“Abya Yala” means “living land” or “land that flourishes”, an expression from the Indigenous people of Colombia and Panama to describe the Americas. Its a term that has been taken up by the Latin American progressives to resist the colonial implications implicit in “Latin America” but it also connects North and South America as one territory. Abya Yala helps us with our aim of unity as well as deconstructing colonialism.
This festival will be based on 14 screenings over the course of 3 days. Film programmes will come from a combination of curated features from the best of recent Latin American cinema, as well as selected film from amongst online submission to AYFF (Abya Yala Film Festival) from Latin artists worldwide. Preference will be given to films whose themes are centered in Latin America, or to films by Latin-Canadian media artists living in Ontario. And also films by Latino-Canadian film students in Ontario.
In keeping with Latin culture, the festival will incorporate music and dance into the programme, showcasing Northern Ontario artists of Latin origin.
AYFF will not only be a meeting place for the Latino community to connect with their stories, cultures, and languages, the film festival will also be an opportunity to meet with other communities living in Sudbury, to establish intercultural dialogue, to rejoice in the cultural diversity of this city, and to allow us to get to know each other and come together through film and the reflections it generates.
Screenings take place at Sudbury Indie Cinema- 162 Mackenzie St. Laneway/side entrance. Free parking and bike racks!
ENG.
This exhibit brings together Nadya Kwandibens’ Red Chair Sessions and a selection of images from The Jungle’s Reasons, curated by Ali Rodriguez for Bats’i Lab (Chiapas, Mexico). Running from October 3rd to November 28th, the exhibition explores themes of Indigenous resistance, reclamation, and resurgence across colonial borders through the lenses of Indigenous photographers from two different regions of Turtle Island – the Chiapas Highlands in Mexico and here, on the lands now known as Canada.
ESP.
Esta exposición reúne la serie «Red Chair Sessions» de Nadya Kwandibens y una selección de imágenes de «Los Motivos de la Selva», comisariada por Ali Rodríguez, miembro fundador de Abya Yala Film Festival para Bats’i Lab (Chiapas, México). La exposición, que se llevará a cabo del 3 de octubre al 28 de noviembre, explora temas de resistencia y rebeldía en las comunidades indígenas de dos regiones diferentes de la Isla de la Tortuga: los Altos de Chiapas en México y aquí, en las tierras que hoy se conocen como Canadá.
ENG.
I am Mauro Gatica, an Argentine visual artist and illustrator based in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Working entirely by hand, I explore the meticulous precision of pen-and-paper ink illustration alongside the striking, high-contrast impact of handcrafted linoleum and MDF block printing. My visual universe focuses on animal portraiture and pets, weaving together organic textures, wildlife, and a distinctive dark art and psychedelic aesthetic. Rooted in my Latin American heritage, my work is driven by a bold, tactile command of ink and line. At this festival, I am excited to share a collection of original illustrations and handcrafted limited-edition prints with you.
ESP.
Soy Mauro Gatica, artista visual e ilustrador argentino radicado en Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Trabajo de forma artesanal, explorando la precisión milimétrica de la ilustración
en tinta sobre papel y la fuerza contrastante del grabado en linóleo y MDF. Mi universo visual se centra en retratos de animales y mascotas, entrelazando texturas orgánicas,
fauna y sutiles tintes de arte oscuro y psicodélico. Atravesado por mi identidad latinoamericana, busco que cada pieza transmita un pulso manual y expresivo inconfundible.
dir. Sebastian Cerani
Northern Ontario Premiere
2025 | Canada | Short | 6 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
Official Selection: Latin American Film Festival de Toronto – LATAFF 2025
ENG.
A collection of heartfelt vignettes, Yaya follows the journey of love and connection between a boy and his grandma as they navigate the challenges of staying close, transcending continents and culture.
ESP.
En una colección de momentos conmovedores, Yaya sigue el viaje de amor y conexión entre un niño y su abuela mientras se enfrentan a los desafíos de permanecer cerca, trascendiendo continentes y culturas.
dir. Fernando Eimbcke
Northern Ontario Premiere
2026 | Mexico/Spain | Fiction | 99 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
Award: 76 Berlin International Film Festival – the Ecumenical Jury Prize 2026
Official Selections:
ENG.
Olga lives a strictly regulated life without attachments in a vast
apartment block. When out of financial necessity she rents a room in her apartment to a man who also sneaks-in his nine-year-old son, an unlikely bond forms. Her carefully controlled world begins to shift, and their lives become intertwined against her will.
ESP.
Olga lleva una vida estrictamente regulada y sin ataduras en un enorme bloque de apartamentos. Cuando, por necesidad económica, alquila una habitación de su apartamento a un hombre que lleva a escondidas a su hijo de nueve años, se crea un vínculo inesperado. Su mundo, tan cuidadosamente controlado, empieza a cambiar, y sus vidas se entrelazan en contra de su voluntad.
ENG.
Antonio Pazmiño is an accomplished Ecuadorian vocalist whose artistry is deeply anchored in a rich family musical heritage. His foundational inspiration stems from his brother, a profoundly gifted artist whose exceptional talent largely remained in anonymity, yet indelibly shaped Antonio’s devotion to the craft. Having established a distinguished professional performance career in his native Ecuador, he now expands this artistic legacy alongside his three children, who carry the musical tradition directly in their blood. To his profound fortune, all three children perform actively, each contributing distinct vocal styles, diverse artistic preferences, and an expansive, versatile repertoire.
For Antonio, music transcends the boundaries of a profession; it serves as his vital oxygen and the definitive pulse of his existence. Drawing upon the profound interpretative depth and narrative mastery characteristic of the great traditions of Latin music, every selection in his repertoire functions as a direct reflection of his lived experiences. Whether interpreting an emotive ballad or a vibrant tropical arrangement, he infuses every performance with authenticity and soul, delivering an immersive experience that honors classical roots while remaining deeply personal.
ESP.
Antonio Pazmiño es un destacado intérprete ecuatoriano cuya trayectoria artística se encuentra profundamente arraigada en una enriquecedora herencia musical familiar. Su inspiración fundamental proviene de su hermano, un artista dotado de un talento excepcional que lamentablemente permaneció en el anonimato, pero cuya huella marcó de forma indeleble su vocación. Tras haber consolidado una sólida carrera como cantante profesional en su natal Ecuador, proyecta hoy este legado junto a sus tres hijos, quienes llevan la tradición musical en la sangre. Para su plena fortuna, los tres cantan activamente, aportando cada uno estilos diferentes, gustos diversos y un repertorio incalculable.
Para Antonio, la música trasciende los límites de una profesión; constituye su oxígeno vital y el pulso indiscutible de su existencia. Inspirándose en la profunda riqueza interpretativa y la maestría narrativa propias de las grandes tradiciones de la música latina, cada obra que interpreta se convierte en un fiel reflejo de sus vivencias personales. Ya sea al interpretar una balada entrañable o un vibrante arreglo tropical, imprime autenticidad y alma en cada presentación, ofreciendo un arte depurado que honra sus raíces clásicas desde una perspectiva genuinamente personal.
ENG.
Tropic-All Soundbury is the first Latin music orchestra in Sudbury. It is a pioneer project that brings together local musicians who are passionate about Afro-Latin rhythms. We are a group dedicated to playing live salsa, Latin jazz, cumbia, boogaloo, and other dance styles that celebrate the cultural richness of the Caribbean and Latin America.
ESP.
Tropic-All Soundbury es la primera orquesta de música latina en Sudbury. Es un proyecto pionero que reúne a músicos locales apasionados por los ritmos afrolatinos. Somos un grupo dedicado a interpretar salsa en vivo, Latin jazz, cumbia, boogaloo y otros estilos bailables que celebran la riqueza cultural del Caribe y de América Latina.
dir. Komanilel
Northern Ontario Premiere
Mexico | Short | 5 min.| Spanish with English subtitles
From the series: Women who fight. Comandanta Ramona, Commander of the Zapatista Armed Forces
Presented by Cambrian College
dir. Shane Belcourt
Produced by Makwa Creative
Northern Ontario Premiere
2025 | Canada | Documentary | 90 min. | English
Award: Yorkton Film Festival – Yorkton SK, 2026 – INDIGENOUS AWARD
Official Selection: World premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025
Q&A following the film with Darrell Boissoneau, Cora-Rae Silk, Nadya Kwandibens and Ali Rodriguez
ENG.
Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising begins in Kenora, Ontario in the 1970s: a picturesque tourist town of 15,000 people near the Manitoba border. Between 1970 to 1973, this so-called sleepy town saw nearly 200 First Nations People die unexplained, “sudden deaths” without proper police investigations. Fed-up and frustrated, Indigenous Peoples used the only thing they had to get attention about their plight – their bodies. In 1974, the young, enigmatic Louis Cameron – a man who was a cross between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. – formed the Ojibway Warriors Society (OWS) that took up arms and led the occupation of Anicinabe Park, along with leaders from the American Indian movement. Their demands were for housing, medical care, jobs and their lives. They defied the local police, a government that planted informants in their midst and the racist press. They fought for their land, and their right to exist. The occupation sparked a Caravan to Parliament Hill that culminated in a bloody protest and ultimately led to the creation of the Assembly of First Nations, which continues to fight for First Nations across so-called Canada. This film features Tyler Cameron, Louis Cameron’s son, who begins to intimately understand his dad after Tyler found Louis’ forgotten manuscript that details the racism, police abuse and what it was like being ‘Indian’ in Kenora, a place once described as the ‘Alabama of the north’. Tyler grapples with the fact that not much has changed in Kenora, but the spirit of the occupation of Anicinabe Park remains to this day – one of Indigenous power and resilience.
ENG.
Darrell Boissoneau was born and raised in Garden River First Nation at the hub of the Great Lakes known as Bawating (Sault Ste. Marie). He is of the Sturgeon Clan (Namay Dodaim) and is Ojibway from the Anishinabek Nation. He has over 35 years of experience in First Nation-Government relations including 25 years as an elected member of the Garden River First Nation Council where he served as Chief for one term. He was also a special advisor to National Chief Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations, that led to key recommendations for Landless Bands.
In 1974, the young, enigmatic Louis Cameron formed the Ojibway Warriors Society (OWS) that took up arms and led the occupation of Anicinabe Park, with the support of the American Indian movement. Their demands were for housing, medical care, jobs and their lives. They fought for their land, and their right to exist. The occupation sparked a Caravan to Parliament Hill that culminated in a bloody protest and ultimately led to the creation of the Assembly of First Nations, which continues to fight for First Nations rights. Darrell Boissoneau travelled with the Caravan to Parliament – part of a historical moment for Indigenous rights in Canada.
dir. Daniel Carpio Santa Cruz
Northern Ontario Premiere
2025 | Canada | Short | 18 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
Official Selections:
ENG.
In southern Ontario, a newly opened shelter becomes a beacon of hope for refugee families fleeing war, persecution, and violence. Founded by Maria, a Colombian refugee who arrived over two decades ago, this home offers more than just food and accommodation — it provides guidance, dignity, and a path toward rebuilding a life. As families arrive seeking safety, the shelter faces a critical challenge: surviving on donations and fundraising events to stay open. Through intimate portraits and heart-wrenching testimonies, the film captures the courage and the strength of starting over — and the fierce compassion of one woman determined to give back what once saved her.
ESP.
En el sur de Ontario, un refugio recién inaugurado se convierte en un faro de esperanza para familias refugiadas que huyen de la guerra, la persecución y la violencia. Fundado por María, una refugiada colombiana que llegó hace más de dos décadas, este hogar ofrece más que comida y alojamiento: brinda orientación, dignidad y un camino para reconstruir sus vidas. A medida que las familias llegan en busca de seguridad, el refugio enfrenta un desafío crítico: mantenerse abierto dependiendo únicamente de donaciones y eventos de recaudación de fondos. A través de retratos íntimos y testimonios desgarradores, el documental captura el coraje y la fuerza de empezar de nuevo, y la feroz compasión de una mujer decidida a devolver lo que una vez la salvó.
Presented by Sudbury Worker’s Centre
Ontario Premiere
2025 | Nicaragua | Documentary | 52 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
Official Selections:
ENG.
This documentary captures the memories, songs, and experiences of twelve Nicaraguan composers who, from San José, Costa Rica, are reconstructing the music scene that repression sought to erase. They are the ones who bring to life the album “Monarca, Memoria Sonora del Exilio”—a collaborative album of songs of resistance, memory, and regional solidarity.
ESP.
Este documental recoge las memorias, canciones y vivencias de doce compositores nicaragüenses, quienes desde San José Costa Rica, reconstruyen la escena musical que la represión intentó borrar. De quienes dan vida al disco “Monarca, Memoria Sonora del Exilio”; un disco colectivo de canciones de resistencia, memoria y solidaridad regional.
dir. Benjamin Belcredi
Canadian Premiere
2025 | Chile | Short | 10 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
ENG.
Aureliano, a humble peasant, haunted by guilt and remorse, is driven by his own conscience to confront those who, because of his passivity, have taken away from him not only everything he owned, but also his dignity and his self-respect.
ESP.
Aureliano, un humilde campesino, perseguido por el sentimiento de culpa y el remordimiento, es arrastrado por su propia conciencia a enfrentarse con aquellos que, a causa de su pasividad, no solo le han arrebatado todo lo que poseía, sino también su dignidad y el respeto por sí mismo.
dir. Nayra Ilic
2025 | Chile/Italy | Coming of Age/Drama | 97 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
Award: San Sebastian International Film Festival – Best Film in the Horizontes Latinos section.
Official Selections:
ESP.
Daniel Guillón es un actor chileno con una versátil trayectoria en el cine y la televisión. En la pantalla grande, destaca de manera especial su participación en La noche de enfrente, la aclamada película póstuma del célebre director Raúl Ruiz. Con una sólida experiencia en producciones dramáticas nacionales, ha formado parte de elencos en reconocidas series de televisión como Juana Brava y ha asumido encarnaciones de gran relevancia histórica, como su interpretación del prócer Bernardo O’Higgins en la miniserie Diario de mi residencia en Chile: María Graham. Asimismo, su registro profesional se extiende al ámbito internacional, habiendo formado parte del elenco de la producción de ciencia ficción H+: The Digital Series, producida por Bryan Singer. Hoy en día, sigue aportando su madurez y versatilidad interpretativa a proyectos cinematográficos independientes.
ENG.
Daniel Guillón is a Chilean actor with a versatile career in film and television. On the big screen, he is best known for his role in Night Across the Street, the acclaimed posthumous film by celebrated director Raúl Ruiz. With extensive experience in Chilean television, he has appeared in prominent television series like Juana Brava and has played roles of great historical relevance, such as Bernardo O’Higgins in the miniseries Maria Graham: Diary of a Residence in Chile. His work also extends internationally, including a role in the sci-fi web series H+: The Digital Series, produced by Bryan Singer. Today, he continues to bring his experience and versatility to independent film projects.
ENG.
Summer, 1990. As Chile’s dictatorship draws to a close, fifteen-year-old Celeste spends the holidays with her family on a remote beach by the Atacama Desert. When an event shatters her adolescence and sends her mother into a downward spiral, their world begins to shift. Months later, drawn by the promise of a solar eclipse, Celeste returns to that same place, but nothing is the same. In a country on the brink of transformation, she must navigate her own path forward.
ESP.
Verano de 1990. Mientras la dictadura en Chile llega a su fin, Celeste, de quince años, pasa las vacaciones con su familia en una playa remota junto al desierto de Atacama. Pero cuando un acontecimiento irrumpe en su adolescencia y sumerge a su madre en una espiral, su mundo comienza a cambiar. Meses después, atraída por la promesa de un eclipse solar, Celeste regresa a ese mismo lugar, pero nada es igual. En un país al borde de la transformación, deberá encontrar su propio camino.
ENG.
Daniel Guillón is a Chilean actor with a versatile career in film and television. On the big screen, he is best known for his role in Night Across the Street, the acclaimed posthumous film by celebrated director Raúl Ruiz. With extensive experience in Chilean television, he has appeared in prominent television series like Juana Brava and has played roles of great historical relevance, such as Bernardo O’Higgins in the miniseries Maria Graham: Diary of a Residence in Chile. His work also extends internationally, including a role in the sci-fi web series H+: The Digital Series, produced by Bryan Singer. Today, he continues to bring his experience and versatility to independent film projects.
ESP.
Daniel Guillón es un actor chileno con una versátil trayectoria en el cine y la televisión. En la pantalla grande, destaca de manera especial su participación en La noche de enfrente, la aclamada película póstuma del célebre director Raúl Ruiz. Con una sólida experiencia en producciones dramáticas nacionales, ha formado parte de elencos en reconocidas series de televisión como Juana Brava y ha asumido encarnaciones de gran relevancia histórica, como su interpretación del prócer Bernardo O’Higgins en la miniserie Diario de mi residencia en Chile: María Graham. Asimismo, su registro profesional se extiende al ámbito internacional, habiendo formado parte del elenco de la producción de ciencia ficción H+: The Digital Series, producida por Bryan Singer. Hoy en día, sigue aportando su madurez y versatilidad interpretativa a proyectos cinematográficos independientes.
dir. Kai Nowak, Cecilia Rodriguez-Beaudoin
Northern Ontario Premiere
2026 | Canada | Short | 4 min. | Français
FRA.
Cette vidéo musicale, filmée et produite par Kai Nowak, donne vie à la chanson « Tempête de neige » de l’artiste Aurel. Mettant en valeur la beauté de la saison la plus froide de l’année, le projet s’inspire directement des paysages d’hiver nord-ontariens captés par drone.
ENG.
This music video, filmed and produced by Kai Nowak, brings to life the song “Tempête de neige” by the artist Aurel. Highlighting the beauty of the coldest season of the year, the project draws direct inspiration from the winter landscapes of Northern Ontario, captured by drone.
dir. Augusto Zegarra
Northern Ontario Premiere
2025 | Perú | documentaire | 85 min. | Espagnol avec des sous-titres en français
Awards:
FRA.
Un homme autochtone tente de sauver sa langue de l’extinction. Fernando, un doubleur originaire de Cusco, rêve de doubler *Le Roi Lion* en quechua. Ce voyage, qu’il entreprend avec son fils Dylan, se transforme en une odyssée profondément personnelle, mêlant paternité et militantisme, qui mettra à l’épreuve son engagement envers sa langue et sa culture.
ESP.
Un hombre indígena está tratando de salvar a su lengua de la extinción. Fernando, actor de doblaje cusqueño, sueña con doblar El Rey León al quechua. Este viaje, junto a su hijo Dylan, se convierte en una odisea profundamente personal, de paternidad y activismo, que pondrá a prueba su compromiso con su lengua y su cultura.
ENG.
Analía Rubbiani is an Argentine writer based in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Backgrounded in Social Communication with a focus on culture, she is passionate about literature and currently explores her new perspective as an immigrant through nostalgia, memories, and traditions. Driven by the purpose of sharing the power of the written word, celebrating the richness of Latin American culture, and inspiring community connection, she is expanding her narrative today into a bilingual voice in both Spanish and English.
ESP.
Analía Rubbiani es una escritora argentina radicada en Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Formada en Comunicación Social con enfoque en cultura, es una apasionada por la literatura que actualmente explora su nueva visión de inmigrante a través de la nostalgia, las memorias y las costumbres. Con el propósito de transmitir el poder de la palabra escrita y la riqueza de la cultura latinoamericana e inspirar el encuentro comunitario, expande hoy su narrativa hacia una voz bilingüe en español e inglés.
dir. Tania Hermida
Northern Ontario Premiere
2024 | Ecuador – Cuba | Coming of Age | 91 min. | Spanish with English subtitles
Awards:
Official Selection: HFFNY – Havana FF in New York 2025
ENG.
Twelve-year-old Carla is grieving and speechless when she arrives at the Galapagos and realizes she must mutate to survive. She thus becomes an “Island” and, imitating the iguanas, learns to cling to the rocks, wait, plunge, and emerge to tell her story.
ESP.
Carla, de doce años, está afligida y sin palabras cuando llega a Galápagos y se da cuenta de que debe mutar para sobrevivir. Se convierte así en una “Isla” y, imitando a las iguanas, aprende a agarrarse a las rocas, esperar, zambullirse y emerger para contar su historia.
Producer, Loveleen Kaur; Director, Paul-Daniel Torres
Northern Ontario Premiere
2025 | Canada | Short | 14 min.| English, Spanish with English subtitles
For more info about the film: amissingpeace.ca/friedfishplantain
Official Selections:
ENG.
Two years after their first night together, Willie and Marisol have their “first date.” As they navigate a “post-pandemic” Toronto, they sift through who and what they’ve become amidst the circumstances, grief, and secrets that have kept them apart. Together, they discover if there can be love after loss. Starring TIFF 21′ rising star Emma Ferreira, and Paul-Daniel Torres.
SPAN.
Dos años después de su primera noche juntos, Willie y Marisol tienen su “primera cita”. Mientras recorren un Toronto “pospandemia”, exploran quiénes y en qué se han convertido entre circunstancias, duelos y secretos que los han mantenido separados. Juntos descubren si puede existir el amor después de la pérdida. Protagonizada por Emma Ferreira, estrella emergente de TIFF 2021, y Paul-Daniel Torres.
dir. Angela Carabali
Northern Ontario Premiere
2025 | Colombia | 86 min.| Spanish with English subtitles
Official Selections:
ENG.
One night, in a dream, the filmmaker’s father asks her to find him. He had been missing for 30 years, and she had never dared to confront that pain. Together with her sister, she travels across Colombia to the Indigenous lands where her father, an Afro-descendant farmer, once worked. Their journey from Medellín to Caloto confronts them with paradoxes surrounding the land, family emotions, and Indigenous spirituality, ultimately connecting Ángela with her father’s legacy.
ESP.
Una noche, en un sueño, el padre de la directora le pide que lo busque. Él llevaba 30 años de haber sido desaparecido y ella no se atrevía a enfrentar ese dolor. Junto a su hermana, viaja por Colombia hasta las tierras indígenas donde su padre, un agricultor afrodescendiente, trabajaba. El viaje de Medellín a Caloto, las enfrenta a paradojas con la tierra, a emociones familiares, y a la espiritualidad indígena que conectará a Ángela con el legado de su padre.
ENG.
Core Profile: Colombian dancer, instructor, and cultural promoter, and founder of Macondo Ritmo Latino.
Artistic Partner: Features Julio Mogollón as a vital part of the initiative, serving as her inseparable dance partner and co-creator.
Beginnings: Developed a passion for dance at the age of 8, building a diverse repertoire that includes Colombian and Latin American folk dance, tropical rhythms (salsa, merengue, cha-cha-cha), and more.
Leadership at Colombia Per Sudbury:
Community & Stage Presence:
Philosophy & Mission:
Uses dance as a bridge for multicultural integration and well-being, spreading the joy and rich folklore of Latin culture under the core of “Feel the fire, taste the magic, and unleash the majestic flavor of Macondo on the dance floor”.
ESP.
Perfil Principal: Bailarina, instructora y gestora cultural colombiana, creadora de Macondo Ritmo Latino.
Aliado Artístico: Cuenta con Julio Mogollón como una parte fundamental de la iniciativa, desempeñándose como su inseparable pareja de baile y co-creador en el proyecto.
Inicios: Jheymy se apasionó por la danza a los 8 años, formándose en un amplio repertorio que incluye folclor colombiano, ritmos tropicales (salsa, merengue, chachachá) entre otros.
Liderazgo en Colombia Per Sudbury:
Proyección y Escenarios Comunitarios:
Filosofía y Misión: Utilizan la danza como un puente de integración multicultural y un generador de bienestar, difundiendo el folclor y la alegría de la cultura latina bajo la premisa “Siente el fuego, prueba la magia y desata el majestuoso sabor de Macondo en la pista de baile”.
Tuesday, April 21
Unfortunately, our run of MILE END KICKS has been postponed to open Thursday, April 30 at 4:15 PM. Other April screenings have been replaced, including:
Thank you for your understanding!!