[FILM REVIEW] 'The Book of Life'

Film Review by Maria G. Valdez 
Last year, I learned that Disney wanted to trademark the Día de los Muertos, a very Mexican tradition that focuses on remembering the dead, celebrating their lives and gathering family and friends to do so in a lively manner, full of color and with specific rituals. They backed off after the article I wrote exposing it (although at the time I just thought of it as a cool way for kids all over the world to learn about this), mostly because it prompted a petition online that got thousands of signatures and a lot of angry Disney fans.

Of course, I later understood that you couldn’t trademark a tradition like that. Commercializing on the folklore of a culture to benefit a major company and not precisely the country where that tradition hails from, just wasn’t right. Disney pulled back altogether and decided not to touch the subject again. Although it was a victory for the Día de los Muertos advocates, it was a great loss for Disney. Not too long after the whole situation blew up, calmed down and eventually was forgotten, Fox announced that they’re releasing an animated film based on the Día de los Muertos. READ MORE.

Michael Pena Hopes To Shine A Light On Latino Heroes In Fury

Source by by WENN 

Movie star Michael Pena is hoping his new movieFury will help film fans better understand the Latino effort in World War Two because he is shocked and appalled by the fact that Mexican and Puerto Rican soldiers have become the forgotten heroes of the conflict.

The American Hustle star attempted to research the role Latinos played in World War Two after landing the role of Trini 'Gordo' Garcia in the Brad Pitt film - and was stunned to realise there's so little written about the Hispanic heroes.

He tells Wenn, "It was harder than I thought it would be. There were not a lot of newspaper clippings or anything in Wikipedia, which was shocking because there were, like, half a million Latinos that actually fought in World War Two."

Writer/director David Ayer adds, "It's a little bit sad that Latinos made a huge contribution to the war effort in World War Two - and not just in uniform; between half a million served and there's no records but on the homefront as the white boys went to fight they had to fill these jobs in the factories.

"As I looked at the period photographs of these tank crews you'd start to see more and more Latinos. Unfortunately in these prior films they haven't shown that aspect or that diversity."

Antonio Banderas says he wants to work more in his native Spain

Source:FoxNews Latino

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas said in an interview with EFE at the San Sebastian Film Festival that he enjoyed working in his native country, especially as a film producer.
Banderas attended the festival to promote "Automata," in which he plays a shaven-headed and sad Jacq Vaucan.

"I feel like working more in Spain," the actor said. "And I feel like it more as far as producing and directing are concerned, rather than acting, but I'm not going to close any doors. In any case, I'll probably live in the U.S. and have my hub here, but I'm going to maintain a more continuous line of work with my country."

Read More.

Hispanic moviegoers had major impact on 2013 box office

By Todd Cunningham, The Wrap

Hispanic moviegoers played a huge part in the record 2013 U.S. box office, according to figures released Tuesday by the MPAA.

Despite representing roughly 17 percent of the U.S. population, Hispanics bought up 25 percent of the movie tickets sold in the U.S. last year. They number of Hispanics who are frequent moviegoers - those who go to the movies more than once a month - continues to grow and represents 32 percent of that group.

Motion Picture Association of America Chairman Chris Dodd detailed the strong Hispanic representation in his state of the industry report delivered Tuesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Despite purchasing fewer tickets in 2013 compared to 2012, Hispanics remained more likely than any other ethnic group to go to movies, according to the report. African-Americans and "others" purchased more tickets in 2013 than in 2012.

The share of tickets sold to Caucasians has been trending downward since 2009. The share of tickets sold to African-Americans increased for the first time since 2009, while the share of tickets sold to Hispanics declined slightly from 2012.

Lionsgate's comedy"Instructions Not Included" was a big factor. The Eugenio Derbez comedy became the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever in the U.S. with more than $44 million domestically last year despite never playing in more than 1,000 theaters.

And Universal made a point of targeting the Hispanic audience with "Fast & Furious 6" as well, and that paid major dividends. Hispanics made up 32 percent of the hot car blockbuster's opening weekend audience, while white moviegoers accounted for 29 percent, and it went on take in $238 million at the domestic box office.

PJ's Movie Pick: TALENTO DE BARRIO

Make it a movie night and watch Daddy Yankee's "Talento de Barrio"
Daddy Yankee plays Edgar, a young man from the slums of Puerto Rico who lives wrapped between the thug life and rhymes of his neighborhood.

New Smartphone App + New Latino Film = myLINGO and Cesar Chavez

A new app will allow moviegoers to watch movies at a theater in the language of your choice. Using a Smartphone and headphones, you can now listen to audio-track in Spanish.

myLINGO and Pantelion Films have teamed up to bring moviegoers this new innovation of movie experience.

The launch date is on March 28th and it is premiering along with Pantelion Film's Cesar Chavez.

Read more on El Editor

San Diego Latino Film Festival Announces Film Line-up & Schedule

The 21st San Diego Latino Film Festival has a complete line-up and schedule ready for your viewing

pleasures. Secure these dates: MARCH 13-23

 

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Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY) APRIL 3-11, 2014

If you missed last's year Havana Film Festival New York. Dont' miss this year's 15th anniversary.

The Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY) is an internationally recognized film festival celebrating Latin American cinema. In its 15th anniversary, HFFNY features more than 40 films from the most exciting cinematic talent from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela and the United States

'CHILE: 40' FILM SERIES, SEPT. 11 - OCT. 1 IN NYC

From September 11 to October 1 in New York City, Cinema Tropical, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University (NYU CLACS), and the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) present Chile: 40, a special film series observing the 40th anniversary of the Chilean coup d'etat. The September 11, 1973, event overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende and installed the notorious dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, lasting until 1990 and having immense international consequences.

For complete information visit: www.cinematropical.com

10th OLA Latino Film Festival

 










The 10^th Annual OLA Latino Film Festival will be held Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 15 at the Parrish Art Museum, 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. “Inocente” will screen Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a performance by Mambo Loco from 6 to 8 p.m. “Tanta Agua” will screen Saturday at 3 p.m. “Salvador Allende” will screen Sunday at 3 p.m. 

The festival is free with museum admission. For more information, visit parrishart.org.

"It's a Wrap" for New York International Latino Film Festival

The Daily News has reported "Lights out" for the New York International Latino Film Festival. This is a big disappointment and a tough blow for the entire Latino independent filmmaking community. Let's hope for a "Coming Back" in the near future.

'Chavez Cage of Glory' Opening in Theaters Sept. 13

This week is fight week. So before the Mayweather/Canelo fight this weekend. Make sure you look for the movie CHAVEZ CAGE of GLORY to hit your local theater on Sept 13th.

Icaro Film Festival: Sept. 9-13 in NYC.

The 2nd edition of Icaro New York continues the festival's tradition of showcasing diverse films, including the newest feature films by established, award-wining directors and complemented by screening short films, by the next generation of groundbreaking filmmakers of Central America and Mexico.

(Source: NALIP)

Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival Begins

September is Hispanic Heritage month and the 2013 Tulipanes Latino Art & Film Festival celebrates it.  The Festival’s opening night begins with a “Movie & Tapas” on Tuesday, Sept 10th at 7:30 P.M. For more information, visit the website tulipanes.org or call 394-0000.

Story by:  Diane E Coston (source WHTC)

Latino Power is in 'Instructions Not Included'

According to FORBES.com, This week’s box office chart has a third-place film that, if you’re white and speak English, you probably didn’t even know existed. Instructions Not Included, about a playboy who find himself saddled with a baby and them embraces fatherhood, earned $8 million bringing the movie’s box office total to $20 million.

 

 

 

 

Film on Life of Pope Francis Coming to a Theater Soon

According to Variety, renown Argentine director Alejandro Agresti is working on a film that tells the life story of Pope Francis I.  The movie “Historia de Un Cura”  (“Story of a Priest”) will tell the story of Jorge Bergoglio’s early years in Argentine to his days as archbishop of the city until his role as the first Latin American pope.

Argentine actor Rodrigo de la Serna will play the young Bergoglio. Serna is known for his role of Alberto Granado in “The Motorcycle Diaries”.

LATINO MOVIE OF THE MONTH - FULL MOVIE 9/2013

This month's Latino movie is The Mambo Kings.

Cuban brothers arrive in America with a suitcase full of songs, hearts filled with passion and a desire to make it big in the promised land. One is a bit more passionate than the other, who likes the simple life a little more and continues to miss the girl who stayed back home, not realizing that his brother was forced to leave with him in order to save his life.

An utterly charming film. Highly recommended.  The ending was just a little off, but overall this movie was very entertaining.

Why is Sony TV Producing 'El Mariachi' Series Without Rodriguez's Involvement?

Deadline Hollywood has reported that Sony TV will produce an El Mariachi series based on the 1992 Robert Rodriguez movie. However, Rodriguez will NOT be involved with the project. This leaves Team Rodriguez really pissed off about it. Let's hope Sony TV stays true to this legendary Mexican story.



Deadline Approaching: 3rd International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival

The IPRHFF festival will take place from November 13-17, 2013 in New York City. For film submission information please visit www.iprhff.com

The 2013 International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival prefers online entries submitted via Withoutabox

Latin American cinema in the DOWN UNDER

Since 2006, in the Down Under, the wealth of Latin American cinema and culture has been showcased to Sydney audiences. And this year, Sydney Latin American Film Festival (SLAFF) has arrived again to lighten up the Sydney movie goers with a high value and quality of Latino films.

In its eighth year, the Festival has come a long way since its modest beginnings. This event will have the increasing Spanish-speaking community of Sydney buzzing and ready for its annual dose of Latin culture.