08 Mar CinEstrasburgo Festival 2025

From March 12 to 18, 2025, Strasbourg will vibrate to the rhythm of Spanish and Latin American cinema thanks to the Festival CinEstrasburgo, an unmissable event for lovers of Hispanic language and culture. Organized in partnership with the Odyssée – RCA association and supported by the Spanish academic inspection, this festival offers a demanding selection of films in original version with French subtitles, combining entertainment, social reflection, and cultural immersion. For the Spanish school ELE USAL Strasbourg, it’s the ideal opportunity to celebrate the linguistic and artistic richness of the Hispanic world while offering its students – current, former, or future – a living showcase of their field of study.

Program

Wednesday, March 12 – Opening night: Sentimental and the complexities of relationships

Sentimental

At 7:30 PM, le Cinéma Vox will launch the festival with Sentimental (Spain, 2020), a subtle comedy by director Cesc Gay. This film delicately explores the tensions of a middle-aged couple facing routine, whose life takes a turn during a dinner with neighbors of liberated morals. With a duration of 1h22, this work – not recommended for young audiences – serves as a metaphor for social masks and the quest for authenticity in modern relationships. An ideal introduction for Spanish students wishing to analyze the nuances of contemporary dialogue.

Alis

The Colombian documentary Alis (2023) by Clare Weikopf and Nicolás van Hemelryck delves into a shelter for teenage girls in Bogotá. Through a collective imagination exercise around a fictional classmate, the film discreetly unveils cycles of urban violence while sketching hopes of resilience. The screening will be followed by a debate, offering Spanish learners a unique opportunity to confront their linguistic understanding with authentic testimonies.

Friday, March 14, at 7:30 PM – Cuban night: Rhythms and revolution

Buena Vista Social Club

Not to be missed: the cult screening of Buena Vista Social Club (Germany, 1999) by Wim Wenders. This musical portrait of Cuban legends like Ibrahim Ferrer is a living history lesson on the Golden Age of Cuban music. The evening will come alive with a salsa initiation by Leo, perfect for practicing Spanish in a relaxed context. Students will thus be able to combine language learning and cultural discovery.

Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 PM – Chavela Vargas: The transgressive icon

Chavela Vargas

The documentary Chavela Vargas (2017) traces the journey of this Mexican singer who defied gender norms in the 1950s. A true case study on the relationship between language and identity, the film shows how her interpretation of rancheras – traditionally masculine – redefined artistic codes. A fascinating subject for courses on Hispanic cultural diversity.

Sunday, March 16, at 11am, 5.30pm and 8pm – Marathon Day: Social comedy and Argentine fresco

Campeones

The day will begin at 11 AM Campeones (Spain, 2018), a dramatic comedy awarded at the Goya Awards. Javier Fesser addresses mental disability with humor and sensitivity, through the story of a basketball coach forced to coach a team of intellectually disabled individuals.

Trenque Lauquen

At 5:30 PM and 8 PM, it’s time for Trenque Lauquen, Partie 1 et 2 (Argentina/Germany, 2022), a two-part fresco by Laura Citarella. This labyrinthine work of 4h22 total mixes magical realism and police investigation, offering a literary dive into the Argentine Pampas – a stimulating challenge for advanced Spanish students.

Monday, March 17, at 7:30 PM- Dos madres: Historical Memory and ethical dilemmas

Dos madres

This Spanish drama by Víctor Iriarte (2024) addresses the painful subject of babies stolen under Francoism, through the intertwined destiny of two mothers. The screening will be followed by a debate with historien Enrique Guerra López, allowing to deepen a little-known aspect of Spanish history – perfect complement to courses on democratic transition.

Tuesday, March 18,  at 7:30 PM – Tense closing with Border Line

Border Line

The thriller Border Line (Spain, 2023) will close the festival on a breathtaking note. This film by J.S. Vásquez and Alejandro Rojas follows a couple confronted with a Kafkaesque interrogation at the American border, mirroring contemporary migratory tensions. An ideal work to debate in class about Hispanic sociopolitical realities.

For school groups: Cinema as a pedagogical tool

Cinéma Vox offers dedicated sessions for schools, with advantageous rates (€5/student). Three films are particularly suitable for pedagogical use:

Emilia Pérez

– Emilia Pérez (2024): metaphorical musical comedy about the gender transition of a drug baron.

– Campeones: accessible comedy from 5ème to address inclusion.

Hola Frida

– Hola Frida (2024): animated film about Frida Kahlo’s childhood, available in French or original version with subtitles.

Practical info: Prepare your cultural immersion

📍 Location: Cinéma Vox – 25 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Strasbourg

🎟️ Réservations : www.cine-vox.com | 📞 03 88 75 50 21

💶 Rates :

Schoolchildren:

– 5€ / student under 14 – 1 accompanying adult free for every 10 students.

– 5€50 / student over 14 – 1 accompanying adult free for 10 students.

For all:

– 12,10 € : full price

– 8,20 € : morning rate

Valid for morning sessions on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays outside school vacations, mornings on public holidays and mornings every day during school vacations.

– Non-nominative 3-admission card (can be shared): €25.50 (= €8.50 per ticket)

– 6 € : under 14 years old

On presentation of proof.

– 8.40 € : under 18s

With proof of age.

– 8.80 € : under 26 (NEW !)

With proof of age.

– 8.60 € : unemployed
Upon presentation of proof

– 8.40 € for students

Upon presentation of proof

– 8.60 € : over 60 years old

– 8.60 € : military

Upon presentation of proof

– 8.60 € : disabled, handicapped or with reduced mobility
Upon presentation of proof

– 9.50 € : holders of partner cards

(Upon presentation of Galeries Lafayettes or Cezam cards)

Why will this Festival excite Spanish learners?

1. Linguistic immersion: varied accents (Spanish from Spain, Argentine, Cuban…) to refine the ear.

2. Cultural contexts: each film reflects distinct social realities of the Hispanic world.

3. Current themes: gender issues, historical memories, migratory challenges.

4. nteractive encounters: debates with historians and practical workshops (salsa).

The ELE USAL Strasbourg school encourages its students to take advantage of this program to:

– Enrich their vocabulary thanks to French subtitles

– Discover key authors of contemporary Hispanic cinema

– Prepare class discussions on societal topics

Conclusion: When cinema nourishes learning

The CinEstrasburgo Festival 2025 is not just a cultural event – it’s a gateway to in-depth mastery of Spanish. Through its demanding films and stimulating encounters, it perfectly embodies the pedagogical philosophy of ELE USAL Strasbourg: learning a language means embracing an entire worldview.

Next step? Check out our course program to combine cinema and learning all year round!