Mexican cinema aficionados and newcomers alike will have a chance to not only see free screenings of award-winning Mexican films, but also speak with directors this Thursday through Sunday.

Tucson Cine Mexico 2010, a film festival sponsored by the UA’s Hanson Film Institute and the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson, is screening a collection of Mexican films from the past decade, focusing on releases from 2008 and 2009.

A screening of “”El General”” (“”The General””) kicks off the event on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Harkins Theatres Tucson Spectrum 18, 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz, with director Natalia Almada in attendance. The festival will then host an opening night party at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Following the party, “”Trópico de Cáncer”” (“”Tropic of Cancer””) will be shown at the museum at 9 p.m.

All films except “”Trópico de Cáncer”” will be shown at Harkins Theatres Tucson Spectrum 18.

The festival will host screenings of a total of eight films, three of which the directors will attend. Director Mariana Chenillo will attend her film “”Cinco días sin Nora”” (“”Nora’s Will””) on Saturday at 6 p.m., and co-directors Ana Paola Rodriguez España and Amanda Sucar will present their documentary “”Tijuaneados Anonimos: Una Lagrima, Una Sonrisa”” (“”Tijuanans Anonymous: A Teardrop, A Smile””) on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The films being presented provide insight into the cultural, political and social aspects that make Mexico a fascinating subject and point of origin for aspiring filmmakers. Subjects range from immigration politics, as in the “”Los Bastardos”” (“”The Bastards””) showing on Friday at 10 p.m., to Mexico’s complex political and revolutionary history, as in “”El General.”” The festival also includes Mexico’s costliest and most successful film to date, “”Arráncame La Vida”” (“”Tear This Heart Out””) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., an adaptation of a book by Ángeles Mastretta about a young woman’s search for identity in 1930s Mexico.

All of these films have won awards from various international film festivals before making their Arizona premiere. Attendees are sure to experience some of Mexico’s best films to date, all for free. For more information, visit the Center for Center for Latin American Studies’ Web site at clas.arizona.edu/cinemexico or call Harkins Spectrum 18 for tickets and showtimes at 889-5588.

Events schedule

Thursday, March 4

El General (The General)

2008, 83 mins

6 p.m.

Harkins Spectrum 18, 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz

In person: Director Natalia Almada

Festival Opening Night Party, 8:30 p.m. at the Tucson Museum of Art:

Guest filmmakers, presenters, film, live Music 10 p.m. – midnight, food and drinks

In collaboration with the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave.

Trópico de Cáncer (Tropic of Cancer)

2004, 53 mins

Presented by Carlos Gutierrez,

co-director of Cinema Tropical

9 p.m. in the lobby of the Tucson Museum of Art

Friday, March 5

Voy a Explotar (I’m Gonna Explode)

2007, 105 mins

6 p.m. at Harkins Spectrum 18

Alamar (To the Sea)

2009, 75 mins

8:30 p.m. at Harkins Spectrum

Los Bastardos (The Bastards)

2008, 90 mins

10 p.m. at Harkins Spectrum 18

Saturday, March 6

Cinco Días Sin Nora (Nora’s Will)

2008, 100 mins

6 p.m. at Harkins Spectrum 18

In person: Director Marianna Chenillo

Arráncame La Vida (Tear this Heart Out)

2008, 111 mins

8:30 p.m. at Harkins Spectrum 18

Sunday, March 7

Tijuaneados Anonimos: Una Lagrima, Una Sonrisa (Tijuanans Anonymous: A Teardrop, A Smile)

2009, 82 mins

2 p.m. at Harkins Spectrum 18

In person: Co-director Ana Paola Rodriguez España and Amanda Sucar,

outreach coordinator for Ambulante