Pragda, one of the leading distributors of quality Spanish and Latin American cinema, has been working tirelessly with North American universities for 20 years, helping their libraries develop diverse and relevant film collections.
One of its educational initiatives, the Spanish Film Club offers grants to organize Ibero American film festivals at university campuses worldwide, enriching students’ visions on the continent and its languages. As Pragda celebrates the 10th anniversary of the grant program, they reaffirm their commitment to supporting educational institutions and libraries seeking to provide diverse, inclusive films for their students.
Daniela Bajar, Semi-Theatrical & Education Manager shares that “At Pragda, we understand the importance of highlighting the diversity of films that reflect the experience of students at universities or portray the immigrant experience, which many students relate to.”
Their impressive catalog includes hundreds of Spanish and Latin American films, including indigenous titles. Films from the catalog can be purchased for libraries even if a library is not involved with the Spanish Film Club or hosting a festival, though these events amplify interest and reach. In its first 10 years, the club has done nearly 3,000 screenings reaching approximately 150,000 students.
When universities/libraries partner with Pragda to run a Spanish Film Club, they receive support to build engagement at their institution. The Spanish Film Club is a way to combat the lack of access to foreign films that exist in many places. Pragda puts quality films front and center.
The Pragda Spanish Film Club includes a grant program that covers up to 50% of festival costs, coordination of virtual and/or in-person festivals, virtual Q&As with filmmakers and scholars, study guides, as well as access to more than 80 award-winning films from 30 countries. The next grant deadline is April 18th.
In partnering with Pragda, universities/libraries can build quality collections that their instructors and students can access and utilize in a variety of ways while gaining a window into different worlds and experiences to enrich student understanding.
For example, Nudo Mixteco, by indigenous filmmaker Ángeles Cruz is a quietly powerful triptych of stories that speak about the impact of migration and the plight of indigenous women in a rural Mixtec village in Oaxaca. Miriam Lies, by the award-winning filmmakers Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada, exposes how racial prejudices affect a teenage girl’s choices while shooting sharp criticism at the heart and mind of Caribbean society. Both are part of the Spanish Film Club festival experience this year and are available for purchase through Pragda’s extensive and impressive film catalog.
“We know that cinema can help foster compassion,” Bajar asserts. Cinema can transform lives, illuminate challenging issues, inspire, and motivate. Pragda, through its impressive film catalog and the Spanish Film Club grant program, increases institutional access so that universities/libraries can bring transformative cinema to students, connect them to the world around them, promote compassion and positive change. We’re proud to highlight and celebrate this initiative.
We invite you to celebrate 10 years of the Spanish Film Club with Pragda! Learn more: https://pragda.com/spanish-film-club/.