WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University is marking Hispanic Heritage Month with a wide-ranging slate of programs, highlighted by the 2025 Global Hispanic Film Festival – Virtual Edition and the 17th Annual Latino/a/x Communities Conference. Both events, running from late September through October, celebrate the contributions and cultures of Hispanic and Latino Americans through film, discussion, and scholarship.
The film festival, free and open to the public, showcases five films over five weeks, beginning September 22. Each film addresses themes including migration, inequality, indigenous cultures, racism, and identity, with screenings available online for a full week. All films are subtitled in English.
The festival opens with Boca Chica, directed by Gabriella Moses, which tells the story of a young Dominican girl navigating family pressures and exploitation. The screening on September 23 will be followed by a live virtual Q&A with Moses, who won the Nora Ephron Award at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival for the work.
“This festival brings global perspectives on pressing issues to audiences here in Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Dr. Iliana Pagán-Teitelbaum, associate professor of languages and cultures, who organizes the program. “It’s also a chance to interact directly with filmmakers and engage with stories that often remain on the margins.”
The Boca Chica screening coincides with the Latino/a/x Communities Conference, held September 23–24 at Sykes Student Union. This year’s conference honors the centennial of Nicaraguan poet and activist Ernesto Cardenal, a towering cultural and political figure known for his poetry and work as Nicaragua’s minister of culture. Panels and workshops will focus on Cardenal’s influence, immigration, and the growing Latino population in southern Chester County.
The festival and conference are supported by LASO, the Spanish Club, WCU Immigrants & Allies Association, and national partners including Pragda and Spain’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. Select in-person screenings will also be hosted on campus.
Film festival highlights include:
- Boca Chica (Dominican Republic, 2023) – Sept. 22–28
- Chinas (Spain, 2023) – Sept. 29–Oct. 5
- Los Hongos (Colombia, 2014) – Oct. 6–12
- Alice Júnior (Brazil, 2019) – Oct. 13–19
- La cocina (Mexico/United States, 2024) – Oct. 20–27
For festival updates, audiences can follow #CineWCU on social media or visit @cinewcu on Instagram and Facebook.
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