LATINO PUBLIC BROADCASTING TO SHOWCASE FIVE DOCUMENTARIES AT LOS ANGELES LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Race, Art and Immigration Are among Subjects Explored
in LPB Documentaries

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 6, 2005— Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), a non-profit organization funded by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, announced today that five documentaries will be showcased at this year’s Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF). The LPB documentaries are: “Race is the Place,” Mirror Dance,” The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo,” “Recalling Orange County” and “Al Otro Lado/To the Other Side.” The LPB Showcase will be held at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre while LALIFF will be held at the Egyptian Theatre. LALIFF will take place from October 21 through October 30, 2005.

“Though many of our Open Call winners have been presented at nearly all the major independent film festivals throughout the country, this is the first time we have been privileged to showcase them as a group,” said Luca Bentivoglio, executive director, LPB. “Latino-themed programming is making an impact not only because of the quality of the productions but the universality of the subject matter. Race relations, art, humor and immigration touch us all whether it has a Latino bent or not. This selection of LPB documentaries does just that—touch the audience. We’re honored to be part of LALIFF 2005.”

The following is the schedule for the LPB documentaries at LALIFF 2005:

“Recalling Orange County,” Saturday, October 22, 1:50 p.m..
• Documentary filmmaker Mylene Moreno reflects on being a daughter of immigrants in California’s Orange County and how things have changed upon her return—it is not so lily white anymore. Moreno follows that battle as well as the one between established and new immigrants.

“Race is the Place,” Saturday, October 22, 4:00 p.m.
• A visual and verbal riff on race in America as seen by a wide variety of artists, poets, rappers, performance artists and stand-up comedians.
• Panel after the screening, including filmmakers Ray Telles and Rick Tejada-Fores and others.

“Al Otro Lado/To the Other Side,” Sunday, October 23, 2:30 p.m.
• Set in the Mexican drug capital of Sinaloa , the documentary looks at the economic crisis that turns so many to drugs and the norteña music that is integral to the journey as they head north of the border.

“Mirror Dance,” Sunday, October 23, 3:00 p.m.
• Producers Frances McElroy and María Teresa Rodríguez chronicle the story of Cuban-born twins Margarita and Ramona de Saá as they grow to be acclaimed dancers with the National Ballet of Cuba. The documentary follows them as their relationship disintegrates when one sister leaves for the U.S. and the other embraces the revolution. This will be taking place at the Spielberg Theatre inside the Egyptian.

“The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo,” Sunday, October 23, 12:00 p.m.
• Producer Amy Stechler documents the artist’s complex and tormented life, including her love affair with muralist Diego Rivera and her debilitating illnesses after an automobile accident as a teenager. The film was shot completely in Kahlo’s native Mexico at such renowned sites as the Casa Azul, her blue studio, where she painted her famed self-portraits. The documentary includes more than 20 interviews with the major personages of Kahlo’s life, including Mexican author Carlos Fuentes

In addition, on Sunday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m – 3:00 p.m., LPB will hold a panel in association with Independent Television Service on funding for narrative and documentary films.

“Throughout the year, we scout documentaries that will expand the viewers’ mind and celebrate what is Latino. LPB’s five submissions bring an unusual scope and breadth to our film festival, taking us from Mexico to Cuba to our own backyard, Orange County,” said Marlene Dermer, founder and director, LALIFF. “The subjects that are confronted are important ones and we are very excited to bring them to our film festival.”

Launched in 1997, LALIFF has grown from 42 films and an overall attendance of 5,000 people to over 100 films and 15,000 attendees. In addition to workshops, special events and panels with industry professionals, the festival is announcing a special Opera Prima of US Latino Films. Besides the competition categories, LALIFF will present a selection of other films. All films screened at the festival will go to the Academy Film Archive whose activities include collection, preservation, documentation, exhibition and research access to films.

ABOUT LPB
Created in 1998 by Edward James Olmos and Marlene Dermer, Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) is a non-profit organization funded by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting. LPB’s mission is to support the development, production, post-production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural television that is representative of or addresses issues of particular interest to U.S. Latinos. These programs are produced for dissemination to public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. Mr. Olmos is presently LPB’s Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

About Us
Latino Public Broadcasting is the leader of the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to the public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. LPB provides a voice to the diverse Latino community on public media throughout the United States. Latino Public Broadcasting is a registered 501(c)(3), EIN: 95-4776447.
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