The Spanish do many things well, namely siestas and sangria, but they've also made their mark in the film industry, and continue to do so with that famous Spanish flare. And with all mainstream cinemas feeling like an ode to the US, it's important not to lose sight of the bigger picture (so to speak) of cinema.

La Mirada Film Festival 2011 is a showcase of contemporary and classic Spanish language cinema. The festival opens with Madianeras, the charming and compelling film from award winning director, Gustavo Taretto. Following this will be the Opening Night Gala, where you can get amongst Castilian culture with Spanish cuisine, wines and Argentinian beer.

Many of us have dreamed of being able to titter away fluently in this Romance-language. I once made the decision to learn Spanish, incorporating it into my Arts degree. One semester later and all I'd gained was a slightly larger HECS debt, so I've resigned myself to being a devoted reader of subtitles. Spanish is, however, one of the most widely spoken languages, which makes for a diverse range of films at La Mirada.

This year you'll get a taste of Spain, Mexico, Argentina and a touch of Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France and the US. You'll laugh, cry, contemplate, and probably book a ticket to Spain or South America as soon as the credits roll.