As many of you know, I completed the documentary La Casa Ausente in late 2013.
The film had its world premiere in December of 2013, at the 35º Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano in La Habana, Cuba. This is the most important festival in the Latin world, covering South, Central and North America, and the Caribbean basin. The reception was excellent in both projections during the festival. In addition, the poster designed by Julio C. Arraut was nominated in the category of best movie poster.
In January 2014, La Casa Ausente was selected in the Doc Outlook -International Market (DOCM) of the prestigious documentary film festival Visions du Réel in Nyon, Switzerland. The festival is held in late April. The festival is ranked as one of the best documentary film festivals worldwide. This selection is important and promising because it offers the possibility of obtaining an international distributor and/or exhibitor. Distributors from over 70 countries attend the festival and the DOCM. I will be there to meet with potential buyers and distributors.
The DVD authoring was completed at he beginning of February. The DVD, besides having both versions (Castilian and English), is packed with extras that extend the experience of the documentary.
The premiere of La Casa Ausente in Puerto Rico will be held on Saturday March 8 at 6:30 PM, at the Banco Popular Building in Old San Juan. A cocktail will be served before the screening. On Monday the 10th, we will screen it at the Colegio de Arquitectos y Arquitectos Paisajistas de Puerto Rico at 7:00 PM. On Tuesday we will present it at the School of Architecture of the University of Puerto Rico at 6:30 PM. On Wednesday, we will show it at 6:30 PM at the Escuela Ecológica Niños Uniendo al Mundo in Caguas.
I will be traveling to San Juan, one week before the premiere to do a media tour and to make the necessary preparations for the screenings.
I hope to see you during one of these presentations/celebrations!
Congratulations! If you ever go to Costa Rica to screen the movie let me know! I would love my cousin, who is about to graduate from “Escuela de Arquitectos de la Universidad de Costa Rica”, to watch your documentary. Costa Rica is known for its ecotourism and how great it would be to adopt the same idea over there too!