Cine Las Americas opens tonight with Machuca

The eighth annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival opens tonight at the Texas State History Museum with the regional premiere of Andrés Wood's critically-acclaimed Machuca. It's been nominated for both a Goya and an Ariel this year, and co-stars one of my favorite actors, Federico Luppi (who starred in Guillermo's El Espinazo del Diablo and Cronos). A coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of Chile's 1973 military coup, it will also be the second new Chilean film in a month I've had the privilege to see after Nicolás López's wonderful Promedio Rojo at SXSW. (As you may or may not know, I'm half-Chilean, so this is exciting for me. Viva Chile!) Plus, as an added bonus, the after-party tonight is at the always yummy Doña Emilia's. (Last week's Austin Chronicle previewed the film and the festival.)