In the documentary film, Backside, director/ filmmaker Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana (Border South), has lovingly composed a poetic meditation about the immigrant workers who care, feed, and tend to the million-dollar race horses at the Kentucky Derby racetrack.

Because of its historical association with royalty and nobility, horse racing is often called “the sport of kings.”In the horse racing caste system at the top are the horses, jockeys, owners, and gamblers, followed by the trainers, and beneath them, the workers who work for the trainers.

Pastrana skillfully uses a minimalist, cinema vertité approach to his film to imbue the workers with an aura of grace and nobility of their own.

There is no celebrity narrative voice over or mood setting, ethnically tinged music with a guitar or piano. There are no long-winded testimonials detailing aspects of the story.

Instead, Pastrana slowly lets the story, with virtually no dialog, pictorially unfold and reveal itself naturally by observing the workers going through their daily routine in quiet elegance. Often, the scenes that show the workers doing their jobs are framed and composed in a painterly fashion that evokes Van Gogh’s representations of working-class people in his timeless and iconic artwork.

The deep emotional attachment depicted in the film between horse and worker is one of the more touching and effective storylines of the film. In one scene, a curious wife asks her husband why he gives the horse candy.

“Because he’s my friend,” he whispers to his wife.

In the opening scene, we watch as a horse is being taken onto a ramp from a trailer. In the final scene, the horse is led up a ramp into a trailer to travel south. The scenes act seamlessly as cinematic bookends for the whole documentary.

Pastrana, a Mexican immigrant from Chihuahua, Mexico, now living in Denver, Colorado, is intimately knowledgeable about the immigrant experience in America and the untold value immigrants bring to the U.S. economy. In this unfortunate era of ICE raids and a Mass Deportation agenda, Backside is a gentle but persuasive reminder of the important and often unknown contributions of the immigrant community to America.

The Kentucky Derby Race is often described as the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Pastrana’s moving documentary, Backside, shows us the thousands of hard-working, tireless, dedicated  hours that go into making those “two exciting minutes.”Backside premieres on PBS, Monday, April 13. Check your local listing for times.

Independent Lens: Backside (2026) can be watched primarily on PBS.org and Free PBS App . It is also available for on-demand streaming for PBS Passport members and will have broadcast airings on various local PBS stations and the World Channel.

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The filmmakers of American Sons, producer Laura Varela, along with producer and director Andrew Gonzales, skillfully use the video diaries of Corporal  Jorge “JV” Villareal, the young Marine who did not return, which he recorded for his family in San Antonio, Texas. Those diaries serve as the storyteller’s voice of day-to-day life during his tour of duty in Afghanistan; he tragically did not survive.

The film is skillfully edited into a bookend, non-linear, fractured structure that goes from the video diaries to ten years after, with his surviving Marine brothers sharing their thoughts about J. V., their struggles trying to reconnect back into the “real world”, and tender scenes of his family recalling memories of their son, JV Villareal.

The various emotional and haunting testimonials by Villareal’s brothers in arms, spoken in frank,  intimate streetwise vernacular about their PTSD, isolation, alienation, and hopelessness, often rise to the level of working-class, urban free verse poetry. There’s an eloquent urgency to their authenticity that echoes the pain of servicemen from past conflicts and foreshadows what may be awaiting those serving in the military now.

The overarching truth of American Sons is in its honoring and celebration of those generations of men and women who have given us so much and all too often received so little in return.

American Sons also underscores and reminds us of the tremendous contributions and historic participation of Latinos in the U.S. armed forces since the days of the American Revolution to the present.

It is an honorable legacy of our heritage that Latinos are the most decorated ethnic group in the long and storied annals of American military conflicts.

The story of JV Villareal and his Marine brothers in American Sons is an important chapter in the book of that proud history.

American Sons is a co-production of Infinite Warrior LLC, Latino Public Broadcasting, and Black Public Media. Major funding by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and additional support by the Jacquie Jones Memorial Fund. This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding is provided by Bexar County and the City of San Antonio Arts and Culture.

American Sons premieres on PBS on Monday, January 12. Check local listings for time.

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By Catherine Jones

It started with an email from Dr. Bandy Lee. She was putting together a conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., called “The Hidden Epidemic of Family Court Violence” and asked me to help produce a short documentary for it. I said “yes” before I even thought about it. She didn’t have to ask me twice. This past November, the documentary premiered at the conference.

I’m not a documentary filmmaker. But I trusted Dr. Lee. And I knew I was, and am, very qualified to tell the story of family court violence and abuse. She emailed the right gal.

I’ve spent my career in media, starting with an appearance on Telemundo’s Hoy en el Mundo, with Host Jose Diaz-Balart, to co-hosting a Today show parenting web series with fellow Latina mom Rachel Campos-Duffy. But, these days, I mostly refer to myself as a print journalist and an all-around storyteller. However, for the task at hand, I brought something more important than a résumé. I understood just how dark, and overlooked, our nation’s family courts can be. I’d reported on it, and, most importantly, I’d lived it.

Admittedly, a decade ago, I didn’t know family court was a thing. I thought court was court, you know, with the judges, the juries, and the usual setup we’ve all seen on TV shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. But family court, I quickly found out, exists in its own separate world.

It’s a division of the judicial system that handles issues like divorce, child custody, visitation, and support. And there are no juries with Lady Justice looking on. It’s quite the opposite actually. There’s just one judge who makes life-altering decisions, in closed-off courtrooms, based on testimony and reports from “experts” who don’t exactly tell the truth.

Like thousands of protective mothers across the country, I cannot unsee the horrors of family court abuse. And, now, during Family Court Awareness Month, Dr. Lee was letting me make a film about it.

Dr. Bandy Lee, for those not familiar with her, is a forensic psychiatrist and violence expert who taught at the Yale School of Medicine. She became internationally known after editing The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump and has spent her career studying how systems cause psychological harm. As of late, she’s been interested in family court because, well, it’s personal.

The mini-documentary centers on her sister, Patricia Lee, a mother of two. From the outside, Patricia had it all together. She was a suburban PTA mom living in an upscale neighborhood in New Jersey, with no criminal record or history of abuse. Like so many women, she was going through a divorce.

Then came the raid.

“The children were taken by police raid on November 12, 2021, at approximately 6 p.m., just when her parenting weekend was beginning. It was also her birthday and before the holidays, so it was timed to maximally deprive Patricia and her children,” Dr. Lee told me.

Patricia hasn’t seen her children since. On that day, she lost full custody, with no planned visits, or even a phone call, in sight. Most people believe there has to be more to the story. They assume the courts would never separate a mother from her children without a serious reason. I used to think that too. But, once you’ve seen how the system really works, you understand just how wrong that assumption can be. You can’t unsee the truth.

As I’ve reported for major outlets, including MIami’s ABC affiliate, WPLG news, the pattern of family court abuse is real, and it keeps on repeating. Mothers like Patricia are being erased from their children’s lives by a system that profits from conflict and chaos. At the D.C. conference, New Hampshire Representative J.D. Bernardy explained a questionable family court decision, like handing children over to an abusive parent, is a money-making operation. It keeps the cash “flowing and flowing … with some of the worst consequences,” he said.

In the documentary, I included short clips of mothers – from well-known activist Tina Swithin to a small town optometrist Dr. Kreslyn Barron Odum – telling their stories and footage of children being sent to controversial “reunification” camps. The trauma is plain to see.

When the lights dimmed at the National Press Club and the film began to play, I was in awe. There it was on the big screen: the story that had consumed my every thought for days. Leaders, journalists, survivors, experts watched in silence. Some with their phones held up recording the whole thing.

As a Latina, I know how rare it is to have the opportunity to create something like this. Very few Latinas ever get the chance to shape these kinds of stories from behind the camera. In fact, according to the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Latinas make up less than 2 percent of behind-the-scenes roles in film and television. That number is far too small, especially when the stories are this important. And we know how to tell them.

As NPR put it, “the field is still heavily dominated by white men.”

For now, I hope more people watch the short doc, which is available on Dr. Lee’s YouTube channel, “OutSide Observer.” She says she is also showing it to members of Congress, with the hope of prompting a hearing on family court abuse and violence. This is the power of storytelling at its finest: moving people to act.

I hope the film stays with everyone, especially those in Congress. And, more than anything, I hope no one else has to endure what Patricia Lee has gone through. But, sadly, you know that more protective mothers just might.

Because, once you’ve seen it, it can’t be unseen.

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In 2015, six women from La Cantera, a community in the municipality of Guanajuato, established a civil association called MAYOYE. They discovered that the water in their area was radioactive and joined forces to investigate the cause of several girls suffering from a particularly aggressive form of cancer. Their efforts led them to uncover the radioactive contamination of their water supply, which they believed contributed to the deaths of three girls within just one year. This experience transformed them from leading ordinary lives into dedicated activists.

Brother and sister filmmakers Alfredo and Isabel Alcántara chronicle the long, determined, and inspiring struggle of these Mexican women as they confront the patriarchal bureaucracy in their quest for answers in the PBS documentary Age of Water.

The film, shot in the classic cinema verité style, features no celebrity voiceover, narration, or musical score to enhance the dramatic narrative. The story is told simply through the eyes, voices, and faces of all the characters involved, moving the narrative from one act to the next, employing basic storytelling structures and minimal editing.

The collective efforts of the women of La Cantera underscore a long tradition of Mexican women in the vanguard of social justice movements dating back to the 19th century in their fight for education and political participation, their valiant efforts in the Mexican Revolution, events for women’s suffrage, and Chicana feminism and against gender violence.

Mexico now has the distinction of electing its first woman president, Claudia Shinebaum, who has implemented policies to address some of the environmental issues facing Mexico.

Clean water, climate change, and other pressing environmental issues continue to be topics of interest for Alfredo and Isabel.

Unfortunately, our current US administration has gutted the EPA standards for clean water and cleaning up the pollution that contaminates our water system.

Pity, they could learn much from the resolute Mexican women of Lan Cantera and the Age of Water documentary directed by Alfredo and Isabel Cantarra.

The Age of Water is streaming on PBS.org until December.

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Last week was a busy one!  

The Chicano Squad CAA Screening

At an exclusive screening at the Creative Artists Agency, the audience was treated to a viewing of one episode of the docu-series The Chicano Squad which is set to premiere on A&E beginning on Monday, September 2nd at 9pm/8pm central.

It is a fascinating story of the little group of Chicano Detective up against having to prove themselves and solving cases that had long been abandon. They were given 90 day to solve hundreds of open cases if not they would shut them down.

The Chicano Squad chronicles the groundbreaking team of bilingual patrol officers plucked from their beats and suddenly promoted to Detectives to form the first all-Latino homicide unit dedicated to tackling Houston’s soaring rate of Latino homicide cases in 1979. Dubbed “The Chicano Squad” by the Houston media, the story of these men becoming one of the most highly decorated law enforcement units in the history of Houston is told through firsthand accounts of the original squad members and those impacted by their work.

The docu-series interviews some of the original members of the Chicano Squad, including Jim Montero, José Selvera, Raymond Gonzales, U.P. Hernández, and Cecil Mosqueda about their story which will air 45 years after the formation of the squad.

In attendance were Executive Producers Nancy de Los Santos and Sergio Selvera (whose dad is one of the original Chicano Squad members). It was their collaboration on the story that was taken to Bender Brown Productions who then teamed up with A&E to produce it.

Among the creative talents in attendance at the screening were showrunner/director and executive producer Mario Diaz (who is repped by CAA), Kevin Brown and Lawrence Bender of Bender Brown Productions, and original Chicano Squad members Selvera Jr. and Hernandez.

Hats off to A&E for documenting this very important, untold story about Latinos who for once were the heroes in the story rather than the stereotypes.

The Chicano Squad is produced by Jupiter Entertainment (Snapped) and Bender Brown Productions (Seven Seconds) for A&E.

Carlos Eric Lopez Launches Curalita with Celebrity friends and Community

Carlos Eric Lopez is known for his eclectic taste in glamor, culture and one of LA’s most sought-after photographers in the nation.  His clients like Vogue, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and high-profile brands like Ralph Lauren, Fendi, and Nike.  And now Carlos adds entrepreneur to his list of titles.  Always ahead of the cultural curve last week as Carlos launched the delicious and healthy community-driven wellness drink Curalita.

Inspired by his Abuelita – his affectionate grandmother…Carlos named his drinks Curalita, choosing Mexican inspired flavors with names like La Virgen, Por Amor, Mal de Ojo and Sana Sana. 

In attendance to help him launch his brand in a spectacular way was literally a who is who of Latino Hollywood’s hottest talents who have all been photographed by Lopez to support the launch of his product.  His friends actor Xolo Maridueña (Blue Beetle, Cobra Kai),  Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot, Jenni, Gentified) who also sang, TV Showrunner/actress Gloria Calderon Kellett (With Love, One Day at a Time), Jessica Marie Garcia (On My Block), actress Nicole Richie (Project Runway)  and several others. 

Ugly Little Monkeys Community Screening at La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes

A screening of the documentary Ugly Little Monkeys took place last week under the stars on a cool L.A. summer night at La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes.

Ugly Little Monkeys is a compelling documentary that brings to life the remarkable journey of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, the pioneering youth Mariachi group in the United States.

Inspired by Wilfred Arvizu’s captivating book, this film delves into the heart of Tucson, Arizona, where the group was formed in the 1960s under the guidance of an unlikely mentor, Father Charles Rourke, an Irish priest with a deep passion for Mariachi music.  

Audience members experience a rollercoaster of emotions as the documentary screened. With a combination of laughter, shock and in some cases, anger, at the end of the evening several audience members were ready to nominate it for an Oscar!

Participating in the pre-screening Q&A were Co-Directors Enrique Castillo and David Valdez and Richard Moreno the Editor, and moderated by Estrella TV news Anchor, Jose Ronstadt.  The latter three, Valdez, Ronstadt and Moreno were all born and raised in Tucson, where the story mostly takes place, and are very familiar with the story.  Still the interviews with the original members were quite a revelation – to them and the audience.

Five years in the making, nineteen original members were interviewed for the documentary, each telling their first hand recounting of the story, from the founding of the group by Father Rourke, the excitement or traveling across the country, to the unraveling of the priest and ultimately to the triumph of their spirits.

The Changuitos Feos are still thriving after 60 years.  To commemorate this the filmmakers are offering the documentary to non-profit organizations as a fundraising screening to help them raise funds for the arts, and in particular youth mariachi groups. 

Outdoor screenings at La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes are always a fun experience. In spite of the helicopters flying by – the audience was captivated!

Until next week!

The post The Chicano Squad; Carlos Eric Lopez’s Curalita; & Ugly Little Monkeys first appeared on .

In 1993 punk artist Mabel Valdiviezo flees from war-torn Peru to San Francisco, CA on a tourist visa. Soon she goes from tourist to “undocumented”, living on the fringes of society, struggling to build a life. Being the artist that she is, she documented her struggles through photographic self-portraits, drawings, collages, and visual diaries. Fifteen years later, her documentary Prodigal Daughter makes its world premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on Thursday, May 30th, 7:00 PM @TCL Chinese Theatre – Cinema 3

Director and producer, Valdiviezo is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work explores migration, gender equality, and healing justice. Prodigal Daughter  follows the filmmaker/artist on a poignant journey to reunite with her family in Peru after 16 years of silence.  Through Mabel’s personal story, the film reveals the struggles of immigrant women living without a safety net, exploring their challenges in staying connected with their families left behind. 

The film weaves vérité scenes with family photos that Valdiviezo transforms into vibrant mixed media “photo-paintings” to convey her emotional separation from her family and her longing for reconnection. Peruvian underground punk art blends with playful stop-motion animations, bringing to life her youth during Peru’s tumultuous 80s. 

“In this current climate, it is crucial to craft narratives that offer multifaceted portrayals of immigrant lives that mirror the richness of our communities,” Valdiviezo said.  She  emphasizes the importance of challenging the mainstream stereotypical depiction of immigrants.

Valdiviezo’s production company Haiku Films is focused on producing compelling documentaries that explore pressing issues of our times, utilizing community storytelling as a catalyst for cultural change. 

Valdiviezo plans to grow a robust social impact campaign and partner with immigrant and women organizations, to bring the film to community centers, schools, broadcast, and online audiences. 

For ticket information:  bit.ly/3JZeLiT

“Prodigal Daughter” visit prodigaldaughterthemovie.com.

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Plaza de la Raza, a Los Angeles mainstay cultural arts center in Lincoln Heights will be the benefactor of a special community screening of the acclaimed documentary, Ugly Little Monkeys: A True American Story, taking place on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Plaza de la Raza’s Margot Albert Theater, located at 3540 N Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90031.

Ugly Little Monkeys: A True American Story, co-directed by David E. Valdez and Enrique Castillo and executive produced by Edward James Olmos, Marcia Grand, and Justin Krienbrink, delves into the compelling saga of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, the original youth Mariachi group in the U.S. Established in 1964 by an Irish priest. This trailblazing ensemble that in spite of overcoming tremendous challenges rose to international acclaim, newfound celebrity, all shaping its members into prominent musicians and future leaders.

“I’ve done several stage productions at Plaza de La Raza, and I’m thrilled that our documentary film Ugly Little Monkeys: A True American Story is screening at Plaza’s Margot Albert Theater. “I’m especially pleased that the screening will benefit Plaza’s arts education programs, particularly its youth Mariachi program,” stated Enrique Castillo, Co-Director of the documentary.

Maria Jimenez-Torres, Executive Director of Plaza de la Raza, expressed the importance of the screening, stating, “This film will surely inspire, educate and uplift. We are deeply thankful to Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson and the Ugly Little Monkeys filmmakers for their support and collaboration in hosting this benefit screening. Their commitment to using music and film as a catalyst for positive change mirrors our own mission of fostering cultural enrichment and community empowerment.”

The evening will commence with a reception at 5:30 PM featuring a performance by the Plaza de la Raza Youth Mariachi Ensemble. The reception will include a delightful array of Mexican antojitos catered by El Comal Fresh & Authentic Tortilla Products. Following the reception, attendees will enjoy the film screening and have the unique opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with co-directors David E. Valdez and Enrique Castillo, as well as an original member of Los Changuitos Feos, the pioneering youth mariachi group which the documentary highlights.

For information on Sponsorships or tickets please email: info@latinheat.com

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By Mina Briseño

Part comedy, part social commentary, part travelogue, Roots of Comedy With Jesus Trejo gives you an inside look of the other side of the laughter, revealing how the most memorable comedy traces back to the roots of a community with themes that are central to the series. Jesus Trejo, an LA based comedian embarks on an emotional odyssey as he visits with comedians from all walks of life, delving into their childhood, style of comedy and their why.  Why they become a comic, why they choose the jokes they tell, and just plain piercing the facade of the comedian.

Along his journey, Trejo visits six U.S. regions (Denver, Portland, Minneapolis, Austin, Los Angeles and Chinle, Arizona).  He meets with six rising comedians who explore the mosaic of our nation through the lens of stand-up comedy. The six episode series with 30-minute episodes is executive produced by Jesus Trejo, Juan Devis and Danny Lee, and co-produced for PBS by PBS SoCal and BIPOC-production studio CALICO in association with the National Multicultural Alliance. 

Trejo is a Los Angeles-based comedian, actor and writer. Born and raised in Long Beach, Trejo’s first hour stand-up special Stay at Home Son recently premiered on Showtime. He was a Staff Writer on Hulu’s now cancelled TV comedy  This Fool and also the host of Tacos Con Todo. a web series in which he navigates the LA taco scene with celebrity guests. Also an author of two upcoming children’s books, Trejo was named in “Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch” in 2017 and is a paid regular at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Beginning on Friday, May 24 all six episodes of Roots of Comedy With Jesus Trejo will stream for free on the PBS app and PBS.org as a special release. The series will also be available to stream on the PBS YouTube channel, following the television broadcast premiere on PBS stations across the country on Fri., June 21 at 10 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. CT.

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The life of legendary Hollywood actor and internationally renowned artist Pepe Serna is revealed in Pepe Serna: Life Is Art, a one-hour documentary film directed by Luis Reyes will be available for streaming on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu on February 21, 2024. Told by Serna himself, the documentary follows his lengthy acting career and artistic life and provides viewers with a rare opportunity to discover previously unseen and unknown sides of the actor’s journey. 

With over 100 film and television credits, Serna is most recognized for his iconic role opposite Al Pacino in the classic film Scarface as Ángel Fernández, whose grisly demise is one of the most memorable in cinema history. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1944, Serna built a career from the ground up and appeared in films such as Car Wash with Richard Pryor, Postcards from the Edge with Meryl Streep, The Jerk with Steve Martin, and Academy Award-winning director Alexander Payne’s Downsizing with Matt Damon. 

Eva Longoria and Edward James Olmos, both longtime friends of Serna, provide personal insight and perspective on his versatility and longevity as an actor and artist alongside Cheech Marin, Gloria Calderón Kellett, Luis Valdez and many others.

Throughout his journey, he has inspired countless Latino artists to follow in his footsteps by delivering powerful performances for filmmakers such as Brian De Palma, Clint Eastwood, John Schlesinger, Dalton Trumbo, Roger Corman, Henry Hathaway, William Friedkin and Dick Donner. 

Serna’s career is a testament to how far Latinos have come in Hollywood. He has indisputably claimed a reputable place in one of the world’s most competitive industries for his story-telling abilities and unique drive to empower not just Latinos but also other underserved communities. 

His recent memoir “Life is Art” recounts his motivational story from humble beginnings and offers life-changing lessons to overcoming adversity. “Life is Art” is available now for purchase here.

In addition to Hollywood success, Pepe is a visual artist whose paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world. He also conducts motivational and improvisational workshops in high schools nationwide.

The documentary received awards in 2022 including Best Documentary at the Official Latino Film and Arts Festival, and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Audience Award at the San Diego Latino Film Festival, and Festival Prize at the South Texas International Film Festival.

Most recently, Serna can be seen in Eva Longoria’s feature directorial debut Flamin’ Hot and on Amazon’s TV series With Love.

For additional information on Pepe Serna: Life Is Art, please visit: 

Website: https://www.pepeserna.net

Facebook: @https://www.facebook.com/pepesernanews/

Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/pepefied11/

Purchase the book today Here

Cast: Luis Valdez (Playwright, director Zoot Suit, La Bamba), Edward James Olmos (Oscar-nominated actor & director), Eva Longoria (actor, producer & director), Gloria Calderón Kellet (showrunner on “One Day at a Time,” “With Love”), David Ansen (former Newsweek film critic), Cheech Marin (of the comedy duo Cheech and Chong, actor & art collector) and Robert Beltran (actor, Cmdr. Chakotay in Star Trek: Voyager TV series)

Produced By: Kayvon Derak Shanian, David Méndez and Isaac Artenstein 

Executive Produced by: David Damian Figueroa 

Directed By: Luis Reyes

Run Time: 1 hour and 2 minutes

Rating: Not rated

The post ‘Pepe Serna: Life is Art’ Chronicling Actor’s Career in Hollywood To Stream on Digital Platforms first appeared on .

 Oscar season is upon us as Latin Heat Entertainment launches “For Your Consideration” screenings conceived to highlight Oscar-qualified Latino films, filmmakers, and entertainment professionals.  The series launches with the Oscar-qualified, Shura, the documentary short film directed by David Damian Figueroa and Kayvon Derek Shanian, and executive produced by Pepe Serna. 

The documentary short film Shura is about an eighty-four-year-old black belt in karate who leads by example and her unwavering commitment inspire hundreds of other humanitarians to provide life-saving aid to stranded migrants crossing the harsh Sonoran U.S./Mexico border near Nogales. 

The screening will take place on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the Los Angeles Theater Center in DTLA located at 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.  Arrivals will be at 4:30 pm followed by opening remarks and introduction of the trailers. 

 “Latino filmmakers can easily get lost in the campaign process with limited Hollywood connections. Most lack the financial and networking resources to run a competitive Oscar campaign, including coveted reviews”, said Latin Heat Media CEO Bel Hernandez. “The screenings are intended to bring awareness to deserving films and talent and to level the playing field for Latino filmmakers”. 

A recent study conducted by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that Latino representation in the film behind and front of the camera remains stagnant with no improvement in the last 16 years. Even when movies did feature Hispanic or Latino characters, the study found Latino characters were represented on-screen with depictions that were often rampant with stereotypes. 

“It is so important for filmmakers to get the visibility needed to be competitive”, Dr. Jose Luis Ruiz, President and founder of the Mexican-American Film & Television Festival and the sponsor of the FYC Screenings.  “The talent is there, the projects and films just need a chance to be seen.”

Congressman Joaquin Castro penned a recent open letter titled, “Dear Hollywood,” in Variety to film studios: “This year, stands as a testament to the vibrancy of Latino stories, showcasing a range of artistic excellence. In the face of profound barriers to entry, Latinos have shown up and taken center stage, leading or supporting beautiful storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries.”

A short Q&A will follow the screening with the subject of the documentary Shura Wallin, David Damian Figueroa and Kayvon Derek Shanian, and executive produced by Pepe Serna and moderated by Bel Hernandez.

SHURA – Film Trailer

SHURA is an eighty-four-year-old black belt in karate, who leads by example. Her infectious emphatic spirit and her unwavering commitment inspire hundreds of other humanitarians to provide life-saving aid to stranded migrants crossing the harsh Sonoran U.S./Mexico border near Nogales. 

Since 1992 Latin Heat Media, a multimedia company, has been providing media content focused on Latinos in film, television theater, publishing, and all other aspects of the entertainment industry.

SCREENING TIME:

ARRIVALS: 4:30PM REMARKS & TRALIERS: 5:30PM SCREENING OF SHURA: 6:00 pm

LOCATION:

Los Angeles Theater Center, 514 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

PARKING:

Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking Structure at 545 S. Main St., LA, CA 90013, positioned between 5th and 6th Street, just behind the theater.

RSVP: INFO@latinheat.com

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