The 10th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival began with an well-received screening of EL VIOLIN (The Violin, Francisco Vargas Quevedo, Mexico, 2006) at the Paramount Theater.

The opening night audience was deeply touched by the film as proved by their laughter and their tears for the story of Don Plutarco and the Hidalgo family, described by actor Gerardo Taracena as "a story of injustice, a story about something that hurts us in Mexico and in all parts of Latin America" The film depicts a dangerous conflict between the military and a group of resistance fighters in a rural peasant village in Mexico.

Taracena was in attendance to present the film, and he hosted an emotional Q&A following the screening. The conversation included details of the film's production, discussion of Mexican history, the current situation of the Mexican film industry, and recognition of the significance of bringing to the United States stories such as the one told by EL VIOLIN.

The screening was co-sponsored by the Mexican Consulate in Austin. Cine Las Americas will continue screening films throughout the week.