A Night at La Nacional: Manhattan’s Newest Monthly Arthouse Film and Arts Event Returns
- Staff
- May 11
- 2 min read
A Night at La Nacional
DATE & TIME: Wed. May 28, 2025 5:30 pm - 11pm
VENUE: La Nacional – 239 West 14th Street (MANHATTAN)
Downtown Manhattan comes alive again with the third night of its new monthly film/arts event launched in April, “A Night at La Nacional,” a worldly mix of contemporary arthouse, performance, music, visual arts and more in the great downtown tradition at the landmark venue of La Nacional (Spanish Benevolent Society) on West 14th Street in Manhattan, New York.
Produced in partnership with Bronx World Film, it offers filmmakers, performers, artists and communities a lively hub to share work and forge partnerships while drawing new patrons to La Nacional, one of the city’s oldest non-profits and recently dubbed “a hidden gem” by the Daily News.
La Nacional is the last remnant of Manhattan’s “Little Spain” neighborhood.
After a wildly successful April launch spotlighting contemporary Spanish cinema, May’s marqueé brings us headliners The Rise, a film by actress/chanteuse Laura Scaglia (SWI) in its avant-première, and ICETEA, Alessia Buiatti’s biting futurist drama. For the performance component we have a mini-concert by Venezuelan Mafer Bandola, a bandora virtuoso, teacher and arts activist; original songs by Maximilian Kempf and a play excerpt by Nancy Finn with Elizabeth Caruso and Eva Sorel. Guest visual artist Dr. Narengy fills the gallery with cartoon drawings of her “goofy, whimsical and silly monsters” and surprise guests will be announced closer to the date. Doors open at 5:30 for the mixer and art exhibit, performances at 6:30, the film screening at 8pm EST followed by a Q & A, after-party and mixer. Bronx World Film and La Nacional welcome one and all to an event, venue and company you will not want to leave.
Admission to “A Night at La Nacional” is free. Donations accepted.
About La Nacional Founded in 1868, La Nacional, also known as the Spanish Benevolent Society, is the oldest Spanish cultural institution in the United States and a vital remnant of Manhattan’s once-thriving “Little Spain” neighborhood. Housed in a historic brownstone on West 14th Street, the Society was originally established to support Spanish immigrants, offering essential services such as food, shelter, healthcare, and funeral arrangements, serving as a crucial lifeline and home away from home for newcomers to New York. Over its more than 150-year history, La Nacional has evolved into a vibrant cultural hub, hosting flamenco performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, and concerts, while its restaurant continues to serve authentic Spanish cuisine in a convivial atmosphere. The Society has welcomed a diverse array of artists, intellectuals, and political figures-including luminaries like Luis Buñuel and Federico García Lorca-cementing its reputation as a crossroads for creative and cultural exchange. Today, La Nacional remains committed to fostering community, preserving Spanish heritage, and promoting a diverse, multicultural Spain, making it a unique and enduring fixture in New York City’s cultural landscape.