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Thursday, Oct. 10: Seattle Latino Film Festival screens "El Cantante"

Washington State History Museum

Leon Ichaso

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"I want to get Tacoma, the film community, and the Latino community educated," local actor Melinda Raebyne tells me. If you haven't yet seen her in a South Sound movie, she spends the rest of her time behind the scenes on multiple film events, like the upcoming Tacoma Film Festival, Oct. 3-10.

As public relation coordinator, she's also played a part in bringing a slice of the 5th annual Seattle Latino Film Festival to T-town this year. In conjunction with the University of Puget Sound, SLFF will host a one-night screening of El Cantante at the Washington State History Museum Thursday, Oct. 10.

Made back in 2006 and co-written and directed by Leon Ichaso, this bio-flick stars Marc Anthony as Hector Lavoe, the Puerto Rican pioneer of the salsa movement in 1970s America, and his subsequent struggles with drug addiction. Anthony's wife during filming, Jennifer Lopez, appears as Hector's passionate, outspoken wife Puchi.

After a post-film Q&A with the award-winning Ichaso, the 21-and-over crowd can head a few blocks down Pacific Avenue to Encore Boutique Nightclub for an exclusive after-party, featuring a dance presentation courtesy of Raebyne and others. The show will include a performance of "Aguanile," a song from the El Cantante soundtrack.

Executive director Jorge Enrique González Pacheco founded SLFF, with the goal to "bring audiences and filmmakers together for an educational experience and to support the magic of filmmaking as a part of Hispanic culture globally." The global spirit reigns in this year's fest, with selections from as far as Spain and our own country as well.

Says Raebyne, "I don't think people realize what a gem we have in our backyard ... (the different film festivals offered) appeal to so many different tastes." So sweeten your Tacoma Film Festival diet with a bit of international flavor.

View the entire SLFF film schedule and purchase tickets at www.slff.org.

EL CANTANTE, 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $8-$15 at brownpapertickets.com, 253.272.3500

See Also

2013 Tacoma Film Festival

Calendar: Arts and Entertainment

Calendar: Music and Nightlife

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