In an era of misconceptions about the Latin American community, there remain small beacons of hope. FilmScene’s Aquí y Allá Latin American Film Festival, the first of its kind in Iowa City, is one of them, according to the festival’s programmers.

FilmScene’s programming director Ben Delgado has worked in Latin American film festivals his entire career. When he came to Iowa, he knew he had to organize a similar project with FilmScene.

“There’s an incredible wealth of cinema coming out of Latin America and the diaspora. Lots of variety and lots of rich history,” Delgado said. “The ideal outcome is to bring in these local communities who can see themselves on screen, see movies in their language, and feel like they’re being represented.”

Screenings were held May 1-3. Among the six diverse new titles were “Nuestra Tierra (Our Land),” a documentary about a native Argentinian, Javier Chocobar, who was unjustly killed while trying to defend his people, and “TheyDream,” a multimedia project about a director and his mother utilizing their unique craft to bring loved ones back to life.

“TheyDream,” the only U.S. film, tapped into deep emotions of love, loss, and complex feelings about family members that everyone can relate to. Its unique approach to documentary filmmaking garnered stray laughter throughout, but the solemn second half slowly orchestrated a symphony of sniffles.

“We tried to get a good sampling of films that are very new in terms of their availability on the festival circuit,” Delgado said. “And they’re from countries as disparate as Bolivia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Puerto Rico.”

Translating to “here and there,” the festival was named after Argentine songwriter Facundo Cabral’s “No Soy de Aquí, Ni Soy de Allá.” Inspiration was taken from this folk song in an effort to honor both cultures of the global diaspora and the local community. In a further initiative to ensure accessibility for all, tickets were pay-what-you-can.

Aquí y Allá was more than just a film festival. An opening day after-party was held on May 1, a morning of coffee and pan dulce on May 2, and a poetry reading later that night featuring Judith Santopietro and Oriette D’Angelo. FilmScene’s commitment was so thorough that it even offered snacks and treats reminiscent of the cultures represented.

Miriam Alarcón Avila, a Mexican-born multimedia artist, joined several others in displaying their pieces throughout FilmScene’s Chauncey venue. Her urgent photography series utilized embroidery and paint over black and white images chronicling immigration stories in Iowa.

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“This is a chance to see films projected on the largest screen in your own language,” Alarcón Avila said. “That is powerful.”

Alarcón Avila is one of three artists making up the Aquí y Allá jury, a board that deliberated over the film that best represents artistic quality and cultural impact. Rounding out the group were Sant Giralt, writer, actor, and filmmaker, and Ariana Martinez, a freelance film critic pursuing a Master’s in Film Studies at the University of Iowa. The award was given to “El Lugar de Ausencia (A Place of Absence),” with director Marialuisa Ernst joining virtually after Saturday’s screening.

“It’s a very difficult time for our community. There’s a lot of misunderstanding about Latin identity and presence in the United States,” Martinez said. “It’s important to showcase that immigrants are worth celebrating, and that America has always been a place for them.”

Alarcón Avila shared that roughly 6 percent of Iowa’s population is of Latin American origin and emphasized the importance of reflecting that.

“This festival is important because it shows this culture as more than just a Mexican restaurant or Cinco de Mayo,” Alarcón Avila said. “There’s a rich, diverse world of languages, traditions, music, and writers. Even if they just take in just a few films, people can start to see that diversity.”

The festival was funded largely through the support of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Even though financial support for future efforts isn’t guaranteed, Delgado imagines the festival will continue to thrive.

“We hope that the festival will find success on its own merits, and that we can find additional support for future editions,” Delgado said. “Hopefully, local interest continues to grow so we can expand it and get more films and filmmakers here to Iowa City.”

Martinez shared this sentiment, emphasizing FilmScene’s passionate orchestration of artists with different backgrounds. Alongside the Refocus Film Festival, there’s potential for Aquí y Allá to serve as an annual artistic pillar for the Iowa City community.

“All these artists and community members from all these different areas have brought something to the table. It’s shown that there is a space for us here,” Martinez said. “There’s a creative energy that I think will last.”