In its 13 years of existence, the International Latino Film Festival, an exposé showcasing some of the most profound and outspoken movies in the Spanish-speaking world, is finally coming full circle. The celebration that sprouted from Marin County has flourished, spread, then condensed back to a single locale.

Just last year in its 12th anniversary, the event had been a Bay Area wide festival featuring films that would otherwise be unavailable due to the lack of commercial distribution. With the help of the Latino Leadership Council, the weekend event now found itself exclusively within the borders of Redwood City where viewers can even communicate with the filmmakers themselves.

“It’s impact has been dramatic,” said Malcolm Smith, Redwood City spokesman. “We’re proud to be hosting it here and expecting to draw people from throughout the Bay Area.”

Having already hosted the festival for three years, Redwood City is accustomed to shining a spotlight on notable Latino art and film, but for the first time the city will be alone in the limelight, showing all the films that would have previously been disseminated throughout the Bay Area, within a few venues throughout the weekend.

The underpinnings can be traced back to the passions of one San Rafael woman, Sylvia Perel, the artistic director of the International Latino Film Festival and a few of her close friends. Perel felt that there was a distinct lack of Latino films in mainstream television and film, Latinos were portrayed badly.

“Our heritage, history and culture were ignored and absent from the cinematic international world,” said Perel, referring back to November of 1997 when she sparked the plan. “I had a very personal need to see my culture reflected and our origins, values, aspirations and dreams explored and shared.”

With that, Perel and company planted the small, but significant film festival until it grew to encompass eight cities and 17 venues throughout the Bay Area. She describes it now as a feast of Latino culture and pride.

“Today the experience of those fertile years is reflected in our festival in Redwood City which for the last four years has flourished with an innovative, engaging and aesthetically significant program that brings a large number of members to our community for a one-time experience that will surprise and inspire.”

According to Perel, this year the films shown will deal with subjects concerning identity, gender, family, politics of violence, immigration, indigenous roots, humor and passion; certainly enough to influence the perspectives those in attendance.

“Films such as these inspire us to think beyond ourselves and understand situations and people that are different and yet in some ways the same,” said Perel. “It brings us the pleasure to be immersed into the lives of others, transported to different countries, homes and homelands. For Latinos, it is a recognition of our identity as a community, and also an expression of pride to see our culture celebrated on the big screen.”

After 12 years in the business of running festivals, Perel has fostered numerous contacts with directors, producers and distributors across the globe. Her visits to other festivals have brought the most acclaimed works to the Bay Area.

One such creative talent, acclaimed writer and director Issa Lopez, was present Friday to kick off the event with the screening of her film, Casi Divas (Almost Divas).

“I’m very grateful for the chance to be featured at the opening,” said Lopez. “I’m also fortunate enough to be constantly making movies,” she added, citing the comparatively lower frequency of releases in Mexico when compared to the United States.

Lopez, 38, was born in Mexico City where she started her career as a writer. The ride to fame wasn’t without conflict, however.

“I was a problem child. Kids picked on me but I fought back. I went to 10 different schools, all in Mexico City,” said Lopez. “Writing was always a personal thing. I found it would connect me with people, and the same thing has happened with movies.”

Lopez, an atheist, ironically ended up in a Catholic school, admittedly the only place that would take her.

“They wanted to convert me, it was something of a mission,” said Lopez, laughing at the reminiscence. “My way of thinking got me into trouble. The nuns didn’t like what I was writing, even though I won best writing for a story about a patron saint of the order. In reality the saint had a very small part in it, it was about death and rethinking life.”

Lopez cited that, as a director, it’s pivotal that her movies stay with the viewer beyond the theater, but somehow they always tend to revolve around people who aren’t happy with their lives and then take risks to change it.

Lopez said she loves finding new talent that has been around a while, but may have never been given the chance at a big role. For anyone unfamiliar with Latino film, expect to discover the same.

For more information about the festival including film times and how to purchase tickets, go to www.redwoodcity.org/latinofilmfestival.