The festival kicks off with an opening night gala at the Chelsea Cinema on 24 November of Viva Cuba by the acclaimed director Juan Carlos Cremata. This quirky coming-of-age road movie follows two ten-year-olds on an adventurous tour of the Cuban landscape after they run away from home. Telling a tale akin to Romeo and Juliet, this is a wonderful, fresh film for all ages.

In addition, there are two more gala evenings. On 30 November there is a Destino gala screening of the Costa Rican film Caribe at the Odeon Covent Garden, which will be followed by a Q&A with director Esteban Ramirez. And on 2 December there’s a Peru gala night at the Brixton Ritzy of Days of Santiago with Peruvian director Josué Mendez in attendance for a Q&A session.

Along with 40 other short and feature-length films from 13 Latin American countries, the festival will also include documentaries and cultural events that will provide viewers with a more intimate perspective on Latin American culture.

The festival hasjoined forces with Tate Modern for the first time this year and the highlight of this new collaboration is a day-long event on Sunday 27 November entitled I am Cuba: Latin America through the lens of European directors.

This year’s festival also boasts a major Homage to Latin American Women Filmmakers. Looking back at the work of Mexican director Maria Novaro with a retrospective at the Odeon Panton St. On Wednesday 30 November there will be a double-bill of Novaro’s Without a Trace and The Garden of Eden and they have secured the director for a Q&A session. The celebration of female filmmakers continues on Saturday 3 December at the Ritzy Brixton for a weekend of films from Cuba, Argentina and Brazil.

Staying at the Ritzy Brixton, there will be a unique glimpse of the realities of life in Latin American with an extensive Documentaries Section. These films will provide a more revealing look through the lens and a real sense of the rhythms of Latino life.

All proceeds from this year’s festival will be donated to Project Peru to help individuals and communities in difficult circumstances.

For programme information and details of the screenings taking place at Tate Modern, Odeon Panton St, Odeon Covent Garden, Brixton Ritzy and the Chelsea Cinema visit: www.discoveringlatinamerica.org.