Two Day Festival May 20 & 21st at Harmony Gold in Hollywood Retro Screening of Luis Valdez’s films “The Cisco Kid” and “Zoot Suit”
The 2nd Edition of the Mexican-American Film and Television Festival and Awards will be spotlighting the best in film and television content by Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers This year MAF&TF will continue its mission of amplifying the voices of Chicano/Mexican-American filmmakers through their projects. This year MAF&TF will recognize one of the most recognizable Chicano filmmakers writer/director Luis Valdez (La Bamba, Zoot Suit) who founded the Teatro Campesino performing for farmworkers. The two-day festival will be held at the Harmony Gold Theater in the heart of Hollywood on Saturday May 20th & Sunday May 21, 2023 11:00am – 9:00pm.
Over 50 projects were selected from 130 filmmakers submissions of features, shorts, documentaries and TV projects from all across the country, with a wide range of stories themes dealing with identity, high school angst, love, animation, relationships, immigrations, marriage and more which will screen in person or streamed virtually over the course of the two days.
According to the 2022 Latino Donor Collaborative Media Report Latinos are rarely depicted on screen despite being avid TV consumers and outspending other racial and ethnic groups in movie ticket purchases. The Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers (66% of the U.S. Latino population) showing at MAF&TF are writing the stories they want to see on screen as they have mostly been excluded in Hollywood.
“For over 100 years, Hollywood has, for the most part, ignored the presence and contribution of Mexican-Americans, mostly representing a myopic view of this community as narcos, immigrants, gangbangers and sexualized women,” says Dr. Jose Luiz Ruiz, MACEF president and founder. “This will not change unless we create the change. We need to help change the narrative. Our festival is the first of its kind in the nation, and we aim for our voice to be heard.”
The capstone of the festival will be the Illustrious Awards ceremony which will take place on Sunday, May 21.
The Mexican-American Film & Television Festival Lifetime Achievement Illustrious Award will be bestowed upon Luis Valdez, an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. Valdez is regarded as the father of Chicano film and playwriting, best known for writing and directing the films Zoot Suit and La Bamba, and directing The Cisco Kid. He is considered a pioneer in the Chicano Movement, broadening the scope of theater and arts of the Chicano community.
The MACEF President Exemplar Award will be awarded to Frank Rodriguez, General Sales Manager Searchlight Pictures.
The festival is also about future projects and will be joined by lead actors Annie Gonzalez and Jesse Garcia for a fireside chat and Q&A about their roles in Eva Longoria’s directorial debut feature Flamin’ Hot, the real life story of Richard Montañez who went from janitor to being credited with creating American’s #1 snack, Flamin’ Hot Cheetoes.
Retrospective Screenings
The two prospective screenings scheduled at MAF&TF were both directed by Luis Valdez, representing the Mexican-American experience in the U.S. Saturday, May 20, 2023: The TV movie Cisco Kid (1994) starring Cheech Marin and Jimmy Smits will screen at the Harmony Gold venue on Saturday, May 20. Cheech Marin and other cast members have been invited. Sunday, May 21, 2023: The 1981 feature film Zoot Suit will be screened. Luis Valdez, along with various cast members of this groundbreaking film will be in attendance.
Invited Guests, Celebrities and Presenters confirmed to date, who will attend the retro screenings and the Illustrious Awards are: Cheech Marin (Invited), actors Annie Gonzales, Jesse Garcia, Producer Moctezuma Esparza (Selena, Milagro Beanfield War), actor Pepe Serna, Comedian Paul Rodriguez, Writer/Actor Enrique Castillo (Mayans MC, Blood In Blood Out), Actresses Alex Meneses (Telenovela, Walker), Gina Gallego (Days of Our Lives, The Chimiera Effect), actress and KLVE Host Fernanda Kelly, Dean of the UCLA School of Theater Film & Television, Brian Kite, Joel Gonzalez, President of Nosotros and Producer, Brenda Castillo, President of National Hispanic Media Coalition, TV personality Alysha Del Valle.
A panel of entertainment professionals will select the winners of the film festival in twelve categories by a panel of judges that include: Producers Dennis Leoni, Carolyn Caldera de Fanti, Directors Jesus Trevino, Silvia Morales, and Joel Bailey, Actor/Director Enrique Castillo, Actor/Producer Mike Gomez, Composer Sid de la Cruz, Theater Producer/Director Bill Virchis.
Organized by the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation, The festival will feature eight competition categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Short Film, Best TV Series, Best Male Actor, Best Female Actress, Best Screenplay For Film, Best Musical, Best Screenplay For TV, The Lifetime Achievement Award, The President’s Award (In Recognition Of Social Justice Efforts), Inspiration Award,
Mexican American Cultural Education Foundation’s mission is to change the negative narrative of Americans of Mexican descent by highlighting their stories and their positive contribution to the U.S. For more information about the 2023 MACEF Film Festival, www.MexAmCEF.org. Tickets for the festival are on sale now at EVENTIVE (https://macef.eventive.org/schedule)
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