Proving that Latin American cinema is going through a period of brilliance, The Film Society of Lincoln Center presents Neighboring Scenes, a showcase featuring eleven new films by some of the most exciting filmmakers in the region. From existential comedies, to black and white revisionist Westerns, the series is a wonderful way to kickstart 2016. Here are five of the titles you simply cannot miss:

El Movimiento

Benjamín Naishtat's masterful revisionist Western follows the terrifying journey of a paramilitary group in 19th century Patagonia. As the plague kills hundreds of citizens, the group, led by a vicious commander (played brilliantly by Pablo Cedrón) seems to be yet another harbinger of doom, as he forces peasants and farmers to give their lives for his lunatic cause. Stunningly shot, and directed with an admirably clear vision, Naishtat makes us wonder which is indeed the lesser of two evils.

Alexfilm

Pablo Chavarria Gutiérrez went from being a biologist to becoming a filmmaker, and as such it makes sense that Alexfilm is shot with the eye of a scientist. The film follows the title character as he goes about his day waiting for an event that very night. From making scrambled eggs for his dog, to smoking a cigarette, we follow the character - who never utters a line of dialogue - accompanied by poignant narration. With nods to Lynch and Beckett, the film cleverly finds the soul within the scientific process.

Gulliver

María Alché’s mystifying short film follows a group of youths as they try to make their way home after a party. Combining surrealist elements with coming-of-age conventions, Alché builds a strangely romantic universe in which the angst of youth is subverted by the endless possibilities of adulthood, represented in the film by opening doors. The last scene (with dialogue lasting all through the credits) is a small treasure on its own.

Ixcanul

Jayro Bustamante’s film has been racking up prizes all over the world, and with reason, it’s a stunningly shot debut which chronicles the struggles of a young indigenous woman trapped between conventions and her true desire. Bustamante takes audiences to the heart of a mysterious civilization without reducing its people to novelty objects. His humanism shines through, even as the film deals with mystical elements.

Mar

Perfect for the New York winter, Dominga Sotomayor’s mumblecore-y film follows a couple as they vacation in a beachside resort. The dreamlike setting, and the film’s exquisite framing, might make one envy the main characters, but their personal problems are certainly no holiday, as we see them argue and become less interested in each other. A surprisingly focused film - given the fact that it was mostly improvised - Sotomayor seems to have had all the elements in her favor (thunder makes a cameo appearance!) to take us on a sardonically delicious trip.

For more information on Neighboring Scenes visit The Film Society of Lincoln Center.