The Red Turtle Cinema is a student organization at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Their mission is to show movies to people that aren’t usually seen. The goal these film lovers have is to bring awareness to movies that people would often classify as either unique or different.
Daniel Orozco Diaz, the founder of Red Turtle Cinema, wanted to bring the films he loved for other students to view. Films that are considered niche but still have value for each person watching.
“At first, the idea was, at least for me, there were these movies that I really like, and I would like everyone else to see them. I just came to notice that there’s no movie [viewing] club at UTEP,” Orozco Diaz said.
The films the club view each week are suggested by members and with each showing, the audience are given a brief description of the movie. With every film the club screens for its audience, the Red Turtle Cinema hopes to bring a deeper connection with the cinematic experience for each new and returning attendee.
Historian of the club Cassandra Candelas believes that they have built a community for students to feel a part of something with a shared interest.
“I think that’s a very important thing, especially in college. When people really struggle with socializing, people don’t really talk to each other anymore, and I think what we have here is really important for other students and other community members,” Candelas said.
The club wants to break students out of their shells and even discover more about themselves. For Red Turtle Cinema member Matthew Magdaleno, after joining the club, he has seen a change in himself through his enjoyment of films.
“I would say for me, [cinema] changed my life, and I really hope to bring that to other people and to not only offer them a safe environment to explore other people’s identities and other cultures, but also, to build their own [identity and culture] and to challenge themselves, and hopefully they’ll grow just like I did,” Magdaleno said.
The club has screenings of a new movie weekly on Thursdays in Quinn Hall 212. UTEP students interested in the club can look for updates and announcements on Instagram @redturtlecinema or on MineTracker.
Joseph Montero is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]
