The 14th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announces it will return to the Mann Chinese 6 in Hollywood Thursday, August 19 through Wednesday, August 25. The seven-day event will highlight the best films and showcase both the auteurs and new talent in the Latin filmmaking community.
The Closing Night presentation of Carlos Carrera’s BACKYARD on Wednesday, August 25 will serve as the capstone for an impressive lineup that will feature 73 films, including 37 features (25 narrative and 12 documentaries) and 36 shorts. Along with the films offered throughout the festival, additional activities will include LALIFF’s filmmaker panels, parties and gala events. The Closing Night Gala will include an after party.
Carrera’s BACKYARD is an astonishing fictional account of a series of murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Most of the victims have been low-paid laborers who were drawn to the town by the possibility of work at American-owned factories. In the film, Mexican police officer Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera) is sent to Cuidad Juarez to investigate and discovers the realities of the women’s lives, as well as the truth about a police force and local power structure embodied by entrepreneur Mickey Santos (Jimmy Smits) that has ceased to care. The film also stars Joaquín Cosio, Alejandro Calva, Amorita Rasgado and Enoc Leaño.
The drama, BEDROOMS will be making its official World Premiere on Friday, August 20. Directed by Youssef Delara, Michael D. Olmos and Victor Teran, the film follows four interwoven stories of heartbreak, the infidelity that’s often the result and the redemption that comes from tearing the walls put up between people down. The impressive cast includes Jordan Belfi, Julie Benz, Xander Berkeley, Moon Bloodgood, Barry Bostwick, Jesse Garcia, Sarah Clarke and Dee Wallace.
William Wedig’s FORGED will be making its West Coast Premiere at LALIFF on Friday, August 20. Co-written and co-produced by Manny Perez, the drama focuses on the struggles of an ex-convict to make a new life and try to salvage a relationship with his son while settling old debts with the criminal element he used to run with. The film stars Manny Perez, David Castro, Margo Martindale, Jaime Tirelli and Kevin Breznahan.
The film schedule also has a truly impressive number of films that have won awards and made notable appearances at previous festivals. Some of those films include:
Anna Muylaert’s É PROIBIDO FUMAR (SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES)
AWARDS: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Film, Best Music, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Candango Trophy – 2009 Brazilia Festival of Brazilian Cinema, Best Actress, Best Director, APCA Trophy – 2010 São Paulo Association of Arts Critics Award
Luciana Burlamaqui’s ENTRE A LUZ E A SOMBRA
AWARD: Winner – 2010 Guadalajara Film Festival
Ciro Guerra’s LOS VIAJES DEL VIENTO (THE WIND JOURNEYS)
Un Certain Regard selection – 2009 Cannes Film Festival
AWARD: Winner of Latino Screenwriter’s Lab – 2005 LALIFF
Alvaro Bechner’s MAL DIA PARA PESCAR (BAD DAY TO GO FISHING)
AWARDS: Best Art Direction – Gijon International Film Festival, Best Actor Mar del Plata Film Festival, FIPRESCI Prize – Sofia International Film Festival, UFCA Award – Uruguyan Film Critics Association, Free Spirit Award – Warsaw International Film Festival)
Miguel Coyula’s MEMORIAS DEL DESARROLLO (MEMORIES OF OVERDEVELOPMENT)
AWARDS: Havana Star for Best Film – 2010 Havana Film Festival, Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature – 2010 Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Best Feature Film – New Media Film Festival
Sebastián Leilo’s NAVIDAD (CHRISTMAS)
Directors’ Fortnight selection – 2009 Cannes Film Festival
Sebastian Cordero’s RABIA
AWARDS: Best Director at FICG and won the Golden Globe selection for Best Film at FICG
Carlos Gaviria‘s RETRATOS EN UN MAR DE MENTIRAS (PORTRAITS IN A SEA OF LIES)
AWARD: Winner – 2010 Guadalajara Film Festival
This year’s Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) Showcase films include Abby Ginsberg’s CRUZ REYNOSO: SOWING THE SEEDS OF JUSTICE, Esaú Meléndez’s IMMIGRANT NATION and Ray Telles’ THE STORM THAT SWEPT MEXICO. LPB Showcase features documentaries created by Latino Producers in the States that focus on the Latino community; the stories, art and culture and issues that affect Latino communities not simply in the US, but worldwide.
Tickets go on sale today. Festival passes and tickets are available for purchase at latinofilm.org.