Mission
As you have probably seen, there is very little distribution of contemporary Spanish and Latin American cinema especially in Utah. That is how the word "Crisol" grew into becoming the name of this festival. In English it means melting pot, and that's the goal: to become an event where different cultures coexist and celebrate for a few days the diversity of Latin American art and cinema. A melting pot of people, culture, art and history.
The Crisol Latin American Film Initiative is a film series that will be done through four weekends from March 14-April 3. It will be screening six impressive independent films from different Latin American countries, plus two interactive receptions at the first and last film screenings. These receptions will include other art forms (visual art, music, ballet, modern dance) that will present in their own way the mixture of intercultural ideas and art inspired by Latin America. For this project, the locations will change each weekend to engage people from different part in Salt Lake City. Starting at the Post Theater at the University of Utah, then UMFA, after that UMOCA, and at the end at the Urban Arts Gallery at the Gateway.
Crisol is a collaborative effort by both students at the University of Utah and private citizens who are eager to show a new perspective of Latin American independent cinema in Utah.
The Crisol Latin American Film Initiative is a film series that will be done through four weekends from March 14-April 3. It will be screening six impressive independent films from different Latin American countries, plus two interactive receptions at the first and last film screenings. These receptions will include other art forms (visual art, music, ballet, modern dance) that will present in their own way the mixture of intercultural ideas and art inspired by Latin America. For this project, the locations will change each weekend to engage people from different part in Salt Lake City. Starting at the Post Theater at the University of Utah, then UMFA, after that UMOCA, and at the end at the Urban Arts Gallery at the Gateway.
Crisol is a collaborative effort by both students at the University of Utah and private citizens who are eager to show a new perspective of Latin American independent cinema in Utah.
crisol Film initiative: the process
The Crisol Latin American Film Initiative commenced activities in spring 2014 at the University of Utah to provide a space where Latin American independent cinema could be appreciated. At that time, there were no dedicated programs established to strengthen community bonds through the distribution of Latin American art and culture in Utah, and specifically film. As a result, Karem Orrego, a Peruvian film student at the University of Utah and now Executive Director of Crisol, founded the Crisol Film Initiative. She reached out to the Salt Lake community to build a motivated team to help launch it. Since then, with the help of community activist and Program Director Juan-Paulo Varela, Crisol has sought to establish itself as a premiere event for the distribution and appreciation of Latin American film in Utah.
Crisol has rapidly pursued and obtained partnerships with both individuals and organizations within Salt Lake dedicated to our mission. A shortlist of our supporters includes the Offices of Senator Luz Escamilla and Representative Angela Romero as well as the Sorenson Unity Center, the Utah Office of Multicultral Affairs, and Artes De Mexico in Utah. Likewise, Crisol has attained support from entities at the University of Utah (the U) such as the Department of Film and Media and the Tanner Humanities Center. Futhermore, Crisol has also received the support of established centers of art and culture in Utah like the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA), the Utah Film Center, the Utah Arts Alliance (UAA), and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA).
Crisol has rapidly pursued and obtained partnerships with both individuals and organizations within Salt Lake dedicated to our mission. A shortlist of our supporters includes the Offices of Senator Luz Escamilla and Representative Angela Romero as well as the Sorenson Unity Center, the Utah Office of Multicultral Affairs, and Artes De Mexico in Utah. Likewise, Crisol has attained support from entities at the University of Utah (the U) such as the Department of Film and Media and the Tanner Humanities Center. Futhermore, Crisol has also received the support of established centers of art and culture in Utah like the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA), the Utah Film Center, the Utah Arts Alliance (UAA), and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA).