Latino Creatives Shine at the 2024 Venice Film Festival: Must-Watch Films & Series

The Venice Film Festival features many Latino creatives. From Jenna Ortega to Alfonso Cuarón’s work, here are films and TV series to keep an eye on!

As the 81st annual Venice Film Festival ends, it’s essential to recognize the Latino contributions that took center stage this year.

With a globally talented roster, the festival brought together many Latino creatives, including Puerto Rican-Mexican-American actress Jenna Ortega (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín (Maria), and Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón (Apple TV+ series Disclaimer), all celebrating their latest projects from August 26 to September 7, 2024.

To honor this year’s standout Latino works, here are three films and TV series featuring Latino creatives:

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

This comedy-horror sequel is one of the year’s most highly anticipated films. Starring Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz, and Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz, the cast is ready to light up the big screen.

The film’s synopsis reads: “After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic, accidentally opening the portal to the Afterlife. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time before someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, bringing the mischievous demon back to unleash his unique brand of mayhem.”

Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice releases on September 6.

Maria

Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín brings the iconic American actress Angelina Jolie to the screen in Maria. Per Netflix, Larraín describes the film as a “creative imagining and psychological portrait of Maria Callas.” Callas, recognized as one of the greatest opera singers of all time, is portrayed during her final days in the 1970s.

Although the film premiered at the festival on August 29, its release date and official trailer are still pending. Maria will be available on Netflix.

Disclaimer

Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón premiered his new Apple TV+ series Disclaimer, a psychological thriller starring Australian-American actress Cate Blanchett.

The seven-part miniseries is described as: “Written and directed by five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, Disclaimer is based on the best-selling novel by Renée Knight. Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation by revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.”

The show will be available for streaming on October 11, 2024, via Apple TV+.

More Latino and Spanish films featured at the Venice Film Festival

Other notable Latino and Spanish films include Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, described as “a best-selling writer reconnecting with her mother after years of estrangement.” This film will be released on December 20, 2024.

Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles also premiered his latest film, I’m Still Here / Ainda Estou Aqui, a docudrama set in 1971 Brazil during the grip of a military dictatorship. The film follows a mother forced to reinvent herself after an act of arbitrary violence shatters her family. It will be released in France on January 15, 2025, with the U.S. release date pending.

Check out more Latino titles here.

Cover Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Tabercil/ Harald Krichel (2)/ Carlos Figueroa Rojas / GabboT