are a film festival of our region and that we must remain an area of freedom and diversity in which the enjoyment of cinema is promoted.

57 films from Central America, the Caribbean and the world will be screened from 24 to 31 October at four venues in the province of San José.

Movies Everywhere

San José, Costa Rica. October 2, 2023. The Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), the most prominent film event in the country, returns to theaters with Central American and local competitions, historic films and some major award winners from international festivals. Under the firm conviction of guaranteeing more inclusive spaces, guided by its tagline “Cinema Everywhere” CRFIC11 invites the public from October 24 through October 31 to come to its different venues in San José: Cine Magaly, Centro de Cine, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano y la Alianza Francesa.

The Costa Rica International Film Festival has become the largest film industry event in the region. It is a unique space and an important showcase for emerging and established filmmakers. The recent Declaration of Cultural Interest confirms its international prominence, designating it as a major film event in the country. Under these quality standards, the eleventh edition of the CRFIC is committed to a high-level program that includes 57 films from Central America, the Caribbean and the world.

For the past 10 editions, the CRFIC has represented a cinematographic encounter for creators and audiences; an added value that differentiates the CRFIC from other events of its kind is its participatory nature, which offers the public access to renowned filmmakers through spaces for dialogue and exchange of ideas and experiences.

CRFIC is a unique opportunity in Costa Rica’s cultural calendar to appreciate some of the most outstanding contemporary films of recent months, because so much cinema is produced that it is impossible to get everything into theaters. In a country like ours, festivals like the CRFIC allow us to enjoy award-winning gems at festivals, discoveries, young promises and more
Fernando Chaves Espinach, Artistic Director of the Festival

The relevance of this Festival is based on the fact that it is an international event that focuses on Central American and Caribbean cinema.

International Film Festival: Outlining the variety of films in exhibition

We have seen year after year the increase and persistence in the quality and credibility of the Central American and Caribbean Feature Film Competition. This section of the Festival is a demonstration of how Central American cinema has been growing not only in quantity, but also in quality and visibility in international spaces
Raciel del Toro, General Director of the Costa Rican Film Production Center

Del Toro points out that the importance of the regional scope of the Costa Rica International Film Festival lies in the fact that, beyond separate nations, Central America as a market and also at a symbolic level has points in common in terms of stories, but also at a commercial level, since each of its countries is a very small market, but when united, they become attractive to the international audiovisual industry.

The selection of films for this festival includes masters such as Kore-eda Hirokazu, who shows his best in Monster, or Aki Kaurismäki, with his return to cinema in Fallen Leaves. On the other hand, our team is pleased to present Costa Rican audiences with revealing works such as Geographies of Solitude and Herbaria, both reflections on our relationship with nature and memory. We also bring award-winning works such as As Bestas, Goya for Best Film, and La Jauría, winner of the Critics’ Week at Cannes. Directors such as Miryam Charles and Ana Cristina Barragán speak to us about the future of cinema with challenging works that are very much in keeping with their daring voices
Chaves Espinach

The relevance of this Festival is based on the fact that it is an international event that focuses on Central American and Caribbean cinema.