News (Noticias) Tagged ‘documentary’

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) will premiere its newest documentary film, “Viva la Causa,” in Los Angeles on Sunday as part of an effort to teach students across the country about a seminal event in the march for human rights. Hundreds of schoolchildren and farmworkers, many of whom appear in the film’s reenactments, will attend.

“Viva la Causa” documents the victorious California grape strike and boycott led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the 1960s. The 40-minute documentary will be distributed with teaching resources to an estimated 50,000 educators, free of charge, over the next two years. Millions of students will see the film.

“The story told by ‘Viva la Causa’ couldn’t be timelier,” said SPLC Founder Morris Dees. “Latinos and immigrant workers of color are on the front lines of our country’s most burning human rights struggle. We’re seeing a rising tide of xenophobia and immigrant-bashing that’s being fueled by opportunistic politicians and demagogues in the media.”

Dees noted that:

– The SPLC has documented a 50 percent increase in the number of hate groups in the U.S. since 2000;

– California is among the states leading this growth and is now home to 80 hate groups — - more than any other state; and,

– Hate crimes against Latinos in the U.S. rose by 35 percent between 2003 and 2006 — and by 50 percent in California, according to FBI statistics.

The film will premiere at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles. Dees will introduce the film. Special guests will include Dolores Huerta and Bill Brummel, the film’s co-director and producer.

The teaching kit, which includes the film, will be available free of charge to educators in late October. Teachers can order it at tolerance.org/teach/resources/viva_lacausa.jsp.

“Viva la Causa” is the sixth film produced by the SPLC’s Teaching Tolerance program. Four of the program’s past documentaries have been nominated for Academy Awards(R), and two films — - “A Time for Justice” and “Mighty Times: The Children’s March” — - have won the Oscar(R) in the short documentary category.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Ala., is a nonprofit civil rights organization that combats hate and discrimination. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org. “

As the Beatles were rocking Liverpool in the early 1960s, another great pop band was coming together in the tough musical neighborhood of Cayo Hueso in Havana. Playing a brilliant mix of American inspired Doo Wop, Afro-Cuban and traditional Latin forms, Los Zafiros became a sensation in Cuba and beyond before dissolving in the mid 1970s from the effects of the fast life, infighting and changing political and musical tastes. On October 5th at 8pm ET the acclaimed documentary “Los Zafiros/The Sapphires” brings the musical talents of the famed group to life once again with a special premiere on HISTORY EN ESPANOL.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/NYTH159LOGO )

“Los Zafiros/The Sapphires” is part of the network’s continued celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and its commitment to bringing the living history of the Latin culture to its rapidly growing audience.

Throughout the month, HISTORY EN ESPANOL will feature special programs including the documentaries “The Sugar Curtain,” an intimate portrait of the Cuban regime at its economic peak as seen through the eyes the mid-1970s generation that lived it; and the acclaimed special “Act of Honor,” the story of the young Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta, a Mexican immigrant turned hero, who flung himself on a live grenade during an ambush by Iraqi insurgents to save the lives of his five platoon members.

As part of the commemorative schedule, HISTORY EN ESPANOL will also air topical daily programming throughout the week, offering intelligent, thought-provoking series from the U.S. and Latin America spotlighting Latino roots and culture. This special Hispanic Heritage Month programming lineup includes:

Los Zafiros/The Sapphires — Thirty years after their breakup, the two surviving band members of Los Zafiros, multiple-Grammy winner and Buena Vista Social Club alumnus Manuel Galban, and the group’s co-founder, Miguel Cancio, reunite in the streets of present-day Havana, a place full of unforgettable songs and memories for them and for their still-loyal fans. Evocative archival films and recordings of the group are interwoven with newsreel footage that vividly parallels the Los Zafiros story with life in Cuba before, during and after the height of the Cold War. Engaging performance footage and original interviews help family members, fellow artists, and friends create a stirring and definitive portrait of The Sapphires for a whole new audience. Produce by Lorenzo DeStefano, Productions-a-Propos. Premieres on HISTORY EN ESPANOL on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8pm ET.

The Sugar Curtain — An intimate portrait of a generation that began its studies in primary school when the Cuban regime was at its best economically — the mid-1970s. The film recounts this generation’s childhood and explores what happened later, when the socialist regimes of Eastern Europe ceased to exist. It was at that moment that Cuba was left without allies, money or petroleum and the ideals of this generation were dismantled under the paralysis of the system. Directed by Camila Guzman Urzua, 90 minutes. Airs on HISTORY EN ESPANOL on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 8pm ET.

Act of Honor — In November 2004, the Iraqi city of Fallujah was caught in a downward spiral of sectarian violence. After four American military contractors were brutally killed by a mob, U.S. coalition forces entered the city in an attempt to restore order. During the bitter battle that followed, dozens of American soldiers gave their lives, including the heroic Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta, a 25-year-old Mexican immigrant, who flung himself on a live grenade during an ambush by Iraqi insurgents to save the lives of his five platoon members. The acclaimed one-hour documentary pays tribute to these soldiers’ sacrifices and those of their loved ones as it traces Peralta’s extraordinary journey from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego to the streets of Iraq. Sgt. Peralta’s family members and fellow Marines remember his life as a young man and exemplary war hero, as they grapple with the loss of son, brother and buddy in the theatre of war. Airs on HISTORY EN ESPANOL on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 8pm ET. “

Documentary Border shows human cost of human smugglers who rape and enslave those seeking a better life in the US as limited enforcement and porous borders enable the tragedy.

Fort Worth, TX (WiredPRNews.com)—The shocking documentary ‘Border’ shows how a porous border and limited enforcement enables human smugglers and drug traffickers to extort, rape, murder and humiliate those seeking a better life in the United States.

Destroying the notion that those who want to secure the border are racist xenophobic bigots, filmmaker Chris Burgard shows how the predominantly Hispanic property owners and law enforcement personnel on US side of the border are fighting a war against drug cartels that move people and drugs across the unforgiving and desolate desert terrain.

Contrary to the talking points of the so-called ‘immigrants rights’ groups, Burgard shows how illegal immigrants are sometimes locked into indentured servitude to the smugglers who’ve delivered them to safe houses in cities like Tucson and Phoenix. The smugglers, commonly known as ‘Coyotes,’ threaten to kill the families of the newly arrived immigrants if they don’t pay extortion money. Sometimes, this servitude can go on for years.

Burgard, a former bull rider and native of Wisconsin, decided to make the documentary after working with a group of laborers, who turned out to be illegal aliens. Shocked by the stories the immigrants told about their journey into the US, Burgard discovered that Coyotes would often sexually assault women in the migrant groups, and display the victim’s undergarments on ‘rape trees’ near the border. This sick display is a competition that human traffickers engage in to one-up each other.

The lack of a solid, border fence and limited enforcement actually contribute to the carnage that these smugglers have wrought. In the sector that Burgard covers in the film, border ranchers routinely talk about finding corpses of illegal immigrants on their vast properties. Some have died at the hands of the Coyotes while others die of dehydration after walking for days in the desert.

The Mexican government may be complicit in helping drug cartels smuggle aliens and terrorists into the US. An example Burgard cites is that para-military groups have violated US sovereignty and held American border patrol agents at gunpoint, preventing them from stopping the smugglers.

WTTW11, Chicago’s leading public television station, is proud to present the world premiere of the locally-produced documentary Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story on Tuesday, September 9th at 7:30 p.m. The program, several years in the making, paints an inspiring portrait of the Puerto Rican experience in Chicago, looking at the early years of migration, settlement, struggles and contributions of this vital community as it recollects the events and influences that shaped its political awareness and activism.

Through the use of personal and archival photos and footage, and interviews with early migrants, community leaders and historians, Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story touches on the themes of family, work, housing, education, and organizing successes: the creation of community organizations, health centers and clinics; the implementation of educational reforms; the hiring of Puerto Rican police officers; elected officials at every level of government; and the creation of a cultural and commercial business district known as “Paseo Boricua.” Interview subjects include U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Chicago City Clerk Miguel Del Valle, Illinois State Senator Iris Martinez, Chicago Aldermen Billy Ocasio and Rey Colon, and many other prominent members of the community. The film is narrated by independent filmmaker and educator Gloricelly Franceschi, who also wrote the script.

The film comes to WTTW11 from New Film Productions, and was produced, directed and written by Antonio and Gloricelly Franceschi. “We are excited and honored that WTTW11 has given us the opportunity to share this compelling story with their viewers,” said Antonio Franceschi. “It’s important that people understand how the Puerto Ricans’ history has shaped who they are as a community today,” he added. Daniel Soles, WTTW’s Senior Vice President and Chief Television Content Officer, agrees. “We feel this program will shine a well-deserved spotlight on this rich and diverse group,” he said. “It is very much in line with WTTW’s long-standing commitment to informing and enlightening our audience about all aspects of our city’s cultural heritage,” he added.

WTTW11 and Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story will have a presence at the 15th annual Fiesta Boricua on August 31, and for information on a special Humboldt Park preview screening, please contact Alejandro Molina or Raul Echevarria at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center at (773) 342-8023.

Chicago’s Puerto Rican Story was produced and directed by Antonio Franceschi, and written, produced and hosted by Gloricelly Franceschi. Photography is by Felix Mendez, with original music by Tino “Archie” Ojeda, Jr.

About New Film Productions
An award-winning Latino-owned motion picture and television production company, New Film Productions was founded by Antonio Franceschi in the summer of 1989. New Film Productions’ mission is to be a leader in the creation and promotion of quality educational and entertaining programs for the television, cable and theatrical markets.

About WTTW11
For more than 50 years, audiences have turned to WTTW11 for distinctive programming that informs, inspires, educates and entertains. It reaches two million weekly viewers over a four-state area, making it the most-watched public television station in America. Recognized for its award-winning local and national productions, WTTW11 is committed to presenting the very best in cultural, nature, science, public affairs and children’s programming across its four distinct television channels: WTTW11, WTTWD, its Spanish-language channel V-me, and WTTW Create.

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The drama caused by the statue is featured in the documentary “The Last Conquistador,” which airs nationally Tuesday on the PBS series P.O.V. The film is part of Art&Seek, a series by Dallas’ KERA focusing on arts, journalism and community.

“The Last Conquistador” follows artist John Sherrill Houser as he sets out to build a statue of Onate, an explorer who founded the first European settlements in the upper Rio Grande Valley and established what would become the cities of El Paso, Texas and Sante Fe, New Mexico. Called “The Equestrian,” the statue depicts Onate atop a towering Andalusian stallion.”*

A feature-length documentary about the secret lives of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, called Butch Cassidy in Patagonia, will premiere July 13 on History en Español. “*

Several of the maestros, such as Luque, came out of retirement to join the project, which culminated in the August 2006 performance at the Teatro Colon. With some members already in their 90s, a few of the maestros have died since joining the group.

Their work is featured in an award-winning double album and a just-released documentary that’s won accolades at film festivals around the world. Many have compared the project to the veteran Cuban salsa group the Buena Vista Social Club, which also was the subject of an album and a documentary.”*

A film crew has set out to make an insiders’ guide to the legendary New York City club scene with its most famous gatekeeper, Trevor W., “starring” as their host.

Trevor has the power. He knows people. But more importantly (as Trevor points out), he knows people who know him. After mysteriously losing his job, Trevor fails to inform the film crew following him. He struggles to keep up appearances in front of the camera while his glamorous, jet-set “celebrity” lifestyle goes into an abrupt and awkward tailspin.

Trevor W. may have held power over many important people, but what’s a Doorman without a door?

Skewering the velvet rope circuit, this fictional documentary starring Lucas Akoskin features dozens of cameos by real-life boldface names including Peter Bogdanovich, Thom Filicia, and Amy Sacco.

Early on in his career, Lucas Akoskin (Trevor W.) worked as an actor in several Argentine hit television shows. As producer he won a prestigious “Fundacion Huesped” award for his involvement in the hugely popular sporting event, “Futbol Por La Vida” which was broadcast live. In addition to developing THE DOORMAN with creator Wayne Price, Akoskin has also produced and Directed a number of promotional video spots for Italian laptop company Flybook and Renova Black a high end personal products company from Portugal. Last year, he was instrumental in setting up the The Costantini Latin American Film Fund in partnership with the Weinstein Company. Films already in various stages of production include “Cronicas de una Fuga” from director Adrian Caetano; “La Misma Luna” from Patricia Riggen; “Tropa de

Elite” from writer Braulio Mantovani (”City of God”) and director Jose Padilha. Akoskin recently produced “Terra Shorts” a series of short films for Terra Networks. Each film is directed by a latino film maker in their native country including Oscar-nominated Guillermo Arriaga, Jorge Furtado, Gary Alazraki, Leonardo Bechini and Andi Baiz. Actors involved include Alice Braga, Jose Maria Jazpik, Iliana Fox, Angie Cepeda, Gaston Pauls and Akoskin himself.

THE DOORMAN opens at City Cinemas Village East on July 18, 2008 in New York City, followed by a national rollout including Laemmle Sunset 5 in Los Angeles in September.

The film is unrated with a running time of 76 minutes.

More information on the web at http://www.thedoormanmovie.com/

“We seek recognition for colonel Castellanos so he can receive the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ title,” from Israel, Foreign Ministry Historical Investigation Committee coordinator Ricardo Moran told reporters after presenting a documentary on his life.

Castellanos, who served in Geneva as consul for El Salvador from 1942 to 1945, and his first secretary, George Mandel Mantello, issued Salvadoran citizenship papers to thousands of Jews, mostly from Hungary, so they could avoid being sent to Nazi death camps.”*

Last year, CineVegas introduced a new section of the festival to highlight the next wave of Mexican filmmakers and to introduce their films to American audiences. Called La Proxima Ola, it showcased first- and second-time filmmakers — some internationally known as actors — who represent the future of Mexican film.

Films featured last year included the U.S. premiere of “Bad Habits” (“Malos Habitos”), which received La Proxima Ola Jury Prize. Other films included “Chavez,” a documentary about Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, the directorial debut of actor Diego Luna; “Drama/Mex”; “Never on a Sunday” (“Morirse en Domingo”); and the U.S. premiere of “Once Upon a Time Maria” (“Eros una vez Maria”).”*

A podcast interview with Maria Lopez De Leon, executive director, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC), and Laura Varela, a San Antonio-based documentary film maker and media artist, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Maria and Laura discuss Latinos and the arts as well as NALAC and Laura’s work with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Maria has been with NALAC for over nine years and served as executive director for six years. She has been involved in all aspects of development and implementation of the organization’s programs and strategic planning.”*

If you had ears for Wim Wenders’s 1999 documentary “The Buena Vista Social Club,” you’ll want to know all about “We Are the Music!”In the Wenders film, Ry Cooder assembled for the cameras a group of great Havana musicians who, prior to recording a best- selling album, had largely been forgotten. “We Are the Music!” made in black and white in 1964 by the Cuban filmmaker Rogelio Paris, is a more scattershot documentary, but it’s intoxicatingly alive with song and dance.”*

The 30th Annual CineFestival en San Antonio, the oldest running international film festival in the country presented the world premiere screening of the documentary “Tortilla Heaven: Behind the Masa” on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas. For more visit www.getjaded.com or www.cinefestivalsa.org. “Tortilla Heaven: Behind the Masa” is a 38-minute documentary film about the evolution of the national touring production of “Tortilla Heaven” written by Celeste Angela Estrada and performed by comedian Jade Esteban Estrada (Comedy Central, Bravo). “Tortilla Heaven” is a story of life, love and making Tortillas the American way. The siblings discuss the show’s beginning, share unexpected reactions from audiences in other states and reveal how their grandmother inspired them to share the Tejano culture with the rest of the country. The documentary stars playwright Celeste Angela Estrada and actor/comedian Jade Esteban Estrada, the brother-sister team behind the national touring production of the solo comedic play “Tortilla Heaven.” Celeste Angela Estrada won the 2004 Gertrude Stein Literary Award for Best Play and received the Award of Merit from the Women’s Studies Institute from the University of Texas at San Antonio. “It is such an honor to have our film screening at CineFestival,” says Jade Esteban Estrada, who hosted the 19th Annual South Florida GLAAD Media Awards. “This festival has been at the forefront in presenting films that reflect the diversity and complexity of Latino culture, and I am proud to have been part of its 30th anniversary.” “Tortilla Heaven: Behind the Masa” was directed by Chadd Green and produced by PrimaDonna Productions and Vicarious Productions. The 30th Annual CineFestival en San Antonio featured stars, gala receptions, worshops, retrospectives, youth media presentations. The popular signature event, which celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2008, attracts thousands of San Antonians to the historic Guadalupe Theatre to enjoy the finest Latino films in the world and participate in an important regional forum for screening representative works that encourage discussion and critique of contemporary and historical issues – sociological, economic, artistic, public and private. For further information or to request high resolution artwork or an interview, please contact Greta Golding at vicariouspr@aol.com, call 646-342-8647 or visit www.getjaded.com. Vicarious New York 145 West 45th Street New York, New York 10036 646-342-8647 www.getjaded.com vicariouspr@aol.com Vicarious Productions produces the nationally touring shows of television personality Jade Esteban Estrada “*

Two independent documentary filmmakers are in Yuma this week to shoot film around town and conduct interviews as part of their documentary about the 2005 murder of a gay man in Yuma.

The film will feature Michael Baughman of Yuma and the Amancio Project, a campaign Baughman started to keep public attention focused on the murder of Amancio Corrales, said the director, T. Joe Murray.

Corrales’ body was found on May 6, 2005, floating in shallow water about 500 feet west of Paradise Cove, just west of Joe Henry Park, with multiple stab wounds. He was dressed as a woman when his body was discovered. Authorities believe he had spent the night bar-hopping with friends.”*

In the next few months, Messer, program director at Casa Amiga, is hoping to create a documentary and a photography exhibit to help bring those images home. She said she wants to let residents see the story about the journey many illegal migrant workers take to get to the United Sates, and eventually places like Clark County.

“You get to learn a lot of the psyche about how this is really affecting people and how difficult it is,” Messer said.

The project, called “A Journey of Hope,” will ideally show perspectives from all sides of the issue, from the migrants themselves to border patrol employees in the U.S., she said.”*

Unfortunately, the significant Hispanic contribution to the U.S. military has often gone overlooked. Just last year, the original version of Ken Burn’s 15-hour PBS documentary, “The War” was justly criticized for not covering the Hispanic experience. It took pressure from several community and veteran organizations, and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus before 28 minutes of footage from Hispanic veterans was added.

It is time that we honor these brave soldiers and remind our community of the proud tradition of Latino sacrifice for this nation and courage in the line of duty.

The Eugene A. Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial Foundation was created to finance and construct a monument in downtown Los Angeles to honor the 40 Latino recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The monument, which has the unanimous support of the Los Angeles City Council, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other community leaders, will educate and inspire Angelenos and visitors about the heroic Hispanic contributions to our nation’s armed services.”*

Published by Kaplan Publishing, the book was a collaborative effort by Ramirez and business partner Chris Barrett, a documentary filmmaker.

Their production company is called Powerhouse Pictures Entertainment.”*

The 5th annual Reel Rasquache Film Festival – a West Coast celebration of films by and about U.S. Latinos – will be held May 30-June 1, 2008, at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at California State University, Los Angeles.

Reel Rasquache 2008 will host 25 films, all premieres, including 5 new dramatic features. The 2008 line-up’s diverse array of genres includes animation, comedy, documentary, experimental, family drama, and horror. “*

Gol TV continues to put more programming in its net.

The 24-7 soccer service announced four new shows during its upfront presentation to advertisers here Wednesday morning, while continuing to add 2010 World Cup qualifying matches from European sides to its roster.

Gol TV COO Rodrigo Lombello told media buyers that next month ithe network will kick off Kings of Clubs, a 10-episode documentary-style show assessing the history, structure, traditions and highlights of top teams on five continents. The clubs that will be examined: Italy’s AC Milan; Spain’s Real Madrid and FC Barcelona; England’s Manchester United and Chelsea; Germany’s Bayern Munich; Argentina’s Boca Juniors; Egypt’s Al-Ahly; The Netherlands’ AX Amsterdam; and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.”*