The six-film series runs through April and will feature guest speakers at each screening. Each film will be shown at 1 p.m. in Room 205G of the Donaghey Student Center.

The festival is free and open to the university community and the public, with snacks and drinks available.

Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo, an assistant professor of Spanish at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, said the series reflects two central components of the university鈥檚 mission: to foster humane empathy among students and to empower them to utilize knowledge to contribute to society.

鈥淭his is precisely the foundation of the film series’ purpose,” she said. “To better understand the relevance of sustainable practices, we must become more knowledgeable about what is occurring in different parts of the world.”

Sotelo said each of the selected films communicates realities where nature and humanity are interconnected and impacted.

“The goal is to encourage comprehension and reflection on the effects and transcendence of our footprints in different spaces,” she said. “Furthermore, through conversations with our guest speakers, we will discuss the complexities of the films and articulate actionable steps that can be taken.鈥�

Below is the schedule for the film festival: 

Event 1: February 13, 2026

Theme: Extractivism in South America

Film: Chevron vs. The Amazon (2016) by Abby Martin

Guest Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Event 2: February 27, 2026

Theme: Extractivism in South America

Film: When Two Worlds Collide (2016) by Mathew Orzel and Heidi Brandenburg

Guest Speaker: Dr. Meloddye Carpio Rios (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Event 3: March 13, 2026 

Theme: Environmental justice in Central America

Film: Berta Didn’t Die, She Multiplied!  (2017) by Sam Vinal

Guest Speaker: Dr. Rex Wilkins (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Event 4: April 3, 2026 

Theme: Environmental justice in Central America

Film: Treasure of the Caribbean (2023) by Ana Salceda

Guest Speaker: Dr. Cornesha Tweede (Arizona State University)

Event 5: April 17, 2026 

Theme: Crisis and impact in North America

Film: El tren y la pen铆nsula (2023) by Sky Richards & Andreas Kruger Foncerrada

Guest Speaker: Dr. Bri Romanello (University of Arkansas)

Event 6: April 22, 2026

Theme: Crisis and impact in North America

Film: The Gods of Mexico (2022) by Helmut Dosantos

Guest Speaker: Dr. Romy Cer贸n Canch茅 (Texas State University) 

Dr. Rex Wilkins, a visiting assistant professor of Spanish at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, said the film series also supports a broader goal of strengthening connections between the university and the local community 鈥� students, friends, and neighbors alike.

鈥淲atching films together and talking about them is one of the best ways to build bridges of understanding between nations, cultures, and people,” he said. “Learning, like so many other things in life, has a social component.”

Organizers hope to reinforce the idea that in-person conversations can foster greater understanding, respect, and care in an increasingly divided world,” Dr. Wilkins added.

“We invite all of Little Rock to come and experience that for themselves by attending this film series,” he said. “We hope this will become an annual film series centering on other Latin American issues such as immigration and family life.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo at esotelo1@ualr.edu or Dr. Rex Wilkins at rrwilkins1@ualr.edu.

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