Link to Photos by Tarmo Hannula, The Pajaronian

Traditional ceremonial dances from various localities in Mexico are a big part of Watsonville’s Día de Los Muertos celebration.

A decade ago, it was incumbent upon anyone writing or talking about Día de Los Muertos, especially anyone addressing a primarily Anglo/white audience, to explain exactly what it is, and what it is not.

WATSONVILLE — Nov. 1-2 are typically designated as Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday that celebrates loved ones who have died.

Watsonville will be getting a head start with its 6th annual Día de Muertos celebration in downtown. Presented by the Watsonville Film Festival, it will once again provide an evening of reflection, dancing, food and all of the other hallmarks of the holiday.

Live music, dance performances, community altars and family activities will fill the afternoon in Watsonville Plaza Friday during the annual Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration.

Hosted by Watsonville Film Festival, the sixth annual event will also feature a free showing of the movie, “Coco.”

Consuelo Alba, executive director and co-founder of the Watsonville Film Festival, is a cultural leader currently serving as the board chair of Arts Council Santa Cruz County. She is an award-winning bilingual documentary filmmaker, film producer, journalist and inaugural member of Rise Together, a coalition of BIPOC leaders working for racial equity. Under her leadership, the Watsonville Film Festival developed from a grassroots collective into a nonprofit arts organization offering year-round multimedia programming. For 11 years, Alba has led an amazing team presenting hundreds of programs, leveraging the power of film, and redefining what a film festival is and the transformative impact it can have in a community. Her work has been featured in festivals around the world and broadcast on Mexican public television. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Watsonville Film Festival is partnering with Cabrillo College’s “Hispanic Serving Institution Week” to celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the Watsonville Plaza on Friday from 5-7:30pm.

While you’re visiting this year’s Santa Cruz County Fair at the fairgrounds next weekend, you might want to make it a double shot of cultural fun in Watsonville.

Fridays at the Watsonville Plaza are already a fun stop thanks to the weekly farmers market. But next Friday, Sept. 15, “Fiesta Mexicana” — brought to you by the Watsonville Film Festival — comes to the plaza…

On Sept. 19, Rodrigo Reyes’ documentary “Sansón and Me” will make its television premiere on PBS’ “Independent Lens,” having already been screened at many national and international film festivals.

Watsonville residents will not have to wait that long, as the Watsonville Film Festival will be hosting a free screening at CineLux Green Valley Cinema Saturday, with the director, one of the actors and family members of the documentary’s subjects in attendance.

The Watsonville Film Festival will partner with CineLux Green Valley Cinemas to present the documentary film “Sanson and Me” Aug. 26 at 6pm.

Award-winning filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes will participate in a post-screening Q&A with the audience. Watsonville-based actor Mario Velasquez, who appears in the film, will also be in attendance…

The Watsonville Film Festival announced the launch of its 2023 Cine Se Puede Fellowship, a program designed to support emerging Latine filmmakers in the region. 

The fellowship is a year-long program that provides funding, mentorship, industry connections, workshops and master classes, as well as…

WATCH REPORT HERE

On Sunday, the Watsonville Film Festival showcased more than just movies. In a special exhibit, the festival unveiled the artwork of Watsonville native Juan Fuentes.

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By Ricardo Tovar, KION 46

WATCH REPORT HERE

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Watsonville Film Festival is a way to help bring the community together and keep culture and tradition alive through film.

This year Pepe Serna, whose fifty-year career includes 100 films and 300 TV shows, visited local students in Watsonville…

For Pepe Serna, there are no “extras” in life. Every role he’s had in his 75-year career as an actor has been an important one….

As part of the first day of the Watsonville Film Festival, actor and honoree for the evening, Pepe Serna, made it a top priority to visit students in the Pajaro Unified School District.

"I want to jump start every young mind's heart to say, 'I can do it, I have a right to do it,'" Serna said.

By:TARMO HANNULA

March 1, 2023

WATSONVILLE—The 11th Annual Watsonville Film Festival rolls out the red carpet March 3-12.  

Co-Founder and Director Consuelo Alba said the festival will have screenings at the Mello Center and the Watsonville Public Library as well as online viewing opportunities. 

“This year’s Festival presents an exciting line-up of films about ordinary people overcoming great obstacles to do the extraordinary,” Alba said. “The main themes are art and music, as well as honoring heroes and ‘sheroes.’”  

The Watsonville Film Festival is set to return for its 11th year and will run from March 3rd to 12th. This year’s Festival will feature an exciting line-up of films about Latino art, music and inspiring stories about ordinary people overcoming great obstacles to achieve the extraordinary.

In its 11th year, the Watsonville Film Festival has developed from a grassroots collective into a nonprofit arts organization offering dynamic year-round programming.

The festival will screen scores of full-length and short films in- person at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, at the Watsonville Public Library and online.

Opening night on Friday will pay tribute to iconic Hollywood actor Pepe Serna…

When community members gather on Friday to celebrate $400,000 in new grants that will be awarded to BIPOC-led organizations, it will also be a celebration of how far the Rise Together initiative has come in the last two years.