News (Noticias) Tagged ‘film festival’

Suzuki Auto made a star appearance as the presenting sponsor of the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) opening night film “American Son,” featuring rising stars Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz and Jay Hernandez. Suzuki’s sponsorship of the NYILFF, which runs from July 22 through 27, 2008 in New York City, is part of the carmaker’s ongoing effort to connect its brand and products with a wide range of Latinos — a segment that represents nearly 10 percent of Suzuki new vehicle sales.
(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080723/LAW038)
As part of the festival’s opening night activities, Suzuki presented its first ever “Way of Life!” Award to Latina star on the rise Melonie Diaz. The award recognizes Diaz as a flourishing young Latina actress that embodies the authentic, bold and dynamic qualities of Suzuki’s “Way of Life!” brand philosophy. Included with the award, the automaker presented a $2,500 cash donation on Diaz’s behalf to the Manhattan-based Latin American Theatre Ensemble/El Porton del Barrio (LATE), a not-for-profit theater group responsible for the development of dramatic and literary talent from within the Hispanic-American community of New York City.
“The Suzuki brand is about confidently exploring the world and discovering one’s ability to live life to the fullest, and we’re glad we’ve found a like-minded partner in the New York International Latino Film Festival,” said Gene Brown, vice president of marketing for American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “Just as Suzuki is dedicated to providing fun and exciting products that reflect our customers’ ‘Way of Life’ attitude, the festival shares a similar commitment to providing exhilarating and culturally relevant entertainment for film fans.”
“I feel honored Suzuki has recognized me with the ‘Way of Life!’ Award and is supporting the Latin American Theatre Ensemble,” said actress Melonie Diaz. “It’s exciting to see companies like Suzuki Auto support not only a great film festival, but also organizations that help aspiring Latino talent.”
The NYILFF is one of the leading film festivals that focuses on the urban Latino experience and presents the work of the hottest emerging filmmakers from the U.S. and Latin America. This year’s festival includes screenings throughout the day and evening, industry panel discussions, music showcases and an exclusive partnership with Australia’s Hola Mexico Film Festival, all tailored to reach the diverse and generational Latino audience. Visit www.nylatinofilm.com for a complete festival schedule.
About Suzuki
The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 500 automotive dealerships in 49 states. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than two million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 193 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com.
About the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF)
Launched in 1999, the NYILFF is now the premier Urban Latino film event in the country. The NYILFF’s mission is to showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, offer expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. Programming includes the flagship film festival in NYC, new music and art showcases, family and community events, scholarships for aspiring filmmakers, and a national short film competition in partnership with HBO. For more information, visit

Hola Mexico, the first-ever Mexican film festival in New York, was conceived in Australia.

Which makes all the sense in the world once you meet its 29-year-old creator, Samuel Douek.”*

Since its launch in 1999, the New York International Latino Film Festival has always had plenty to offer on a global scale - especially with the filmmakers coming from different Hispanic backgrounds here and abroad.

Despite these differences, all share one common goal: the desire to change perceptions about Latino culture through the art of film. “*

Tough real-life tales and musical features stand out at the six-day ninth annual New York International Latino Film Festival.

Here is a selection of the features and documentaries. “*

An 85-minute film shot in one continuous take, “PVC-1” may seem like a bit of a stunt.

But director/writer/cinematographer Spiros Stathoulopoulos’ feature has been feted at a number of international film festivals, and its story of back country violence in Colombia seems to take on added immediacy after the recent release of several high-profile prisoners kidnapped by FARC guerrillas.”*

The New York International Latino Film Festival, now in its ninth year, has grown explosively — along with America’s Latino population and a bitter debate on immigration.

But the nationally recognized showcase for Latino filmmaking, which runs from Tuesday to Sunday next week, is about much more than the immigrant experience.”*

The 10th Annual CineVegas Film Festival, which opened with Peter Cattaneo’s “The Rocker” and concludes this evening with Sean McGinly’s The Great Buck Howard, bestowed its filmmaking honors today in an afternoon ceremony helmed by Artistic Director Trevor Groth, Festival President Robin Greenspun and Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board Dennis Hopper. Festival winners included Rolf Belgum’s “She Unfolds By Day,” which received the Grand Jury Prize; Rachel Samuels’ “Dark Streets,” which was acknowledged with a Special Jury Award; and Bill Pullman who received a Special Jury Award for his role in Matthew Wilder’s “Your Name Here.” “*

The struggles of Latino families in America are the focus of a new movie premiering this week at the CineVegas Film Festival. A UNLV professor says he made the film to open the public’s eyes about what life is like for immigrants once they come to the U.S.

The movie is called “Primo” — in English that means cousin. It’s about three cousins who were separated as children during the civil war in El Salvador. Their journey through life brings them here to Las Vegas.”*

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”).”*

The Mexican Consulate in Douglas is organizing a film festival from June 26-29 in Bisbee that is intended to let viewers get closer to Mexican culture.

The object of the event is to sensitize the audience regarding the lives of immigrants, the reasons they illegally cross the border, and their dreams and difficulties.

“We firmly believe that artistic samples are not only a path to promote culture, but also a way to present different points of view regarding social situations and, in this case, to contribute in the creation of a deeper understanding in a receiving-migrants community,” says a statement from the Mexican Consulate.”*

The Colorado Springs film community is going bilingual this weekend with the launch of the Cinema Latino Film Festival.

The new festival is a joint project of the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, the Springs’ oldest film festival, and Centro De La Familia, a social services nonprofit that works with the Spanishspeaking, American Indian and immigrant communities.

Sandra Hernandez, Centro’s executive director, said the group has held dances and fashion-show fundraisers in the past, but hosting a film festival is a way to delve deeper into the issues facing Latin American and Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. “*

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 “*

A beautifully told story about the power of family and courage, Under The Same Moon (La Misma Luna) arrives on DVD June 17 from Fox Home Entertainment. Starring world-class Latino talent including Adrian Alonso (The Legend of Zorro), Telenova superstars Kate del Castillo (“El Derecho de nacer”) and Eugenio Derbez, (“Los Perplejos”), Jesse Garcia (The Comebacks), Carmen Salinas (Man on Fire) and Golden Globe-winner America Ferrara (“Ugly Betty”) in a “beautifully rendered…warm hearted” (Richard Roeper) feature from first-time director Patricia Riggen, Under The Same Moon (La Misma Luna) portrays the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos (Alonso) and his mother, Rosario (Del Castillo). In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Touted for its colorful characters and an inspirational tale of self-discovery, Under The Same Moon (La Misma Luna) is “a timely and energetic crowd-pleaser that allows the viewer to share the bond between mother and son” (Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald). Under The Same Moon (La Misma Luna) is presented in widescreen format and includes commentary, deleted scenes and two featurettes. The DVD is available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S./$43.48 Canada. Prebook is May 21, 2008.

Synopsis:
Even across thousands of miles, the special bond between a mother and son can never be broken. It gives hope to Carlitos, a scrappy nine-year-old boy whose mother, Rosario, has gone to America to build a better life for both of them. While Rosario struggles for a brighter future, fate forces Carlitos’ hand and he embarks on an extraordinary journey to find her. Critics and audiences alike have praised this inspirational and heartwarming tale of a mother’s devotion, a son’s courage and a love that knows no borders.

Special Features – Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna) Single Disc:

The Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna) single disc DVD includes the theatrical version of the film presented in Wide Screen (1.85:1 aspect ratio) with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus content includes:

• “The Murals of “Under the Same Moon” Featurette
• The Making of “La Misma Luna” Featurettes

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets — from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film News Corporation, a News Corporation company.

UNDER THE SAME MOON (La Misma Luna)
Street Date: June 17, 2008
Prebook Date: May 21, 2008
Price: $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada
Catalog Number: 2252690 U.S. / 2252690 Canada
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature Run Time: 106 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

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. “*

The 2008 Cannes film festival will go down in film history as the year with the Latin touch as Spanish-language movies, Latin themes and A-list celebs make waves at cinema’s largest showcase.

Eagerly-awaited Thursday by the 4,000-odd film critics attending the fest is star director Steven Soderbergh’s more than four-hour look at the world’s best-loved revolutionary, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

Filmed in Spanish and starring Benicio Del Toro, the movie being presented in two two-hour parts marks a new departure for the director best known for his blockbuster gangster “Ocean’s” movies.”*

Another Brazilian filmmaker leaves the favelas behind and moves to Hollywood: The Hollywood Reporter reports that acclaimed yet controversial writer-director José Padilha will make an action movie, appropriately set in South America, for Warner Bros. Hardly a stranger to the genre, Padilha recently picked up the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival for his critically divisive Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad), a semi-fictional action thriller about police corruption in Rio de Janeiro. “*

How to turn a social problem into an existential drama? Sangre de Mi Sangre (Blood of My Blood), a first feature written and directed by Columbia-educated Christopher Zalla, makes an end run around liberal shibboleth by treating the situation of Mexican illegals as the subject for a miserabilist thriller—complete with issues of lost and found identity.

On the whole, Zalla’s strategy pays off. Slick and energetic as it is, Sangre de Mi Sangre won the grand-jury prize (as Padre Nuestro) at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival—a first for a Spanish-language feature. Arty but elemental, it subsequently found its niche in last year’s “New Directors” series, as one of the more visceral movies pondering the new globalization. Indeed, Sangre de Mi Sangre asks to be considered as a Mexican movie, although it was made in the U.S.A.”*

Argentina’s Mar del Plata Intl. Film Festival, the only FIAPF Category One festival in Latin America, has rescheduled to Nov. 6-16, a move aimed at improving attendance and programming.

The National Film Institute, Incaa, had previously moved the event to December from March, where it was inconveniently sandwiched between Berlin in February and Cannes in May.”*

n his latest film, Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro portrays a man who is very much in the news himself these days — Cuban President Raul Castro.

And though the similarities between the heartthrob and the normally dour Castro may not be immediately evident, Santoro says their eyes are similar.

The 32-year-old actor will be promoting “Che,” directed by Steven Soderbergh, as well as the Argentine film “Leonera,” directed by Pablo Trapero, at the Cannes Film Festival.”*

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will announce today at the annual “Made in NY” Awards reception held at Gracie Mansion new efforts of the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC) to position New York as the center for Latin media and entertainment. The announcements include the City’s first ever Latin Media Guide of events taking place throughout the city, the appointment of eight new commission members, the formation of a working group with educational institutions and industry leaders, and a newly re-launched website on www.nyc.gov .

“The Latin Media and Entertainment Commission was established to showcase our city’s Latino arts and entertainment community and create new opportunities and jobs in these fields,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The Commission has brought together executives from Latin media and business organizations, and over the past four years these leaders have put their talents to work on the city’s behalf. By welcoming eight new members and launching a new website and Latin media guide, the Commission is strengthening the art, music, and entertainment industries that make New York City the Latin Media and Entertainment Capital of the World.”

As part of the Commission’s efforts to create and support events that provide the most enriching Latin cultural experiences, the LMEC has partnered with the bilingual Latino website NYRemezcla to create the first-ever Latin Media Guide. The 2008 edition of the guide includes 14 events supported by LMEC. These events range from Latin film screenings to outdoor Latin music concerts and combined are expected to have an estimated economic impact on the city of over $60 million.

“We continue to work closely with the Mayor to identify, build, and tout top destinations in New York City featuring Latin advertising, new media, films, music, dining, art galleries, and more,” said LMEC Chair Mario L. Baeza, Chairman and CEO of the Baeza Group, and Founder and Executive Chairman V-Me Media, Inc. “We are committed to fostering the growth of Latin organizations in New York in order to continue growing and enriching the cultural fabric of our great City.”

This year, LMEC’s goal to promote economic development for Hispanic advertising and media companies will be re-enforced by the addition of eight new board members: Patrick Dolan, Senior Vice President, Interactive Advertising Bureau; Robert Federico, Executive Director, Repertorio Español; Angela M. Freyre, Senior Vice President, Nielsen Media; Jacqueline Hernández, COO, Telemundo; Jorge Reynardus, President/Partner, Reynardus & Moya; Jeffrey Thompson, Vice President Global Diversity, Disney; Joe Uva, CEO, Univision; Carlos Sanchez, President & General Manager of Telemundo 47.

The event listings in the Latin Media Guide are also part of a comprehensive calendar featured on the LMEC’s newly redesigned website that can be found on www.nyc.gov . Some of the up-coming LMEC-endorsed events appearing in the new Latin Media Guide include TeatroStageFest being held June 2-15, the Latin Alternative Music Conference being held July 8-12, the New York International Latino Film Festival taking place July 22-27, the Latino Cultural Festival at the Queens Theater July 23-August 3 and the New York Salsa Congress August 27-31.

The new LMEC website will also include a summary of New York business incentives, an Online Business Survey, a directory of industry and Latino cultural institutions and subscription to a newsletter that will keep the public updated and informed about the LMEC’s work and upcoming Latin events. The website will also highlight the LMEC’s joint effort with many of the City’s top colleges and universities and executives in the “new media” and Hispanic advertising fields to develop and strengthen New York City’s growing Latin media and entertainment workforce. The partnership seeks to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the changing demands of the industry to provide opportunities to students.

About the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC)
On October 28, 2003, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg created the NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission (LMEC) by Executive Order No. 43. The LMEC advises the Mayor on business development and retention strategies for the Latin media and entertainment industry and works with City agencies to pursue the LMEC’s goals. Through research and strategies, the LMEC develops initiatives to retain, recruit, and expand New York City’s Latin media and entertainment productions, businesses, and jobs as well as to attract and host high-profile Latin entertainment productions and events in New York City. The Commission is made up of leaders from the Latin and mainstream media industry, community leaders from the nonprofit and cultural sectors, and leading executives from the financial, advertising, and real estate sectors. Commission members include honorary Chairpersons Jennifer Lopez and Robert De Niro; LMEC Chairman Mario Baeza, Chairman and CEO of the Baeza Group and Founder and Executive Chairman V-Me Media, Inc.; and the Mayor’s Advisor and Liaison to the Commission, Willie Colon. The heads of seven City agencies, under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, serve on the commission as ex officio members.”*

Poised for a Breakthrough year with co-starring role in Steven Soderbergh’s “THE ARGENTINE”

Official selection of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival

It’s in the “Cannes” for Puerto Rican Actor Alfredo De Quesada who co-star as “Israel Pardo” in the first installment of the Steven Soderbergh’s Che Guevara biopic: “The Argentine” and “Guerilla” premiering at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival on May 21.”*

Thanks to an undocumented friend, filmmaker Christopher Zalla got to meet and hang out with a bunch of workers at a Brooklyn restaurant, most of whom were Mexican.

“I got to hear a similar storyline coming from them,” says the 33-year old Zalla, whose “Sangre de Mi Sangre (Blood of My Blood),” winner of the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, opens Friday.

“Their plan was to work six or seven days a week, save money for 15 or 20 years, and then return home and retire relatively well off.””*

Xenon Pictures has acquired North American rights to “Amexicano”, starring 2008 Grammy(TM) Nominee Jennifer Pena, in a mid-six figure deal.

“Amexicano”, helmed by Matthew Bonifacio, made its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and most recently won the Grand Jury Prize (THX Award) for Best Narrative Feature at the 2008 Sonoma Valley Film Festival. The award jury was comprised of Kirk Honeycutt (Chief Film Critic, Hollywood Reporter), Michael Jones (Managing Editor, Film Festivals, Variety) and Chris Gore (Founder, Film Threat).

The film also stars Manny Perez (”Bella”, “El Cantante”), newcomer Raul Castillo, and Carmine Famiglietti, who also wrote the film. Famiglietti and Bonifacio also served as producers through their production company, The Brooklyn-Queens Experiment, in association with Madison Park Pictures. “Amexicano” was executive produced by Cesar A. Baez and Stephen Ashkinos. Xenon Pictures is eyeing a spring/summer release.

“We wanted to put a face on the undocumented day laborers in America,” said Bonifacio. “With the coming presidential election, immigration is obviously going to be a major issue. We feel ‘Amexicano’ allows audiences to look at the face of an illegal alien and decide for themselves if our nation is making the right choices,” said Famiglietti.

“The political aspects of the film are certainly intriguing and mirror (in a very different way) those that made ‘A Day Without a Mexican’ such a success for us,” said Xenon’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Housden, “but just like with ‘A Day Without a Mexican’, ‘Amexicano’ is enjoyable entertainment, rather than bare political discourse.”

Bonifacio and Famiglietti’s first feature, “Lbs.”, made its world premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. The Shutter Speed Group negotiated on behalf of the production company.”*

This boomlet in immigration stories has been building over the past several years. The 2004 film “Maria Full of Grace,” about a Colombian drug mule’s attempts to make it in the wilds of Queens, was a Sundance Film Festival prize winner, and its lead actress, Catalina Sandino Moreno, was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. In 2005, “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” followed an undocumented Mexican worker who died in an accident and the attempts by his boss to bury him in his native village.

“Babel” (2006) featured a heart-rending segment about a Mexican woman who returns home to attend her son’s wedding, but finds she cannot re-enter the U.S.

“These films are important,” says Calixto Chinchilla, executive director of the New York International Latino Film Festival. “They shed a light on Latino immigrants who want to migrate to the U.S.”"*

I was out of town and missed the first 10 days of this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival, but luckily I made it back to the Bay Area in time to see the premiere of Sleep Dealer.

I was alerted to the film via a rave New York Times review in which A.O. Scott described director Alex Rivera “showing some of the manic inventiveness of Richard Kelly’s ‘Southland Tales,’ but with a hundred times more intellectual clarity and storytelling discipline.” I’d forgotten that line until going back to look at the Times plug, but bits of Kelly’s wildly entertaining film did pop into my mind while watching Sleep Dealer. Both movies are characterized by impressively zippy visuals and caustic social commentary which evokes the bleak dystopian vision of sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick.”*