I’m on the list – the Brown Hollywood and Indie list

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My boots are packed and ready to get to San Antonio tomorrow for CineFestival, the longest running independent Latino Film Festival in the US.  I’m looking forward to hanging out with friends, old and new, who represent the rich emerging Latino independent film world, but I’m particularly eager to discover and connect with local filmmakers.  But first, tonight I’m going to put on my heels and get fancy, for I’ll be covering a ‘Hollywood Hispanic” gala.  I’m going to the  National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Awards.  The NHMC is a non-profit media advocacy organization which seeks to recognize outstanding contributions to the positive portrayal of Latinos in media.   Among this year’s honorees are Michael Pena, Mario Lopez and John Leguizamo. You can expect me to cover both events on the ground.  What I won’t be personally covering is the big glitzy mainstream Indie and Academy Awards.   Let’s take a quick look at WTF is Latino in that land, shall we?

Film Independent’s Spirit Awards

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Adam Leon, winner of Someone to Watch Award for Gimmie the Loot!, flanked by co-chairs, Jeremy Renner and Salma Hayek at the Film Independent Nominee brunch

Mexicana Salma Hayek is an honorary co-chair of this year’s Spirit Awards.  A ceremonial title that pretty much just confirms her presence at the show.

If we were to subscribe to NBC Latino’s overly positive scratching at the barrel of Best ‘Hispanic movies of 2012″,  I would second the highlight John Ortiz, Bradley Cooper’s best friend in the nominated Best Film, Silver Linings Playbook.  Sure he’s a solid supporting character with a sub-storyline and I applaud his acting talent.  In that case, let’s mention Gael Garcia Bernal in Best Director nominated Julia Loktev’s film, Loneliest Planet,or  Aubrey Plaza (yes she’s boricua baby – here is proof watch this clip FF 40 sec in) who is in Safety Not Guaranteed directed and produced by Colin Trevorrow, up for Best First Feature, and there is Wendell Pierce who is nominated for Best Actor in Four written and directed by Joshua Sanchez. But come on, lets be real, and more importantly, relevant to the awards.  I count three:

John Cassavetes Award – Mosquita y Mari, written and directed by Aurora Guerrero

I’ve written a bunch of love letters on my blog about this film which I hold close to my heart.  Check out the interview I did exactly one year ago with my sister, Aurora here.

Best Supporting Actor – Michael Pena – for End of Watch

hot hot hot.

Best Screenplay – Keep the Lights On
Mauricio Zacharias – is the Brazilian born co-writer of Keep the Lights On, an extraordinarily written and acted film about a tumultous relationship between two New York City men.  I always like to strip a gay or latino movie of its gay or latino element and ask myself if the barebones of the story would be as poignant without it and the answer here is definitively yes.  However it’s also a celebration to finally have access to those specific narratives and previously unseen powerful images.  The romantic sex and love scenes between the two men carry such weight and substance.(I think I’m channeling Franco with his Interior Leather Bar ‘thesis’ film)

The 85th Academy Awards

Just down the street from me, Hollywood Boulevard has been blocked off since last week to make way for the monumental Academy Awards.  Huffington Post did a good job at covering the Latino in the nominations.   Check out the full post and related “Latinos Snubbed” slideshows here.  Basically they highlighted:

Cinematography – Claudio Miranda, Life of Pi (Chilean)

Costume Design – Paco Delgado, Les Miserables (Spanish)

Sound Design – Jose Antonio García, Argo  (Mexican)

And I will add Searching for Sugarman by Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn to this list.  I am so grateful to these filmmakers for rescuing this story and incredible folk singer songwriter artist from obscurity.  It might seem hard to believe but back then, unlike now, before Robert Rodriguez made it cool, the last name Rodriguez was discriminated against in the 60s and 70s.  The Detroit native, first generation Mexican American literally had his amazing voice suppressed and blocked by labels who could not imagine that his amazing voice would transcend boundaries.  I mean  – his lyrics were also pretty powerful.   I couldn’t be happier about the success of this film which has given us the chance to not only discover but to celebrate Sixto Rodriguez’s late but true contribution to our lives.  Fingers crossed it wins Best Documentary.

And with that – I’m reposting a video I took of Sixto Rodriguez at last year’s LA Film Festival.

La Bamba Rebelde by Las Cafeteras

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I’m going to miss them at Los Globos next Wednesday but I will for sure be checking out their show at SXSW. If you are around in LA, get your $5 tickets here.
Love the refashioned La Bamba lyrics.

Colombian Film Festival coming to Nueva York!

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Apparently this has been brewing since December but I am just taking notice today with the release of their Festival Trailer. Sponsored by Univision, Delta and presented by the Colombian Consulate, New York and Colombian embassy in Washington D.C, the inaugural Colombian Film Festival in New York will screen 16 feature films and 8 short films – all produced within the last two years, at the Tribeca Cinemas March 20 – 24.

colombian-film-fest-logo-284x300This celebration of the dynamic offerings of contemporary Colombian cinema is very well deserved and timely. I have noticed through the film festival screeners I watch a shift in the type of films coming from Colombia.  They are starting to eschew stereotypical drug crime gang stories. If a film does treat this real social ill, it is approached by far more novel and inventive ways. Definitely there is a nascent of singular conceptual and diverse genres bourgeoning. Among the films being screened in NYC, I highly recommend the surrealist Todos Tus Muertos written and directed by Carlos Moreno (Dog Eat Dog), Porifirio, an oddly sensual, deceptively quiet and powerful film written and directed by Alejandro Landes which screened in the illustrious Directors Fortnight in Cannes, and the quirky Sofia and the Stubborn written and directed by Andrés Burgos Vallejo – a type of Alice in Wonderland story about an older woman who finally makes her wish happen. All three of these demonstrate the type of imaginative conception I mention. Oddly missing from the lineup is the Colombian entry for the 2012 Oscars, Colors of the Mountain written and directed by Carlos César Arbeláez.  The film may even be the most screened in world wide film festivals including San Sebastian and San Francisco International.

Colombia produces less than 25 features a year and that represents a substantial increase over the past 10 years. It’s noteworthy to mention that 18 home grown features were released in Colombian theaters. Hopefully this critical access will whet the local audience appetite and nurture a serious support system for filmmakers. Unlike the powerhouse independent and government fund agencies of Chile, Argentina and Brazil, Colombia has struggled to make steps towards consolidating its talent and building an organized film industry. The Cartagena Film Festival taking place later this week, is but another positive indicator of the rising interest in Colombian Cinema as both a location and Ibero American producer. Looking at their Made in Colombia section and you’ll find even more brand new 2013 releases.

Check out The Colombian Film Festival NYC’s website, twitter and face for the films, ticket info and film trailers.

Riot tonight with the original Chicana punk star, Alice Bag

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Damn, I just found out about this Alice Bag event and it reminded me I never uploaded this video interview I took of her last year.  Tonight 8pm at the Echo Park Film Center, Alice Bag is going to take us back to her notorious punk riot days.  Nothing like a first person account with a trove of personal footage of those exciting times.  This woman lived and was at the epicenter of this insanely wild and revolutionary expression and lifestyle so she’s got a ton of unbelievable stories to share. I highly recommend her book, Violence Girl, from East LA Rage to Hollywood Stage.  According to the event description she’s going to talk about the time her band played at the Troubador and her boyfriend and sometime drummer for her band, Nickey Beat called Tom Waits an asshole inciting a full out brawl that got them kicked out.  She’s also going to share about one of the many times the LAPD busted a punk show for no good reason but to quell the menacing expression of punk.

It was so cool to meet and talk with Alice at last year’s NALIP.  Here is a 6 minute clip of our convo in which we talk about what the term Chicana means now, how strange it is to live in Arizona, and how she views today’s punk scene.

CineFestival announces Latino Screenwriter’s lab, and adds Narco Cultura to its upcoming 2013 edition

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cinefestival-01-700x325The 35th CineFestival, which takes place in San Antonio Feb. 23 – Mar 2, has unveiled the launch of The Latino Screenwriters Project, a screenwriting conference in which Sundance Institute is lending critical consulting support.  The three day workshop aims to elevate the presence, representation and quality of stories that narrate the U.S. Latino experience.

Fellows will be provided a network of support in a hands-on environment where they can get quality feedback, mentoring and inspiration to further hone their craft, polish their screenplays and take their stories to the next level.

institute logoFestival Director, Jim Mendiola along with filmmaker Cruz Angeles (Don’t Let Me Drown), both Sundance alumni fellows, conceived of the program and turned to Sundance Institute for support.  “Cruz and I both recognized the benefit of the Sundance Labs both in terms of a career and in improving one’s craft,” Mendiola says, “since we wanted to champion Latino stories, bringing an experience like that to CineFestival seemed liked the perfect fit.”

“Latinos are yearning for more access and representation in American cinema,” Angeles says, “We want American-based Latino screenplays to be more competitive in the industry.”

Labs Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, Ilyse McKimmie adds, “We’re thrilled to be providing consulting support to CineFestival’s Latino Screenwriters Project, the goals of which so closely align with our own. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to encourage and celebrate a diverse group of storytellers and helping them bring their visions to the screen.”

Narco_006In addition to the previously announced film lineup, CineFestival has added a special screening of Narco Cultura directed by Shaul Schwarz and produced by Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen.  The film recently premiered in U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival in its distinguished Panorama section.  Strikingly lensed, it is an explosive look at the drug cartels’ pop culture influence on both sides of the border as experienced by an LA narcocorrido singer dreaming of stardom and a Juarez crime scene investigator on the front line of Mexico’s Drug War.  Thought provoking and prescribed viewing, I’m excited for San Antonio audiences to engage with the sociological complexities in the film. Tickets available here.

The four projects chosen for the inaugural 2013 workshop below.  The full press release can be found here and for passes, tickets, and schedule information check here.  Follow CineFestival on Twitter and Facebook.

· Gabi by Zoe Salicrup Junco
After the unexpected death of her mother, a modern, emancipated Puerto Rican woman in her late 30s forces herself to explore the possibilities of becoming a mother for the first time.

· La Perdida by Miguel Alvarez
In the mid-21st century, a memory-wiped psychiatric patient illegally travels back in time to stop a tragedy she can’t remember from happening all over again. But along the way, she can’t help but get swallowed up in a Moebius strip of time, memory, and loss.

· Rachel’s Quinceanera by Mauro Flores Jr. (Los Angeles, CA)
A coming-of-age story set in South Texas. A shy nerd has a crush on the head cheerleader, but due to his social status Rachel doesn’t know he exists. But a family obligation forces Rachel to include the nerd in the Court of Honor for her upcoming Quinceañera.

· The Andes Project by Jose R. Casado (New York, NY)
When Sofia, an opportunistic American Latina journalist, attempts to revive her career by investigating mysterious disappearances in Paraguay, she teams up with an idealistic young local reporter doing the same and together they uncover a complex water conspiracy instead.

Kickstart this! Meet the Ovarian Psycos – An East Los, Brown and Proud Bicycle Brigade

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In East LA a movement is happening.  A core group of chicanas ride their bikes for awareness,  protest, and for solidarity and health.  These badasses are known as The Ovarian Psycos.

Kate Trumbull and Joanna Sokolowski, who met at UC, Santa Cruz’s Social Doc Film Master’s program first heard about them from producer Virginia Espino (Mas Bebes).  They were immediately compelled and approached them.  After tagging along on one of their night rides, Kate was impressed by their tight knit solidarity; they rode as a group, circling back when someone got stuck.  Kate and Joanna approached them with the documentary proposal and over the next six months got to know them. It wasn’t until the Ovarian Psycos deliberated as a group and said yes, they moved forward with the project; applying and receiving a small ITVS development grant.  Now about to enter production they need our help to raise what they can to sustain production.  I couldn’t recommend this Kickstarter campaign more.  It ends soon on February 23!

I recently sat down and talked to Kate who told me a bit more about this fascinating all women of color brigade.  She used words like unapologetic, ferocious along with sweet, to describe the ladies.  The sisterhood started in the summer of 2011 and through online efforts they have organized many day and night bike rides including last August’s Clitoral Mass, a take on the monthly testosterone driven night ride, and the full moon night rides known as Luna rides.  Each event  has a theme like sexual health, violence against women, women safety and after the ride there is an open dialogue to discuss and exchange ideas with the purpose of promoting awareness.    Their vision statement:   “We envision a world where women of color are change agents who create and maintain holistic health within themselves and in their respective communities for present and future generations.”

“Ovaries so big we don’t need balls”

All womyn (and female identified) individuals are invited to join but there are 13 core Ova members who share and pass authority roles among them.  The Left Ovary and the Right Ovary are the designated co-leaders, the Clit Rubber denotes the one tasked to keep the peace.  It use to be much more informal but now as their impact rises and bigger interest takes hold, the group are finding ways to develop an infrastructure inside and out the neighborhood near Corazon Del Pueblo, the arts, education and arts collective in Boyle Heights. Women interested in joining go through a process known as SLIT, Sister Leader in Transition. The girls ride through the hood like a sea of change rolling in.  They exchange literature and are very concious of their social and historical context in the birthplace of the Chicano movement.

Why bikes?  It represents freedom and its grassroots.  It’s also a symbol of the most viable source of transportation that low income communities tend to have.

It is an exciting time to follow the Ovarian Psycos and the documentary aims to track their ongoing (r)evolution as well as zoom in on the compelling women’s individual stories.   Kate and Joanna plan on giving the women cameras to allow them to tell their own stories.  Each of them, Kate says has an amazing story and are highly involved within the vibrant East LA community.  One of the founders, Xela de la X, AKA Cihuatl Ce, is an MC who performs regularly singing tracks like Fuck Your Pretty, I’m Ferocious

So get to know the Ovarian Psycos and check out the Kickstarter campaign for more info and donate!  The rewards are pretty cool – custom designed Tees and stickers from the girls themselves- I know my ass wants in on that mix tape, as I’m sure it will be dope.

Blacktino – Finally emerges and now out on iTunes!

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This is the best end of day news ever! Ever since I heard about this comedy by Aaron Burns play 2011 SXSW, I have been dying to watch it. Especially after the charming trailer.  After its SXSW premiere it played New York International Latino Film Festival and more or less fell of the face of the planet.  I remember emailing the filmmakers endlessly for months last year to try to program it at the Downtown Independent. Elizabeth Avellan is the producer (and mother) of Aaron Burn’s first feature.  The film’s cast includes Michelle Rodriguez and Danny Trejo.  Let’s watch it on iTunes here

Spring Film Festival fever – Muchos Festivales!

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With no less than four reputable Latino Film Festivals and three mainstream festivals coming up this spring in the states, my dance card is filling up quick, and I’m excited to survey inside and outside the so-called niche of Latino film programming.

35cinefestivalFirst up, CineFestival (where yours truly is proud to be a Programmer).  Put on by San Antonio’s vibrant Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, it is notably the longest running Chicano and indigenous film festival (35 years).  Taking place from February 23 – Mar. 2, the festival’s Opening night film is Mission Park a suspenseful street crime drama about a group of childhood friends whose different paths pit them against each other, directed by Bryan Ramirez and produced by Douglas Spain. The closing night film is Filly Brown, still going strong since its Sundance premiere last year but now seeking a new distributor due to Indomina, which picked it up last year, closing up shop.   Both screenings will be accompanied by the filmmakers and cast.  In between there will be a whole week of shorts and docs including the lyrical and fierce LGBT performance club doc Wildness by Wu Tsang which hasn’t been seen much outside of Outfest and last year’s SXSW, Carlos Avila’s Tales of Masked Men, a look inside Lucha Libre, and my favorite local Texas highschool shorts showcase.  See the recently announced lineup here.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates and look out for a couple exciting additional program announcements next week.

MIFF-30Right behind CineFestival in date and age is the Miami International Film Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary this Mar. 1 – 10.  Produced and presented by Miami Dade College, it is the biggest and strongest film festival for Latino programming in the nation.  The word Latino is not included in their name, yet almost half of its programming is Latino (by my count 51/117 features). I love that.

Just a few of the gems from Central and South America the festival will be screening include 7 Boxes by Juan Carlos Maneglia & Tana Schémbori (Paraguay), Polvo by Julio Hernandez Cordon (Guatemala).  In the impressive Opera Prima competition there is Edificio Royal by Ivan Wild (Columbia/Venezuela), Molasses by Carlos Diaz Lechuga (Panama) and No Autumn, No Spring by Ivan Mora (Ecuador).

Among the brand new US Latino features world premiering; Eenie Meenie Miney Moe by Jokes Yanes, Calloused Hands by Jesse Quinones, Sanitarium, a horror tri-vignette by Bryan Ramirez, Kerry Valderrama and Bryan Ortiz, and The Boy who Smells like Fish, a first feature by Analeine Cal y Mayor.

By far, Miami leads the pack in programming such a diverse and fresh Latino presence. Miami is la bomba!

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San Diego Latino Film Festival which is celebrating its 20th anniversary takes place Mar. 8 -18, pretty much overlapping with the monstrous South by Southwest Film Mar 8-17.  I profiled SXSW Latino element here.  The feature film lineup for San Diego has also recently been announced.  Check this to see the list of classic and tribute narrative feature screenings (Almodovar, Rodriguez and Innaritu) along with recurring American Latino film fest favorites, Aqui y Alla, The Girl, Filly Brown, Mission Park, along with two films that clearly look and sound like “Hispanic marketed films”,  Tio Papi and Tony Tango.

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In April we got my hometown representing, The Chicago Latino Film Festival (April 11-25) which has historically been more of a showcase-y festival screening a number of films from South America. Although they have not announced, I’ll take it as a hint that Delusions of Grandeur is playing there as they uploaded the Chicago Latino Film Festival poster on their Facebook page.  I hope so because I really dig this quirky, set in San Francisco film written and directed by Iris Alamaraz and Gustavo Ramos about a frenzied young grunge Chicana’s journey to be independent.  The film made its world premiere at the NY International Latino Film Festival last summer.

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Back to Austin from April 16-21, the 16th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, a really excellent year round programmed non-profit which screens at the ubiquitous Alamo Drafthouse, is thankfully there to pick up the slack in supporting the Latin roots and diversity in Texas country as well as the unique bi-culture shown in their highlighted program, Hecho en Tejas section.

And last but certainly not least we got the big apple, Tribeca Film Festival taking place April 17-28.  They usually announce in early March.  Babygirl and The Girl both screening at this year’s San Diego Latino Film Festival premiered here last year.  Babygirl is a film by an Irish filmmaker, Macdara Varelly who tells quite the racy story of a mother and daughter after same guy.  The street cred is infused by the two leads who play the Nuyoricans in the Bronx. The single mother is played by Rosa Arredondo and precariously sexually blossoming teen played by unknown Yainis Ynoa who surprises in her very first acting role.  I don’t think it received half the attention it deserved.  Meanwhile, The Girl, directed by David Riiker (co-writer of Sleep Dealer) stars Abbie Cornish in a ‘subverse’ tale as an American woman who crosses the border going south to pursue her dreams.

I plan to cover as much as I can with an eye towards monitoring the tendencies and differences of the Latino Film Festival circuit versus mainstream.  Being familiar with most of the brand spanking new American Latino films out there looking for a home and audiences to connect with, I will be tracking closely throughout the year which festivals are committed to carving out a space for discovering American Latino filmmakers and stories.  All my recon will be shared here on my blog, so ojos people!

Big Ass Spider! by Mike Mendez

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Mike just dropped his trailer for his giant creature feature, BIG ASS SPIDER! It’s premiering in the coolest and rowdiest section of SXSW, Midnighters. He’s one of the few American Latino filmmakers I highlighted in my WTF is Latino at SXSW. Looks pretty freaking rad and fun. Can’t wait!

Oh, hey Amigo – Alejandro G. Iñárritu made a DGA winning commercial

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Little late on this but at Monday’s DGA awards, Internationally known Mexican director, Alejandro González Iñárritu won Outstanding Commercial for this 2 min Procter & Gamble loving tribute spot to Moms across the globe. It’s his first DGA Award. Last I heard he was working on a movie with Armando Bo, the Argentine director of the achingly bittersweet, The Last Elvis. According to IMDB it’s in prep and an Indiewire December article scoops it’s a comedy – a departure given the director’s forte and penchant for immense tragedy.