Professor Alvarado, who's been a supporter of this festival, says his courses in Massey reflect a similar reality.

And we teach, for instance, a course on Latin American cinema.

And so Latin America and Spain, so we deal with not only what happened in Spain or Latin America in the past, but what's happening now.

I teach a course on Latin American music and politics, how Latin America came about and then...

the current situation all over the continent.

So that's a reflection of what the society is.

It is important for everyone to be aware of what's happening and the students respond well to that.

So it's not the stereotypes of salsa, cools or crime taking center stage.