By Judi Jordan

Fifteen years of magic, and we’re just getting started! The Guadalajara Film Festival in Los Angeles (GLAFF) is throwing an unforgettable Quinceañera celebration November 6–8, 2025, bringing together the most exciting voices in cinema from across the Americas. This isn’t just a film festival – it’s a three-day cultural fiesta you won’t want to miss!

Opening Night Magic: We’re kicking off in spectacular style with Guillermo del Toro’s breathtaking Frankenstein adaptation. The Guadalajara native has assembled a powerhouse cast – Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz – for what everyone’s calling the year’s most anticipated film. Catch the magic November 6th at downtown LA’s stunning United Theater, then watch it again on Netflix starting November 7th!

The Festival Lineup:

Olmo is the coming-of-age story we’ve been waiting for – a gorgeous exploration of life between cultures, brought to you by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and the brilliant Fernando Eimbcke.

Vainilla made waves at Venice, and now it’s our turn! Mayra Hermosillo’s debut feature transports you to 1980s Mexico through young Roberta’s eyes as her family fights to keep their world intact. It’s intimate, powerful, and absolutely unforgettable.

Juan Gabriel: Debo, Puedo Y Quiero – Because legends deserve legendary tributes. This Netflix docuseries reveals rare treasures from El Divo de Juárez’s incredible life.

Plus there’s art forgery intrigue in Forge, magical favela tales in Kites, and shorts featuring Rosie O’Donnell and rising stars!

Here’s what makes us proud: 55% of our filmmakers are women, representing Latinx, Black, Asian-American, Indigenous, Queer, Filipino, and Arab communities. That’s the future of cinema, and it’s happening right now.

Join us for red-carpet glamour, intimate filmmaker conversations, hands-on workshops, and screenings that’ll stay with you forever!November 6–8, 2025 | Los AngelesAll the details at: www.glaff.org

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HBO has released its first teaser and image for Scenes From a Marriage, an upcoming limited series starring Golden Globe winner and Alma Award-nominee Oscar Isaac and Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain. 

The film is an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s classic Swedish miniseries of the same title about a marriage falling apart.

The new series is developed, written and directed by Hagai Levi, who wrote HBO’s In Treatment and Our Boys and Showtime’s The Affair. The upcoming series will debut in September on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. 

Featured Photo: Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in ‘Scenes From a Marriage’ (Credit: HBO) 

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Bronx-born actress Eileen Galindo has enjoyed a varied career, working in live theater, television, film, including working in the lucrative world of voiceovers. All her work has lead to some interesting projects this year.

At an early age, Galindo yearned to be “part of something” in show business. However, her family, who had emigrated from Cuba by way of Miami, had no connections whatsoever to the entertainment industry.

After working and studying in New York, Galindo became involved in the non-traditional casting movement putting herself on the picket lines to encourage Broadway producers to endorse diversity in casting. She also took up writing and did two one-woman shows Off-Broadway, one of them directed by Wynn Handman.

Moving to Los Angeles, Galindo landed in the Mark Taper Forum repertory company. “We did some wonderful work at the Forum when Gordon Davidson was running the joint,” she recalled. “I was in The House of Bernarda Alba, starring Chita Rivera and Culture Clash‘s Chavez Ravine in 2003. In 2010, Galindo was nominated for the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Performance in The Clean House at International City Theatre in Long Beach.

Currently, Galindo is part of the Oscar buzz euphoria.  She co-starred in the short film The Letter Room which has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Ex Machina’s Oscar Isaac plays the lead in the short, which is directed and executive produced by Elvira Lind, Isaac’s wife, and collaborator.

The Letter Room is a dark prison comedy about the secret life of a correctional officer who gets transferred to a job in the letter room. “I play Irene, the prison’s warden,” Galindo explains. “Elvira was inspired to write the film when she reflected on the isolated, single 40-something-year-old men she came in contact with while in Denmark,” she goes on to explain. “These men lived solitary lives. They never married and never had children. The film does go into the loneliness that exists in these facilities.”

The Letter Room was filmed at the Arthur Kill Correctional facility in Staten Island, a decommissioned prison with all the required “barbed wire, the cells, everything,” Galindo recalled.

The film screened at various film festivals around the U.S. to critical acclaim and In March 2021 they learned it had been nominated for an Oscar. “As we all know, getting features made in Hollywood is not an easy thing, especially by a woman,” Galindo explained.  “So Elvira decided to start with a short, if that graduates to something bigger and better, that would be great.”

Galindo exudes a refreshing optimism, especially in light of the current restrictive times. “Well, I’ve been working,” she laughs. She is currently recurring on the second season of the CBS All Access hit series Why Women Kill, created and produced by Marc Cherry. He also created Desperate Housewives and Devious Maids. Galindo plays Isabel, Rita’s maid, played by series regular Lana Padilla. “I am encouraged because All Access has morphed into a more significant, better thing called Paramount Plus, a streaming network that doesn’t just include CBS programming but also has Paramount content, Nickelodeon, MTV, all sorts of things.

Why Women Kill is an anthology series, and each season does not pick up from the previous season left off. Galindo clarifies. “This year, it takes place in 1949 Hollywood, exploring the façades people hide behind and the lengths they go to to be accepted and be part of something.” We’re all doing double-duty. As for now, we are Why Women Kill. David Warren is our producing director. Lana, a Puerto Rican and Italian from Brooklyn, is a joy to work with.”

Looking towards the future, Galindo is wrapping up her work on Why Women Kill and looking forward to its premiere within a few months. However, the 93rd Academy Awards is what she is anxiously waiting for.  April 25 will be the date she can finally say (or not) she worked in an Academy award-winning film. As Galindo often says, “Well see.”

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By Ana Perez

Oscar Issac will play Francis Ford Coppola in a film about the making of The Godfather

Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) has been cast to play Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary filmmaker, in a biopic about the making of The Godfather. Isaac, 41, will play a young Coppola and is set to star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal (Spiderman: Far From Home), who will portray Robert Evans, the former Paramount studio head who supervised production. The film will take the audience behind-the-scences and into the bitter battles of Coppola and Evans throughout the production of The Godfather. 

Isaac, a Guatemalan-American actor, who first got Hollywood’s as Llewyn Davis in the Coen Brother’s Inside Llewyn Davis, has gone on to become one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men. His star power solidified recently in big film like A Most Violent Year, Ex Machina and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. 

Isaac recently finished filming Dune, Denis Villeneuve‘s new adaptation of the classic. The release has been pushed back until October 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 he will be seen starring inHBO’s limited series Scenes from a Marriage, which is inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s movie of the same name and Gomez in The Addams Family2.

The film, entitled Francis and The Godfather will be directed by Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man). The producers are Echo Lake Entertainment’s Mike Marcus, Doug Mankoff and Andrew Spaulding, as well as Kevin Turen, Jon Levin, and Baltimore Pictures’ Jason Sosnoff.

Matthew López Strikes Incredible Television Deal with Amazon

Deadline broke the news that Matthew López, the playwright behind the hit Broadway play The Inheritance, has signed an overall television deal with Amazon Studios. López, a writer on Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama The Newsroom, is set to develop and create new projects for the streaming site. 

It is the latest overall deal for Amazon Studios, which in the last twelve months have signed up Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve), Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave, Widows), Gloria Calderon Kellett (One Day at a Time) and Lena Waithe (Queen & Slim, Master of None).

López’s play The Inheritance, directed by Stephen Daldry, premiered at London’s Young Vic in 2018, transferred to the West End and opened on Broadway last year. The play is an ambitious two-part, seven-hour epic centered around a group of gay New Yorkers, 20 years after the height of the AIDs epidemic.

The Puerto Rican screenwriter and playwright has also been off-Broadway with The Whipping Man and The Legend of Georgia McBride, the latter he is adapting for the screen with The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons attached to star and produce. He has also written for Netflix and developed Plan B Entertainment and Working Title Films.

“I am incredibly excited to be partnering with Amazon Studios, alongside so many of my favorite writers and creators,” said López. “The first and last thing any artist needs is a safe place in which to create. I am grateful to the entire Amazon family for welcoming me into their home.”“Matthew is a ground-breaking talent. We have been longtime fans, but The Inheritance blew us away. His provocative, empathetic storytelling feels perfectly at home on our service,” added Albert Cheng, COO and Co-Head of Television, Amazon Studios. “We’re proud to welcome him to the Amazon family, and cannot wait for his future projects to captivate our Prime Video audiences worldwide.”

The Mandalorian premieres Friday, October 30 on Disney+

The wait for season 2 of The Mandalorian is almost over! Pedro Pascal, the Chilean-American actor will return to our screens on Friday, October 30th on Disney+. 

The first season of The Mandalorian takes the audience on the adventures of various characters in a far away galaxy, mainly focusing on familiar yet never before seen characters in the Star Wars world. 

Pascal stars in the show as the title character Mando, also known as the Mandalorian. It is later revealed that his name is Din Djarin and he is an elite bounty hunter and a member of the nearly-extinct Mandalorian people. 

During an assignment to retrieve and deliver The Child, Mando decides to disobey orders as he grows attached to Baby Yoda. The two escape from a number of enemies, many of whom have evil plans for the fan favorite Baby Yoda. 

Trick-or-treating may be cancelled this year, but at least you can watch The Mandalorian on Disney+.

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The Addams Family Will Be Released in Theaters on October 11, 2019

Los Angeles – The Addams Family will feature original songs from global music superstars Christina Aguilera, Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia and Snoop Dogg, among others. Based on the famous New Yorker creations of Charles Addams, the kookiest family on the block is back on the big screen with an all-star voice cast led by Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, Elsie Fisher and Snoop Dogg playing IT. Directed by Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens) and Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends, Day of the Diesels), The Addams Family will be released in theaters on October 11, 2019 by Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM).

“We could not have asked for a better lineup of global superstars to help audiences embrace the weird and celebrate the absurd with two brand-new songs that perfectly compliment this fresh fun take on MGM’s beloved franchise, just in time for Halloween,” said MGM’s Motion Picture Group President, Jonathan Glickman.

The first Addams Family track to be released “My Family,” is performed by Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia and Snoop Dogg and will drop this Friday, September 13. The song was written by Antonina Armato, Quavious Keyate Marshall, Carolina Giraldo, Danny Parra, Tim James, Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. and Vic Mizzy and was produced by Rock Mafia. The track is being released by MGM Records and distributed by 12 Tone Music. “Haunted Heart,” performed by Christina Aguilera, was written by Antonina Armato, Aguilera and Tim James and was also produced by Rock Mafia. “Haunted Heart” will be released later this month by RCA Records ahead of the film’s debut. Both songs will be available for streaming and \or download at all major music retail digital platforms.

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A very busy week for Latinos in Hollywood.  From film premieres to castings, distribution news and award recognition. However, the top story goes to Gina Rodriguez.  This powerhouse actress, producer and outspoken advocate for Latinos in Hollywood is killing it.

Gina Rodriguez Owns This Week’s News

Coming off the premiere of her animated Netflix TV Show Carmen SanDiego (where she voices the title character) last week, this week is all about Gina Rodriguez playing a badass in Miss Bala which premieres today.  

There is only one new film release going wide this weekend due to the Superbowl and that is Miss Bala.  The preview screenings on Thursday brought in $650,000 at the box office with critics agreeing that Gina has a future as an action hero!

The unity that the famous 2017 Power Brunch organized by Gina and America Ferrera instigated was still evident as Latinas came out to support Gina at the L.A. the red carpet premiere of Miss Bala. In Attendance were America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Gina Torres, Rosario Dawson, Wilmer Valderrama, casting director Blanca Valdez and so many more.

Gina made more news this week with the buzz around the Jane the Virgin Spinoff from the CW that she will narrate and produce; the Carmen SanDiego live action feature she is woking on; and her new film she is set to star in for Warner Bros., Bobbie Sue.

So for all you action hero film fans, Miss Bala is about a badass woman – in this case a Latina, go see it. Then make sure to go to Rotten Tomatoes and let them know how you liked it! #WomenActionHeroes, #BadassWomenUnite #LatinaBadass #MakeBoxofficeNews

Vergara Ventures off to The Big Screen

According to a Deadline, Sofia Vergara will not only be producing an upcoming untitled “female ensemble comedy with action” film with Original Film but she will also be producting.  Baywatch and Last Vegas writing duo Kyle Pennekamp & Scott Turpel will write

Dune A-Listers

Hunky Oscar Isaac (Star Trek) and Javier Bardem (Loving Pablo) will be joining director Denis Villeneuve in the adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert classic novel Dune.  Isaac will play Duke Leto Atreides, Timothee Chalamet dad in the film and Bardem will play Stilgar, the leader of planet’s nomadic tribes known as Fremen.

Dune is a sci-fi literary classic.  It tells the story of a fallen noble family’s attempt to control a desert planet named Arrakis.  Latinos into the sci-fi future!

Bryana Salaz to Star in Team Kaylie

Actress/Singer Bryana Salaz will be starring in the live-action comedy series Team Kaylie for Netflix. Salaz will play a selfie obsessed celebrity who assigned to community service, Created by Emmy-winning producer Tracy Bitterolf (Emma Approved).

Known to The Voice audiences for her appearance on NBC’s reality TV singing competition for season 7 in 2014.  Since then she has been cast in a pilot (Urban Cowboy) starred in Best Friends Forever for Disney and several other TV show and a few independent films.  You will be hearing more about her, so stay tuned!

Congrats to…

…Red Hot Busy Showrunner of Starz drama Vida, Tanya Saracho who was honored at the Final Draft Screening Awards this week. Here she is flanked by members of her cast and creatives on the red carpet. Gloria Calderon Kellett (another awesome talented showrunner (Netflix’s One Day at a Time) presented her with the award.

But wait there is more. Both of these talented showrunners, Saracho (Vida)  and Calderon Kellett (One Day at a Time), have been nominated for their respective for a GLAAD Award this week! This, just the latest in accolades they have received.

Chisme

Off of social media… @TanyaSaracho gave us an early glimpse of what she has cooking

Tanya Tweet – Jan 16th “Aaww! I’m so happy you like it! My play Enfrascada is sort of the inspiration or jumping off point for my next (hopefully) series called Brujas!” 

Sounds great!  We will light the “velitas” and hope to see “Brujas” soon.

And congratulations to Sophia Santi, a character actress whose work encompasses both TV and film, for receiving the Best Performance award for her role in the short film Sin Cielo at the PA Indie Shorts Film Festival 2018.  Her performance of a strong matriarch dealing with the injustice brought upon the women in Juarez, Mexico was highlighted with this award.

More Castings

Rosario Dawson has joined the cast of Zombieland 2 which is the next installment of the post-apocalyptic zombie comedy from Sony.  She joined Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone. Ruben Fleischer will be back to direct the sequel.

Corey Hawkins has been cast in the role of Benny in the Quiara Alegria Hudes and   Lin-Manuel Miranda in the feature adaptation of In The Heights a Warner Bros. Prod.  He joins Hamilton’s star Anthony Ramos who will be playing the lead role of Usnai; Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) as Abuelita Claudia, Joseph Velez as Kevin Rosario (Stranger Things, Iron Man 3)  and Daymien Valentino (Billions)

Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) is set to direct; Anthony Bregman, Mara Jacobs, Scott Sanders and Miranda are producing. Marc Klein wrote the script, with musical book by Hudes.

Indie Film News

Congratulations Writer/Director Anthony Solorzano on the upcoming release of his film Varsity Punks on February 26th.  If you have followed his journey this coming of age film about high school kids, you know his hands approach in creating buzz, 4-walling this film — could only lead to a wider distribution.  Stay tune for the full story but meanwhile here is the trailer

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