Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - 3... 2... 1... ACTION! The Oscars might be but a distant memory and Cannes still a few weeks away, but Vallarta film aficionados are getting ready for their own celluloid celebrations: Close Up Vallarta 2011.

The brainchild of Angel Delgado, a renowned Cuban artists and curator living in Puerto Vallarta, Close Up Vallarta is set to bring a whole new dimension to our appreciation of moving image. It is the first international video creation festival of its kind to take place in Bahía de Banderas, and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

So what can we expect from a video creation festival?

Unlike the Oscars, a video creation festival is more concerned with video art than full-length movies per se and the festival categories cover expertise such as video art, video performance, experimental shorts and dance, with most videos in the festival selection lasting between two and six minutes.

However, just like the Oscars, Close Up Vallarta will be awarding prizes for the best videos within each category, having an expert panel of judges casting their votes on the submissions of local, national and international contestants.

Projections in Teatro Vallarta
During the festival, videos of participating video artists, alongside invited national and international artists, will be projected for the public in Teatro Vallarta from 8pm on April 25 and 26, where tickets will cost just 60pesos. Each night will have a different selection of videos, while the closing ceremony will announce the winners for each category.

Free Events
In addition to the presentations in Teatro Vallarta, there are numerous free events in the festival program, such as the exhibition opening of artist Rubén Ortiz Torres in Haus der Kunst proyectos gallery on Sunday April 24, projections in the theater’s gallery and a comprehensive program of conferences taking place in the Centro Cultural Cuale on April 25 and 26. The conferences will be led by national and international experts in the field of video art creation. (See festival program below)

Be part of the first international video creation festival, be part of Close Up Vallarta 2011.

Program of Events

Sunday, April 24th

8 pm - Exhibition opening of artist Rubén Ortiz: Como T.V.? Curated by Pilar Pérez at Haus der Kunst proyectos gallery, Guerrero 339, Col. Centro. Tel: (322) 222-2662
Projection of video art: El Caminante by artist Miguel Pérez on the outside wall of El Patio de mi Casa restaurant.

Monday, April 25

10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Centro Cultural Cuale Auditorium (Free Entry)
Lectures by national and international artists, art critics and curators related to video art.

4:30 to 6:00 pm - Centro Cultural Cuale Auditorium (Free Entry)
Presentation of videos and documentaries by invited national and international artists.

6:30 to 7:50 pm - Teatro Vallarta Gallery (Free Entry)
Make Up, a documentary by Pavel Cortés

8:00 to 10:30 pm - Teatro Vallarta Auditorium ($60 pesos)
Opening Ceremony
Presentation of videos by internationally recognized invited artists.
Projections of videos by artists participating in the contest.

11:00 pm - BarAMERICAS, Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez 157 Col. Centro. Tel: (322) 222-0993
Festival Opening Party

Tuesday, April 26

10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Centro Cultural Cuale Auditorium (Free Entry)
Lectures by national and international artists, art critics and curators related to video art.

4:30 to 6:00 pm - Centro Cultural Cuale Auditorium (Free Entry)
Presentation of videos and documentaries by invited national and international artists.

6:30 to 7:30 pm - Teatro Vallarta Gallery (Free Entry)
Selection of videos from video dance festivals in New York.
Presentation of selected videos from the STROBE video festival, Amposta, Spain.

8:00 to 10:30 pm - Teatro Vallarta Auditorium ($60 pesos)
Projections of videos by artists participating in the contest.
Awards and closing ceremony

11:00 pm - Bodeguita del Medio, Paseo Díaz Ordaz 858-A, Col. Centro, Tel: (322) 223-1585
Festival closing party

For more information visit CloseUpVallarta.com or contact Angel Delgado, director of Close Up Vallarta, at (322) 222-0325 or closeupvallarta(at)yahoo.com.