MORE THAN ANYTHING

(Antes que Todo)

A film by María Paz González

6:30 p.m.

The first program of a musical evening features a new documentary from María Paz Gonzalez, ANTES QUE TODO (Chile/2005, 51 min.). The film follows two boys, trumpeter Jonathan and violinist Cesar, who discover their love for music and decide to strive to pursue this dream, with all its struggle and joy. An uplifting and compelling story of childhood dreams and realities, ANTES QUE TODO assumes that music is the most important thing of all. In Spanish with English Subtitles.

Screening with DEAR NONNA (Tiziana Panizza, Italy/Chile, 2004, 15 min.).

THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA      

A film by Lydia Bendersky

*In person, for a Q & A after the screening

8 p.m.

THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA (Chile/USA, 2003, 58 min.) is a documentary about world-class operatic soprano Verónica Villarroel, one of Chile's proudest cultural exports, whose rise to international stardom reads like a fairy tale: she debuted in her first solo role in "La Bohème" without ever having studied music.

The film takes us through Verónica’s personal struggle with her gift: a remarkable voice which chose her life for her, while taking us behind the scenes of the international opera world featuring Plácido Domingo, Renata Scotto, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and José Cura, among others. With footage rarely captured on film, THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA is a journey into Villarroel's deeply human story through all of opera's beauty, while reminding us of the demands and sacrifices necessary to “make it.” In English and Spanish with subtitles.

See video excerpts of Spanish version, "Diva por Accidente"

Screening with the short ENCUENTRO (Cecilia Cornejo, 2003, 5:30 min.)