‘Caballos’ to Start Latino Film Festival

Angelenos will be able to get what organizers are calling a “sneak peek” at the first Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival, which is slated for fall 1997.

The mini-festival will kick off today at 7 p.m. with a gala reception and screening of Argentine director Marcelo Pin~eyro’s film “Caballos Salvajes” at the Universal Studios Hitchcock Theater, 100 Universal Plaza, Universal City.

The festival will continue on Friday at Universal’s Twin Theaters I and II (same address as above) with screenings of Argentine director Jorge Rocca’s “Patron” at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.; the Los Angeles premiere of Mexican director Jorge Cervera’s “Julio y Su Angel” at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.; the Los Angeles premiere of J. Carlos Valdivia’s “Jonas y la Ballena Rosada” at 8 and 10 p.m.; and Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solas’ “Un Hombre de Exito” at 8 and 10 p.m.

The Saturday lineup includes the Los Angeles premiere of Spanish director Alfonso Ungria’s “Africa” at 1 and 3 p.m.; Argentine director Eduardo Calcagno’s “El Censor” at 1 and 3 p.m.; “Patron” at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.; “Caballos Salvajes” at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; the Los Angeles premiere of Dominican director Angel Mun~iz’s “Nueba Yol” at 6 and 8 p.m.; and Peruvian director Augusto Tamayo’s “Anda, Corre, Vuela” at 6 and 8 p.m. There will also be a closing reception at 8 p.m.

Rocca, Cervera, Valdivia, Solas, Ungria and Mun~iz will be on hand to discuss their films following the screenings.

The opening and closing receptions will take place in the Celebrity Room between the theaters.

Tickets are $8 for each screening; $25 for the gala opening and $15 for the closing reception.

For tickets and information call the National Latino Communications Center: (213) 663-8294.