A Unique Two Day Event Highlighting Excellence and Pride of Mexican-American Content Creators
Hollywood, CA– The Mexican-American Film & TV Festival, with its unique focus on Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers, made its debut over the course of two days at Raleigh Studios, the “home to Hollywood mavericks and filmmakers“. The enthusiastic audience filled the Chaplin Theater for the in-person screenings while others tuned in to the streaming projects. Love & Baseball the feature written and directed by Steve Acevedo took home the top award for Best Feature.
The two-day festival took place on May 14 and 15 with screenings of a varied mix of films with topics ranging from ‘coming of age stories’ (Death and Deathability – A Period Piece), sports stories (Love & Baseball), (historical revelations (They Call Us Sedicious), comedic short films (Lava Platos), and physical abuse (Paz). The majority of the films had a fresh twist on life issues and stories, most every single one, with a dose of cultura.
In addition to the competing films, the festival also screened scheduled retro perspective screenings of two Chicano film classics Jose Luis Valenzuela’s (1999) Luminarias and Edward James Olmos’ Walkout (2006). Luminarias cast members Sal Lopez, Dyana Ortelli, Geoff Rivas and director Valenzluela were on hand for the Luminarias Q&A. Producer Moctezuma Esparza attended the screening for the Q&A with cast members Yancey Arias, Douglas Spain, Walter Perez, Tonatzin Esparza, Fidel Gomez among others. These screenings were a true testament to the strength of the storytelling of this community’s films. In the case of Luminarias, it was striking how ahead of the times this film was when it premiered in 199. It is one of the first noted Chick Flicks, with an all Latino cast and a look into what was to come. Luminarias broke ground by portraying Latino trans characters, and interracial relationships, while addressing issues of Latina professionals and spousal abuse in the Latino community. This film not only stands the test of time, but it’s just yearning for a sequel or better yet a re-release.
On Saturday, the MAF&TF honored Mexican-American attorney, activist, and philanthropist Antonia Hernandez with the Illustrious President’s Award. She currently serves as the President and CEO of the California Community Foundation. Early in her career as an attorney, Hernández headed the case in Madrigal v. Quilligan (1975), the class-action lawsuit filed by ten women of Mexican descent who were involuntarily sterilized at the Los Angeles County Hospital. She was also the first Latina to serve as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I believe the festival fulfilled its mission, to remind all of us, and Hollywood, how talented we are,” claimed Dr. Jose Luis Ruiz, Festival Director and President of the festival’s parent non-profit organization, the Mexican-American Cultural and Education Foundation (MACEF). He added, “We are people with thousands of years of high culture, artistry, creativity, and hard work”.
Representatives from sponsors The Walt Disney Company (Rey Rodriguez and David Garcia), City National Bank (Philip Sanchez and Gloria Carolina Dominguez), UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television (Brian Kite, Interim Dean); and Dr. Ruiz Cosmetic Dentistry, were in attendance to witness the beginning of what will be a film festival contender.
The Illustrious MAF&TF Awards were handed out on the last day of the festival. Producer Moctesuma Esparza received the Life Achievement Award. His producing career is legendary and it begins in with the Academy Award-nominated documentary short Agueda Martinez: Our People, Our Country, From there the list is expansive with producing highlights including The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Gettysburg, The Milagro Beanfield War, Selena, Gods & Generals, Selena and many others. He also owns Maya Cinemas, a chain of movie theaters.
The judging panel was composed of highly regarded individuals in the film, television, documentary, and theater. The professional who had the difficult task of selecting the winners were:
Jerry Velasco, Chair of the Judging Committee, Judges Actors Enrique Castillo, Mike Gomez; Directors: Jesus Trevino, Sylvia Morales and Joel Bailey; Writer/Producers: Dennis Leoni, Carolyn Caldera De Fanti, Nancy De Los Santos, Bel Hernandez, David Damian Figueroa and Bill Virchis.
The awards were presented on the final night of the film festival. were the long awaiting highlight of the evening. Eight projects, in the categories of shorts, features and TV pilots were selected to receive the Illustrious MAF&TF Award, they are:
Best Short Film: In Broad Daylight – Directed by: Alex Ferrufino
A Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy is faced with a life-altering decision after following his training officers’ unwarranted orders CAST: Steve Luis Villegas, Dylan Kenin
Best Screenplay for Film: They Call Us Sediciosos by IZ Gutierrez
In 1915, Jovita Idar, a reporter, writer, and activist for women and Mexican-American civil rights, interviews a mother whose son has gone missing while at the hands of racist Rangers and vigilantes who have been targeting the Texas-Mexican community in the Lower Rio Grande Valley during a time known as “La Matanza” (The Massacre).
Best TV Series: The King of Downey – Directed by: Moses Medina
A Chicano family moving from Highland Park to Downey, the Beverly Hills of Latinos. Danny is a real-estate agent, his wife Sonia is a financial planner and they have 3 kids.
Best Screenplay for TV: Ghettobusters by Freddy Falcon & Danny Sauceda
four Latino superheroes trying to save the world one neighborhood at a time
Best Female Actress: Blanca Ordaz in Death & Deathability -Directed by: Maria Victoria Ponce
Mystified by the unexpected arrival of her first period, Ceci concludes she must be dying. She prepares a bucket list to accomplish on her final day, including her first real kiss and her own funeral, because death should be an art.
Best Male Actor: Max Arciniega in Love & Baseball – Directed by: Steve Acevedo
A chance meeting sparks love between Will Reyes and Michele Wyatt, but due to poor timing and the realities of life–they strike out twice. If fate gives them another shot–will they hit or miss?
Best Director: Andrew Gutierrez for Paz
A teenage girl, Linda, who through abuse has lost her sense of self, value, and courage, finds strength in a spiritual connection. Cast: Heidi Martin
Best Feature Film: Love & Baseball – Directed by: Steve Acevedo
Acevedo is an award-winning director and cinematographer of Cocodrilo. He also directed episodes of USA Network’s Queen of the South
Three “La Chancla” Awards Presented
Festival Director, also Dr. Ruiz introduced the first annual Chancla Award, given to an individual or entity for promoting or depicting stereotypes. The first Chancla Award went the movie Knives Out where the characters are belittling Mexican-immigrant and comparing them to the “better” Latinos. ATT/Warner Media/Discovery received the Chancla Award for not adding Latinos to their newly created corporate that does include Asian and Blacks yet Latinos are teh largest minority in the U.S. And the third Chancla Award went to Saturday Night Live for the sketch A Peek at Pico, creating lame and unfunny 80’s stereotypical Chola characters in their sketch May 14.
It was an invigorating two days at the Mexican-American Film & Television Festival and an inspirational event. It was an exceptional debut. Here is looking at next year!