AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival announces an exceptional lineup of Latin talent and themes in this year’s Festival (November 1-11), including the best new feature films from contemporary Latin filmmakers.
Topping the list are eight titles in AFI FEST’s much-anticipated Ciudad Latin Showcase, sponsored by Farmers Insurance Group, one of the most popular and compelling sections of the Festival. These include the world premieres CYRANO FERNANDEZ; IT’S BETTER IF GABRIELA DOESN’T DIE; and MANUELA Y MANUEL; as well as the features THE YEAR OF THE NAIL; SILENT LIGHT; DEFICIT; THE AERIAL; and HAPPY DESSERT.
CYRANO FERNANDEZ (Venezuela/Spain) is an outrageously original adaptation of the French masterpiece Cyrano De Bergerac from director Alberto Arevelo. Set in the slums of Venezuela, the gloriously gritty backdrop pumps up the stakes for this tale of tough love starring Edgar Ramirez.
IT’S BETTER IF GABRIELA DOESN’T DIE (Mexico) is a hysterical comedy from rookie director Sergio Umansky. The film follows the tensions that build between a telenova writer and a cop who gets upset when the show’s storyline takes a turn he doesn’t like.
MANUELA Y MANUEL (Puerto Rico) is a visually captivating comedy about two friends dealing with the melodrama of Latin American life. When drag queen Mauela’s best friend needs him to pose as her fiancé, the deception quickly turns into more than either can handle. Directed by Raul Marchand.
THE YEAR OF THE NAIL (Mexico) is a sweet and memorable love story between a Mexican teenager and an older American woman from first-time director Jonas Cuaron.
SILENT LIGHT (Mexico/France) is the story of a father whose faith in God is put to the test when he falls for another woman. Set in a self contained modern Mennonite community in Northern Mexico, director Carlos Reygadas has made the world’s first talking picture in the medieval German dialect Dlautdietsch using mostly Mennonite non-actors. SILENT LIGHT is Mexico’s Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language Film.
DEFICIT (Mexico), Gael Garcia Bernal makes his feature film directorial debut in this beautifully nuanced portrait of modern Mexican youth exploring class and racial divide.
THE AERIAL (Argentina) is set in a surreal, snow-covered metropolis ruled by the merciless Mr. TV. The whole city is without a voice as he has monopolized word and image. Director Esteban Sapir eloquently blends classic genres (and visual styles ) in this visually stunning allegory.
HAPPY DESSERT (Brazil) is director Paulo Calda’s look at the growing desperation of rural life. Set in Brazil’s rough Northeast Territory, the film centers around a young girl who gets caught up in the world of prostitution as it explores sexual tourism with underage girls as well as the illegal smuggling of wild animals out of the country.
Other notable films with relevant themes or Latin filmmakers/talent include:
LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA (USA) is a sprawling, soulful epic about loss, life, and most of all — love. Director Mike Newell blends gorgeous locations, a stellar international cast and superb writing to transport us all into the world of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s classic novel. Starring Javier Bardem, John Leguizamo, Liev Schreiber, Benjamin Bratt and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.
FEATHERS TO THE SKY (short/Uraguay) is set in a forgotten town in Latin America. Directed by Aaron Fernandez, it centers around a young working child Tamara, who is destined to abandon her childhood, until she meets a teacher, who will open the windows of education…
LIONS FOR LAMBS (USA), starring Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Michael Pena, is a gripping story that digs behind the news, the politics and the partisan divides to explore the human consequences of a complicated war. Redford, who also directs, expertly handles the wide-reaching narrative, spinning a tale that is as topical as it is moving.
CHOP SHOP (USA) is the story of a young boy and his older sister who find refuge in an industrial strip body shop as they work, struggle and plan to create a better life for themselves. Director Ramin Bahrani’s camera finds the beauty in the harsh world of the “Iron Triangle,” a cluster of auto body shops in the shadows of Shea Stadium that his hero calls home.
WATCHING IT RAIN (short/Mexico) is about two teenagers who live in a little Mexican town. Sofia wants to leave. Jonas has to decide whether to stay or leave with her. WATCHING IT RAIN is directed by Elisa Miller.
SOUTH CENTRAL FARM: OASIS IN A CONCRETE DESERT (short/USA) is a documentary that tells the true story of the high profile controversy involving poor farmers and their supporters, including celebrity tree sitters (Daryl Hannah, Martin Sheen, Willie Nelson, Tom Morello, John Quiqley and Julia Buttery Fly Hill), who try to save the largest urban farm in the U.S. Directed by Sheila A. Laffey, it even includes a rare interview with the developer and highlights the farmers determined efforts to stay connected to the land after eviction and bulldozing.
USED PARTS (Mexico/France/Spain) focuses on a 14-year old boy and his uncle, a mediocre dealer of used car parts. When the uncle realizes that he needs much more money than he expected in order to pay the “coyote” that will help them illegally cross the border, he decides to introduce his nephew into the world of car-part theft. USED PARTS is directed by Aaron Fernandez.
SMILEY FACE (USA), directed by Gregg Araki, deftly pokes fun at pot culture while affectionately embracing it. Anna Faris gives a strong comedic performance as the loveably misguided Jane along with a sublimely bizarre supporting cast, including Jane Lynch, Adam Brody, Danny Masterson and John Krasinski.Danny Trejo also joins the fun to make this a long, strange and boisterous trip. Just remember: Don’t eat the cupcakes.
SURGERY (short/Spain) is about an anxious man who tries to impress a girl with far-fetched stories of his “exciting” life on their first date. SURGERY is directed by Alberto Gonzalez Vazquez.
DOGHEAD (SPAIN) traces a few strange, lost days in the life of a teenager (Juan José Ballesta) with a nervous condition who is trying to find his way home. Second time director Santi Amodeo is able to see the mundane through the off-center vision of his protagonists, and the result is a visually striking, deceptively subtle tale that revels in its unconventionality.
SALIVA (SHORT/BRAZIL) is the story of a young girl about to experience her first kiss, but a crippling fear of being drowned by saliva threatens to overtake this childhood moment. SALIVA is written and directed by Emir Filho.
ATENCO, A CRIME OF STATE (MEXICO) is a powerful story of loss and redemption from director Klamve Colectivo. Buried in the news of last year was the story of San Salvador Atenco, a small town on the outskirts of Mexico City. The government tried to take their land and the town resisted. What was a peaceful organized resistance soon met with violence from the Mexican government and police force and many unnecessary human rights violations ensued.
THE MUGGER (ARGENTINA) follows a seasoned robber as he negotiates his way through his busy day of robberies, until fate steps in and complicates things. THE MUGGER is directed by Pablo Fendrik.
MACHINE (SHORT/SPAIN) is about a young woman who finds herself radically changed in ways she could never imagine after a terrifying and unusual assault. MACHINE is directed by Gabe Ibanez.
About AFI FEST
AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. Celebrating its 21st year as a program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi will take place November 1-11, featuring international competitions of new films from emerging filmmakers, as well as global showcases of the latest work from great film masters and nightly red-carpet gala premieres. Kicking off the awards season each year, AFI FEST offers a crucial avenue of exposure to the entertainment community, while providing appreciative audiences with a festive atmosphere and the very best of world film, right in the center of the film capital of the world.
The American Film Market (AFM), October 31 – November 7, 2007, is the market partner of AFI FEST. Together, AFI FEST and AFM provide the only concurrent festival/market event in North America. More domestic sales of international titles and international territory sales occurred at AFI FEST 2006 than any other US festival. AFI FEST is the only FIAPF-accredited film festival in the United States. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards®.
Additional information about AFI FEST is available at www.AFI.com.
AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi is supported in part by the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, the Philanthropy Project and the Hollywood Sign Trust. AFI FEST is proud to continue its collaborative partnership with the Skirball Cultural Center.
AFI PROJECT: 20/20 is an American Film Institute project supported by a partnership of the Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi is sponsored in part by American Airlines,
ArcLight Hollywood, RR Donnelley, Farmers Insurance, AT&T, Samsung, Absolut Vodka, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Midway Car Rental, and Stella Artois. The Los Angeles Times is the Festival’s Presenting Media Partner.
About Audi of America, Inc.
Audi offers a line of premium vehicles through a network of 270 dealers including the Audi A3 compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high-revving RS 4 sports sedan and Cabriolet (November 2007 launch); the all-new S5 coupe (November 2007 launch) with 354 hp; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the V10-powered high performance S6 sedan; the Audi Q7 performance SUV; the new all-aluminum Audi A8; the S8 with V10 power; the all-new 2008 TT Coupe and Roadster models; and the all-new all-aluminum R8, one of the most exclusive sports cars in the world.
The Hollywood stars were out last night in full force as nearly 1000 actors, entertainment industry executives, film and television studios and supporters attended the 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Gala ceremony at the nearly sold-out Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Actors John Leguizamo, Edward James Olmos, Lupe Ontiveros, Eva La Rue and Cesar Millan, Leonor Varela, Carlos Mencia, Dania Ramirez and many more could be seen gracing the Gala’s Red Carpet as fans, media, and the general public flocked to the hotel’s lobby and ballrooms for a glimpse.
Various Hispanic celebrities are speaking up about their choice for the next President of the United States: Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. In a new publicity campaign, Jessica Alba, Kate del Castillo, John Leguizamo, Andrés Levin and George López show their support for the Democratic candidate.”*