‘Other Conquest’ Star to Discuss Role

The star of “The Other Conquest”--a box office record-breaker in Mexico that is doing strong business in Southern California--will speak at a discussion tonight sponsored by the Channel Islands Indie Film Festival.

Damian Delgado, who portrays Aztec artist Topiltzin in the film recounting the Spaniards’ conversion of Aztecs to Christianity during the 16th century, will discuss his role and the difficulties of making the ambitious film. It took eight years to shoot while its makers continued to seek financing. The film has been doing well in Los Angeles but is pulling in fewer audiences in Ventura County, playing in Santa Paula, Camarillo and Ventura.

“They’re trying to do a lot of outreach, letting people know about the film,” said Luis Guereca, the director of the festival. “There’s a grass-roots approach to this movie.”

This is the festival’s first sponsorship outside its annual event in November.

“Right now, with this film coming out, the [Latino film industry] is starting to build momentum,” Guereca said. “We want to be able to help out films like this one.”

The free discussion begins at 7 p.m. at the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center, 937 W. 5th St., in Oxnard.