Friday, March 29, 2024

21st Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Photos)

LALIFF 2022 Promotion Poster, Courtesy Photo
LALIFF 2022 Promotion Poster, Courtesy Photo

*Los Angeles – Lovers of cinema gathered in Hollywood for the 21st Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF). LALIFF was held June 1-5, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theater and TCL Chinese 6 in Hollywood.

The documentary Mija, about a Mexican American music manager in San Bernardino, California, opened the festival on June 1st. The film, directed by Isabel Castro premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film is racking up accolades, as it resonates with audiences while traveling through the film festival circuit. Mija was also screened at Cleveland International Film Festival, Miami Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.

“LALIFF is proud to present a diverse lineup of Latino storytellers,” said Oscar-nominated actor Edward James Olmos, co-founder of LALIFF. “The festival,” has seen tremendous growth, with support from both the film industry and our audience, allowing us to showcase and nurture important voices that the world needs to hear.”

“One of our goals at LALIFF is to ensure that Latino storytellers have a world-class venue to present their works,” said Diana Cadavid, LALIFF Artistic Director. “We offer a platform for our artists to connect with a diverse and multicultural audience, as well as with important players in the industry.”

The festival program is comprised of 17 feature films from the United States, Latin America and Canada. Every film and episode had an in-person screening, and a selection was available online, and on-demand.

“You will find some of the boldest films, Tv series and music, with 50% of the program directed by women,” said Diana Cadavid, LALIFF Artistic Director.

Last year, LALIFF announced the expansion of its Latinx Inclusion Fellowship Series, sponsored by Netflix, to include five Afro-Latino and five Indigenous Latino filmmakers. All ten filmmakers premiered their short films at LALIFF 2022: William D. Caballero, Evelyn Lorena, Nicole Mejia, Sebastian Rea, and Kristi Uribes were the fellows selected for the Indigenous Latino cohort and Elyssa Aquino, Jeanette Dilone, Alexis Garcia, Gabriella A. Moses, and Eli Vasquez were the fellows selected for the Afro Latino cohort.

LALIFF Fellows: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
LALIFF Fellows: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

The fellowship was created to increase opportunities for under-representatedgroups within the Latino community. The fellows also participated in the festival’s Industry Week to further develop their careers and gain industry access needed to succeed as working artists.

The Red Carpet was on fire as filmmakers, casts and crew strolled by for invited media from various outlets and social media platforms.

Filmmakers, writers, directors, executive producers, co-producers, and cast (actors & actresses) graced the Red Carpet before the screening of their films. Representatives from Oliver & The Pool, The Second Man and We are Here.

Representatives for the following movies were also present: Gabriela, directed by Evelyn Lorena, Heritage, directed by Sebastian Rea, The Record, directed by Kristi Uribe, Somos de Aquí, directed by Elyssa Aquino, Mancha, directed by Nicole Mejia, Hoar, directed by Jeanette Dilone, Turbia, Abuelo, Without Prescription directed by Juliana Maité (GLOBAL Audience Award Winner at the 2020 SXSW Festival), Calabaza, Puzzled, Bodies Will Tumble and Roll, directed by Eli Vazquez, Blue Veil, Daughters of the Sea, directed by Alexis C. Garcia, Death and Deathability, Sin Raíces, directed by Gabriella A. Moses, Chilly & Milly, Raúl Playing Game, directed by William D. Caballero and Comala directed by Gian Cassini (an official selection by the Toronto Morelia and Guadalajara Film Festival), Pepe Serna: Life is Art, directed by Luis Reyes. The fabulous movie is about the groundbreaking Mexican American character actor Pepe Serna and how his work and charismatic persona have paved the way for a generation of Chicano actors in Hollywood.

Director Evelyn Lorena, (third from left), Cast and Crew, Gabriella: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Evelyn Lorena, (third from left), Cast and Crew, Gabriella: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Sebastian Rea (center), Cast and Crew, Heritage: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Sebastian Rea (center), Cast and Crew, Heritage: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Kristi Uribes, (front row, left): Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Kristi Uribes, (front row, left): Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Elyssa Aquino (center), Cast and Crew, Somos de AquĂ­: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Elyssa Aquino (center), Cast and Crew, Somos de AquĂ­: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Nicole Mejia (center), Cast and Crew, Mancha: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Nicole Mejia (center), Cast and Crew, Mancha: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Jeanette Dilone (center), Cast and Crew, Hoar: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Jeanette Dilone (center), Cast and Crew, Hoar: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Eli Vasquez, Cast and Crew, Bodies Will Tumble and Fall: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Eli Vasquez, Cast and Crew, Bodies Will Tumble and Fall: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Alexis Garcia, Cast and Crew, Daughters of the Sea: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Alexis Garcia (center), Cast and Crew, Daughters of the Sea: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Gabriella A. Moses (blue hat), Cast and Crew, Sin RaĂ­ces: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Gabriella A. Moses (blue hat), Cast and Crew, Sin RaĂ­ces: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director William D. Caballero (backrow , center), Cast and Crew, Raul Playing Games: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director William D. Caballero (backrow, center), Cast and Crew, RaĂşl Playing Game: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Luis Reyes (kneeling, right) and Pepe Serna (backrow), Cast and Crew, Pepe Serna: Life is Art: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Director Luis Reyes (kneeling, right) and Pepe Serna (backrow), Cast and Crew, Pepe Serna: Life is Art: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

The Closing Night Film on June 5th was The Father of the Bride starring Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan, Isabela Merced, Adria Arjona, and Diego Boneta. The film, which hits HBO Max on June 16, is the second remake of the 1950 film of the same name, but this time with a Cuban family as the center of its narrative.

Ricky Richardson is a Southern California-based writer, music reviewer, and photographer. Contact him via: [email protected]

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

YOU MAY LIKE

SEARCH

- Advertisement -

TRENDING