I have the privilege of screening hundreds of US Latino and Spanish language films throughout the year as a freelance programmer for film festivals like Sundance, Morelia, Los Angeles Film Festival, San Antonio’s CineFestival, among others. To my vexing concern, far too many deserving multi-cultural voices are kept under the radar and not given a chance to meet their audience or gain exposure in the festival and other distribution platforms. In this blog I will focus on the diaspora of American cinema made by people with roots/origin/descendant in Mexico, Central & South America, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. I will do my best to bring awareness to these diverse and compelling stories across genres, crafted by our next generation, majority- minority talent. I aim to change the conversation of what “Latino” films mean in today’s furiously melted pot. Taking a page from my favorite blog Shadow and Act, which focuses on the African Diaspora in cinema, I aim to monitor, track and critique the scene of American = Latino, a landscape which is sadly lacking in current reference let alone attention and cultural context. I’m extremely eager to make noise, build dialogue and connect our wildly artistic, underserved community. Here and there, I’ll share my mad fun film festival circuit via on-the-scene dispatches in the vein of my favorite all-time writer Hunter S. Thompson’s gonzo style which I promise to keep PG…. hmmm okay, lets be real, how about PG-13.
Image by Ozumedia for the FICG24
Are you a filmmaker seeking film festival strategy tips or constructive evaluation notes on your script/project proposal? Let me demystify the whole submission process for you. Contact me at chicanafromchicago@gmail.com for my consultant services.
Christine-but-call-me-Christina- it-sounds-more-mexican-Dávila
Follow me on @IndieFindsLA
#MasAmerican
Blog header image by Ozumedia
Christina:
I really dig your site – good stuff! (I’d like to know more about your work as a film programmer)
I came across your ‘TALENTO’ link via NALIP.org and tweeted it a few days ago – not sure I you recall.
My name’s Lee and I write for two sites. For one of them, I’m a staff writer, movie reviewer and marketing coordinator. It’s a Latino-based entertainment site based out of NYC. (The other is more of a contribution, and it’s on general entertainment, but movies is where I’m heavy on.)
Hope this note finds you and your loved ones well – keep in touch!
All the best,
Lee (My Latin roots are Puerto Rican/Colombian – born and raised in NYC)
Christine!
Thank you for the amazing review of our film. I appreciate it more than you can imagine!
Abrazos!
Virginia Saenz McCarthy
producer
Love,Concord
Oh, thanks so much Virginia. Great job! I’d love to hear about your next projects
Hey chiquita,
It was lovely to meet u in guadalajara
come to toronto!
and barbados…
Come!
see you soon
xoxox
Hola Crisitina!
It was a real pleasure to hear your opinion at the afci -you’re great!- and then meeting you at the LAFF. Un orgullo tener a una persona tan talentosa como tu con raices latinas!
Susana
Producer
Christina,
I am loving your blog. I am working with SF Noir Films in San Francisco on their film The Other Barrio, currently in production. It stars Richard Montoya and is based on a short story by SF Poet Laureate Alejandro Murguia.. We are hoping that you can share our Indiegogo campaign with your followers. We need completion funds for the production. You can check us out on facebook at http://on.fb.me/ZANcSp or at our Indiegogo site at http://bit.ly/IndiegogoTOB. I can be contacted at TheOtherBarrio@gmail.com.
Hopefully, with your help we can make a magical movie.
Hello I was really impressed with what I read about your film Four and would love to show it at our film festival here in Durham. Please get in touch with me at Bluesradio@gmail.com and let me know if we can show it at our annual film festival next month…
Srta. Davila,
Great to meet and chat with you during the closing night festivities!
Hasta pronto, Salvador Benavides
(Illusion in Delusions of Grandeur Directed by Iris Almaraz and Gabriel Gustavo Ramos)