PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH INVITED MEXICAN FILM DIRECTOR ALEJANDRO MONTEVERDE TO SIT IN THE FIRST LADY’S BOX DURING HIS STATE OF UNION ADDRESS, AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICAN SOCIETY

” Monteverde, who wrote and directed the film “Bella”, winner of the 2006 Toronto Film Festival’s Audience Award, is also honored on Wednesday, January 24 with the “Outstanding American by Choice” Award by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at a White House ceremony hosted by Emilio Gonzalez, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director.

LOS ANGELES- President George W. Bush invited Mexican film director Alejandro Monteverde to sit in the First Lady’s Box during his nationally-televised State of the Union Address. Monteverde and others were invited because they are a shining example of the great contributions of immigrants to American society.

“I am truly honored and blessed to be invited by President Bush and to be given this award,” says Monteverde. “I am only one of millions of Latinos in this country who are everyday heroes, caring for others and their own families, while striving for Their American Dream. I am deeply grateful for this country and the opportunity I have been given and I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices my parents have made that allowed me to come here.”

Monteverde wrote and directed the film “Bella”, which won the 2006 Toronto Film Festival Audience Award. The director is also honored with the “Outstanding American by Choice” at a White House Ceremony. The Outstanding American by Choice initiative by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recognizes the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Through civic participation, professional achievement, and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans. Past recipients include: U.S. Senator Mel Martinez; U.S. Representative Tom Lantos; U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez among many others.

Among the honorees at The White House ceremony is Manny Diaz, Mayor of Miami. His office has been instrumental in securing Monteverde’s film “Bella” to screen opening weekend at this year’s Miami International Film Festival on March 4. Additionally, Mayor Diaz also played a key role in organizing a private screening of “Bella” for Latino leaders and influencers in Miami on March 10, hosted by Jeb and Columba Bush.

Alejandro Monteverde was born and raised in Mexico and came to the United States to study filmmaking at The University of Texas at Austin. Since he was a kid, Monteverde dreamt of one day making movies that would tell the stories of the every day heroes that he met growing up. They were poor people who lived their lives with grace and dignity, love and compassion, even in the face of crushing poverty and lack of opportunity in his native Mexico. Born with a natural gift and ability for storytelling, Monteverde achieves an emotional connection with his audience with all his films. The first time he picked up a camera he won 4 film festivals and the second time he picked up the camera he won 7 festivals. During his final year in high school, Monteverde applied for student visas to study in the U.S. He graduated from high school in the U.S. and then applied to enter the Filmmaking Program at The University of Texas at Austin. After being turned down several times, Monteverde was finally accepted. After graduation, he applied for U.S. citizenship and he began collaborating with his childhood friend, Mexican actor, producer and matinee idol Eduardo Verastegui on “Bella.” Verastegui and Monteverde teamed up with manager Leo Severino, Sean Wolfington and Eustace Wolfington to create Metanoia Films first film, “Bella”. Since the success of “Bella”, Metanoia has created a film fund to finance many more films in the future.

Monteverde’s first film, “Bella” has been lauded as a heartwarming true story that has deeply touched the hearts of all those who have seen it thus far and he surprised Hollywood when “Bella” took top prize at the largest festival in the world. “Winning in Toronto can be the first step on the road to Oscar and Golden Globes success.” Explains Martin Grove from The Hollywood Reporter. Winning Toronto is a distinction that puts “Bella” in the company of such Oscar-winning films as Chariots of Fire, American Beauty, Life is Beautiful, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hotel Rwanda. “I am very pleased that the Toronto Film Festival chose “Bella” to win their top audience award over the weekend. It’s incredibly charming, with terrific performances by Tammy Blanchard and Mexican star Eduardo Verástegui and Manny Perez. It’s too easy to say this is the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” of this season, because “Bella” is far more complex and sophisticated while losing none of the humor. Whoever decides to release “Bella” will have a nice little hit on their hands,” explained Roger Friedman from FoxNews.com.

ABOUT BELLA
“Bella” is about how one day in New York City changed two people’s lives forever. Two friends discover that sometimes it takes losing it all to finally appreciate the things that truly matter in director Alejandro Monteverde’s emotional tale of self discovery. Starring Eduardo Verastegui and Emmy award winning Tammy Blanchard, Bella won the top prize at Toronto’s International Film Festival by winning the “People’s Choice Award.” Bella is a heartwarming story about life, friendship and our capacity for love in the face of the unexpected. “Bella” marks the feature directorial debut for Monteverde, who also wrote its original screenplan. Bella also stars Manuel Perez, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Terelli and Ali Landry. “Bella” was produced by Sean Wolfington, Eduardo Verastegui, Leo Severino, Alejandro Monteverde and Denise Pinckley and executive produced by J. Eustace Wolfington, Marcy Wolfington, Ana Wolfington and Stephen McEveety. The film was financed by Producers Sean Wolfington and Eustace Wolfington. After seeing the film Steve McEveety signed on as an Executive Producer to help market the film. McEveety (Bravehart, We Were Solders, Passion of the Christ) is attached to another sure winner, his first film since his exit from Mel Gibson’s Icon Productions.

ABOUT METANOIA FILMS

“Bella,” which was shot in New York, is the first project from Metanoia Films, which includes a group of 5 partners: Eduardo Verastegui, Alejandro Monteverde, Leo Severino, Sean Wolfington and Eustace Wolfington. “Our mission is to make films that make a positive difference” said Wolfington. “We want to make films that touch people’s hearts and minds so when they leave the theatre they want to love more and judge less” explains Verastegui. Monteverde adds: “We want to tell stories that everyone can relate to in a language that everyone understands: love, pain, joy, sadness, happiness and hope.” Metanoia Films has many other projects in development that they are financing through a new film fund they are putting together. Currently, they are recruiting young, talented filmmakers to join them in their mission to make films that make a difference. More information and the trailer is available at www.Bellathemovie.com.”

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