2011 LOS ANGELES LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (LALIFF)

CLOSING NIGHT GALA CELEBRATION WILL SHOWCASE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND DREAMWORKS’ COWBOYS & ALIENS, FROM DIRECTOR JON FAVREAU

The 15th annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announced today that one of this summer’s most anticipated films, Cowboys & Aliens, will be shown at the festival’s Closing Night Gala Presentation on Monday, July 25, at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. Directed by blockbuster filmmaker Jon Favreau (Iron Man), the action-thriller was co-written and co-produced by Mexican- born Roberto Orci. The evening will serve as the closing event of the nine-day festival that celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2011. See www.latinofilm.org for more information.

Roberto Orci, a talented writer and producer, is one half of one of the leading writing/producing teams working in film and television today. He has worked for over 18 years with Alex Kurtzman. Together, they began their career writing for the popular television series Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess, where they quickly became head writers at the age of 23. In 2005, the duo made their feature film debut with Michael Bay’s sci-fi thriller The Island, followed by The Legend of Zorro. In 2006, they reteamed with Abrams to write the third installment of Mission: Impossible, which was embraced by critics for adding depth and humanity to the series and grossed more than $397 million worldwide. In 2007, the pair wrote Transformers. Through their production company, K/O Paper Products, Kurtzman and Orci continue to produce a growing slate of movies and television shows.

―Roberto Orci is an example of excellence to which all filmmakers should aspire. By showcasing Cowboys & Aliens, we celebrate the accomplishments of our talent. Roberto has been able to reinvent his career and overcome limitations; in the process, he has become one of the most influential Latinos in Hollywood today. He embodies the next generation of Latino talent,‖ said Marlene Dermer, LALIFF executive director, programmer and co-founder.

Jon Favreau directs Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in an event film for summer 2011 that crosses the classic Western with the alien-invasion movie in a blazingly original way: Cowboys & Aliens. Joined by an arsenal of top moviemakers—Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci—Favreau brings an all-new action- thriller that will take audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. www.cowboysandaliensmovie.com

A limited number of tickets for LALIFF’s Closing Night Gala on July 25 will be available for sale at the price of $75 at www.latinofilm.org. The admission ticket includes: the Awards Ceremony, Special Film Screening and the Celebration. Admission tickets to regular screenings are also available online at $12 with a $2 discount to LALIFF members. Metro riders may purchase general admission tickets with a $1 discount at the festival’s box office. For more information, to purchase tickets and to see the list of films and countries represented, please visit www.latinofilm.org.

The 15th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announces its official selection of 76 films, including 42 feature films (29 narrative and 13 documentaries) and 34 short films from 14 different countries. LALIFF will return to the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood from Sunday, July 17 through Monday, July 25. The nine-day event will highlight the best recent films from Latino talent; from the well-established in Hollywood to the up-and-coming. See www.latinofilm.org for more information.

From Bolivia, ESCRIBEME POSTALES A COPACABANA, (SCHREIBE MIR POSTKARTEN NACH COPACABANA) directed by Thomas Kronthaler; and the Cuban documentary LOS 100 SONES CUBANOS (THE 100 CUBAN “SONES”) by Edesio Alejandro and Rubén Consuegra will be making their official World Premiere at LALIFF.

LALIFF’s Music Program includes an eclectic group of films and genre. CHICO & RITA is a feature length animated musical making its West Coast premiere, directed by Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando; the documentary CHECKPOINT ROCK, CANCIONES DESDE PALESTINA (CHECKPOINT, SONGS FROM PALESTINE) by Fermín Muguruza and Javier Corcuera cleverly uses world music to narrate the Palestinian experience; and the Venezuelan shot film PASION directed by Carlos P. Beltran. Also included are the Cuban documentaries REVOLUTION by Mayckell Pedrero Mariol and LOS 100 SONES CUBANOS (THE 100 CUBAN “SONES”).

In 2011, LALIFF proudly showcases the Opera Prima works of 8 talented directors including: the first ever entry in the festival’s history by a female director from Guatemala, Veronica Riedel’ CÁPSULAS (CAPSULES); from the USA, GUN HILL ROAD by Rashaad Ernesto Green, starting Esai Morales; from Mexico A TIRO DE PIEDRA (A STONE’S THROW AWAY) by Sebastián Hiriart and EL PREMIO (THE PRIZE) by Paula Markovitch; from Colombia LOS COLORES DE LA MONTAÑA (THE COLORS OF THE MOUNTAIN) by Carlos César Arbeláez; representing Peru, OCTUBRE (OCTOBER) by Daniel Vega and Diego Vega; and LA HORA CERO (THE ZERO HOUR) by Diego Velasco from Venezuela.

Highlighting the special screenings, the Chile/Mexico co-production ¿ALGUIEN HA VISTO A LUPITA? (HAVE YOU SEEN LUPITA?) directed by Gonzalo Justiniano, with a star-studded cast that includes Cristian de la Fuente, Carmen Salinas and the film debut of Dulce María (formely of RBD).

The films at this year’s Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) Showcase include 4 documentaries, the Mexico/USA production EL VELADOR (THE NIGHT WATCHMAN) by Natalia Almada, GRANITO: HOW TO NAIL A DICTATOR directed by Pamela Yates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:(USA), PARAÍSO FOR SALE by Anayansi Prado (PANAMA/USA) and, PRECIOUS KNOWLEDGE directed by Ari Luis Palos (USA).

On Sunday July 24th, LALIFF co-presents the Maya Indie Film Series that include: WITHOUT MEN, directed by Gabriela Tagliavini and starting: Eva Longoria, Christian Slater, Kate del Castillo, Maria Conchita Alonso, Paul Rodriguez, Judy Reyes and Oscar Nunez; ALL SHE CAN, directed by Amy Wendel, starting Corina Calderon, Jeremy Ray Valdez and Joseph Julian Soria; and DIDI HOLLYWOOD, a Spanish production directed by Bigas Luna, with a cast includes Elsa Pataky, Peter Coyote, Paul Sculfor, Giovanna Zacarías and Ana de la Reguera, among others.

LALIFF is one of few film festivals in the world recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science as a qualifying festival, making the winner of its Short Film Category eligible for Oscar® consideration. LALIFF’s selection of 34 short films is divided into 8 programs: Urban Stories – Coming of Age, Family, Relationship, Suspense/Drama, Unspoken Stories I & II, Urban Stories – Drama, and A Kid’s World. See the complete list of short films below.

“This year’s program offers a balanced selection of new voices and voices that we have heard before. Together and individually they go beyond telling Latino stories; they narrate in film the human experience,” said Marlene Dermer, Executive Director and co-founder of LALIFF.

The Official Selection of the 15th Los Angeles Latino International Film festival: FEATURE LENGTH NARRATIVE FILMS (in alphabetical order):

A TIRO DE PIEDRA (A STONE’S THROW AWAY), Sebastián Hiriart, 118min. MEXICO – WEST COAST PREMIERE ¿ALGUIEN HA VISTO A LUPITA? (HAVE YOU SEEN LUPITA?), Gonzalo Justiniano, 86min. CHILE/MEXICO

ALL SHE CAN, Amy Wendel, 91 min. USA AMÉRICA… ELLA SE ATREVIÓ (AMERICA… SHE DARED), Sonia Fritz, 90min. PUERTO RICO BOLETO AL PARAÍSO (TICKET TO PARADISE), Gerardo Chijona, 88min. CUBA/SPAIN/VENEZUELA CÁPSULAS (CAPSULES), Veronica Riedel, 103min. GUATEMALA – L.A. PREMIERE CHICO & RITA, Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal, Tono Errando, 94min. SPAIN/U.K. – WEST COAST PREMIERE DIDI HOLLYWOOD, Bigas Luna, 102 min. SPAIN DORMIR AL SOL (A SLEEP IN THE SUN), Alejandro Chomski, 85min. ARGENTINA – L.A. PREMIERE EL PREMIO (THE PRIZE), Paula Markovitch, 120min. MEXICO/FRANCE/GERMANY/POLAND – U.S. PREMIERE ENTRELOBOS (AMONG WOLVES), Gerardo Olivares, 114min. SPAIN – U.S. PREMIERE ESCRIBEME POSTALES A COPACABANA, (SCHREIBE MIR POSTKARTEN NACH COPACABANA), Thomas Kronthaler, 96min. BOLIVIA – WORLD PREMIERE GUN HILL ROAD, Rashaad Ernesto Green, 88min. USAHIDALGO, LA HISTORIA JAMÁS CONTADA (HIDALGO. THE UNTOLD STORY), Antonio Serrano, 100min. MEXICO – U.S. PREMIERE ISPANSI (ESPAÑOLES), Carlos Iglesias, 100min. SPAIN – U.S. PREMIERE LA HORA CERO (THE ZERO HOUR), Diego Velasco, 102min. VENEZUELA – U.S. PREMIERE LA MIRADA INVISIBLE (THE INVISIBLE EYE), Diego Lerman, 95min. (A Co-Presentation with Global Film Initiative.) -ARGENTINA/SPAIN/FRANCE – L.A. PREMIERE

LA VIDA DE LOS PECES (THE LIFE OF FISH), Matías Bize, 83min. CHILE – L.A. PREMIERE LA VIDA ÚTIL (A USEFUL LIFE), Federico Veiroj, 63min. (A Co-Presentation with Global Film Initiative.) URUGUAY – L.A. PREMIERE LOS COLORES DE LA MONTAÑA (THE COLORS OF THE MOUNTAIN), Carlos César Arbeláez, 88min. COLOMBIA – WEST COAST PREMIERE

OCTUBRE (OCTOBER), Daniel Vega, Diego Vega, 83 min. PERU – L.A. PREMIERE POST MORTEM, Pablo Larraín, 98min. CHILE – L.A. PREMIERE TEQUILA HISTORIA DE UNA PASIÓN (TEQUILA HISTORY OF A PASSION), Sergio Sánchez Suárez, 109min. MEXICO – U.S. PREMIERE TODOS TUS MUERTOS (ALL YOUR DEAD ONES), Carlos Moreno, 90min. COLOMBIA – L.A. PREMIERE WHITE KNIGHT, Jesse Baget, 85min. USA/MEXICO – L.A. PREMIERE WITHOUT MEN, Gabriela Tagliavini, 83min. USA

FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILMS (in alphabetical order):

CHECKPOINT ROCK, CANCIONES DESDE PALESTINA (CHECKPOINT, SONGS FROM PALESTINE), Fermín Muguruza, Javier Corcuera, 70min. SPAIN – WEST COAST PREMIERE EL VELADOR (THE NIGHT WATCHMAN), Natalia Almada, 52min. (LPB Showcase) MEXICO/USA – L.A. PREMIERE GRANITO: HOW TO NAIL A DICTATOR, Pamela Yates, 90min. (LPB Showcase) USA – L.A. PREMIERE HARLISTAS: AN AMERICAN JOURNEY, Alfredo de Villa, 91min. USA – WEST COAST PREMIERE HAVANA SURF, Rodrigo Diaz McVeigh, 54min. CUBA/SPAIN – L.A. PREMIERE LA HISTORIA EN LA MIRADA, Jose Ramon Mikelajauregui, 78min. MEXICO LA MALETA MEXICANA (THE MEXICAN SUITCASE), Trisha Ziff 86min. MEXICO – U.S. PREMIERE LOS 100 SONES CUBANOS (THE 100 CUBAN “SONES”), Edesio Alejandro, Rubén Consuegra, 81min. CUBA/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – WORLD PREMIERE NOSTALGIA DE LA LUZ (NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT), Patricio Guzmán, 90min. CHILE/FRANCE/SPAIN/GERMANY PABLO’S HIPPOS, Antonio von Hildebrand, 83min. COLOMBIA PARAÍSO FOR SALE (PARAISO EN VENTA), Anayansi Prado, 75min. (LPB Showcase)

PANAMA/USA PRECIOUS KNOWLEDGE, Ari Luis Palos, 90min. (LPB Showcase) USA REVOLUTION, Mayckell Pedrero Mariol, 50min. CUBA – L.A. PREMIERE

SHORT FILMS (by program):

Coming Of Age – Urban Stories A MAN MADE EARLY, Cruz Angeles, 15min. 32sec. United States West Coast Premiere BEYOND THE ROPES, Johnny Kirk, 17min. United States L.A. Premiere MADDOGGIN’, Terence Heuston, 23min. 50sec. United States World Premiere PAPELERO (THE PAPER BOY), Olicer J. Muñoz, 15min. United States World Premiere

Family AURORA, Roney Freitas, 20min. Brazil World Premiere MARTIN, Osvaldo Montaño, 15min. Mexico L.A./U.S. Premiere SIN PALABRAS (NO WORDS), Bel Armenteros, 14min. 10sec. Spain THE BIG DEAL, Lucy Rodriguez, 13min. 35sec. United States UNA CAJA DE BOTONES (A BOX OF BUTTONS), María Reyes Arias, 21min. Spain L.A. Premiere

Relationships AMORES CIEGOS (LOVE, INTERTWINED), Marisé Samitier, 23min. 30sec. United States U.S. Premiere BETTER, John Cantu, 42min. United States L.A. Premiere REMEMBER, Jason Chaet, 14min. 30sec. United States TIJERETO (FLYCATCHER), Camila Jiménez Villa, 21min. Colombia U.S. Premiere

Suspense/Drama 70m2, Miguel Angel Carmona Estevez, 15min. Spain West Coast Premiere COLMILLO (FANG), Albi De Abreu, 19min. Venezuela West Coast Premiere EL POZO (THE WELL), Guillermo Arriaga, 4min. Mexico MILE 27, Merilay Fernandez, 14min. 24sec. United States World Premiere THE RECIPIENT, Javier Bermudez, 11min. United States World Premiere

Unspoken Stories – I BACKGROUND (TRASFONDO), Jose Valladares, 15min. Guatemala World Premiere SHADOWS, Javier Barbera, 23min. 49sec. United States World Premiere SOLD, John Irwin, 12’20” United States L.A. Premiere TOPO GIGIO IS DEAD, David Miranda Hardy, 23min Chile/United States West Coast/U.S. Premiere

Unspoken Stories – II ANGELITO, Paula Lima, 13min. 20sec. United States/Brazil L.A. Premiere DESPERTAR (AWAKEN), Cristina Kotz Cornejo, 14min. Mexico World Premiere ESPÉRAME, Daniel Galo, 5min. United States/Mexico U.S. Premiere NOCHE SIN LUNA (MOONLESS NIGHT), Bethynia Cárdenas Íñiguez, 13min. Mexico L.A. Premiere

Urban Stories – Drama LILIA, Sam Lerma, 20min. United States World Premiere STUFFER, Nathan Crooker, 20min. United States L.A. Premiere

A Kids World A MULA TEIMOSA E O CONTROLE REMOTO (THE STUBBORN MULE AND THE REMOTE CONTROL), Hélio Villela NUNES, 15min Brazil U.S. Premiere EL BOLERITO (THE SHOE SHINER), Julio O. Ramos, 10min., United States /Mexico L.A. Premiere PARAÍSO TERRENAL (EARTHLY PARADISE), Tomas Welss, 18min. Chile, Animation U.S. Premiere PHILIPPE’S SANDWICH, James Hanlon, 15min. United States U.S. Premiere SÁBADO DE GLORIA (GLORIOUS SATURDAY), Santiago López, 14min. Colombia/United States