2013

April 27 & 28 The Philadelphia Foundation salutes the Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival in the work that they do!

We, too, have a tradition of service to the community. The Philadelphia Foundation links those with financial resources to those who serve societal needs.

Since 1928, We Have: Built Healthy Communities • Advanced Opportunities • Strengthened Children & Families • Enhanced Culture & Recreation Contents

Sponsors 3 Violeta se fue a los Cielos 13

Welcome Message 4 Mi Primer Amor 14

Advisory & Board 7 7 Cajas 16

Schedule 8 Lemon 17

Paal 10 América 18

The Unique Ladies 11 Thank You 19

ROC Shorts 12 Cineastas 21

2013 FLAFF • 2 Sponsors

2013 FLAFF • 3 Welcome Message

Dear Friends, you a festival with a strong focus on inspiring. We are very excited to be films by and about Latinas and Latin one of the first festivals to screen Welcome to the Second Annual American women, with premieres of The Unique Ladies. Gloria Moran Filadelfia Latin American Film Gloria Moran’s The Unique Ladies, will be in Philadelphia for all screen- Festival, the first and only Annual Sonia Fritz’s América, and Andres ings. On Saturday, Gloria will be Film Festival in the region to focus Wood’s Violeta Se Fue a los Cielos. teaching a masters class at Scribe exclusively on the exhibition of Latin Video Center. This class is a unique American and Latino film and media The Festival kicks off with the short opportunity for filmmakers and artists. This year, we are very excited film Paal followed by Gloria Moran's audiences to engage with the to present a range of premieres, The Unique Ladies, a film production filmmaker and get an insider’s look hard-hitting documentaries, shorts funded in part by a very popular at her craft and process. and digital media, from diverse kick starter campaign initiative. The cultures and geography, providing Unique Ladies is about San Diego’s Andres Wood’s Violeta Se Fue a los an array of perspectives from and only all women’s low-rider car club. Cielos is a gorgeously shot film on about Latin America and the U.S. The film portrays the strength and the life of the late Latin American resolve of a group of women who singer and icon of Nueva Canción, This year we welcome a number of go out to challenge the male domi- Violeta Parra. The film sets out to tell filmmakers, actors and producers to nated world of low rider culture with the complicated life of a unique our region to discuss their work with their sheer talent, devotion and love artist and the complex contradic- diverse audiences and local for the work they do. The cars are tions between her personal life as a filmmakers. We are proud to bring something else, and their story is woman, a mother, a wife and her art.

2013 FLAFF • 4 The film, based loosely on her son’s unknown contents through the felon and one-time Tony Award-win- memoir, does not purport to close dangerous and infamous Parguayan ner, spoken word artist Lemon the unfinished spaces of Violeta’s street Market known as “Number 4”. Andersen. The film chronicles narrative for the viewer. Instead, Soon, things get complicated for Lemon’s struggles to meet life’s Wood honors our perspective as an Victor as the contents of the box challenges. It is a story about not audience by allowing us to access seem to be highly coveted and giving up, chasing your dreams and her full complexities and contradic- people will stop at nothing to get the reinvention of self. Lemon tions, refusing to give us the easy their hands on them. Compared to Andersen and Beth Levison will be answers for closure sometimes such films as the Fast and The available to discuss the film and expected in film, leaving open the Furious, Reservoir Dogs, Slumdog Lemon’s current project. narrative of the unfinished spaces Millionaire and El Mariachi, 7 Boxes we inhabit. holds its own with fast paced The shorts included in the Festival dialogue, action, and exciting deft give us an opportunity to turn our One of Toronto’s International Film precision camera work that takes gaze to more intimate worlds. In Festival’s favorite films, 7 Boxes, you inside the film, and along the Paal, we are introduced to a Mayan offers us a very different film, a fast way, you become (willingly or boy who longs to teach us about the paced action thriller from Paraguay. unwillingly) Victor’s passenger and universe he was born in. Mi Primer Directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia witness. You are in for a ride. Amor shows us a young boy trying and Tana Schémbori and winner of to figure out women and their the Euskaltel 2012 Award in San We are also thrilled to offer Lemon, universe through his infatuation with Sebastian Spain, 7 Boxes tells the the highly acclaimed 2011 Doc NYC his live-in female cousin. story of Victor, a wheelbarrow Special Jury Prize Winner by Beth goods transporter receiving an Levison and Laura Browson, which Because our Festival is deeply unusual proposal to carry 7 boxes of tells the inspiring story of three-time rooted in the tradition of film and

2013 FLAFF • 5 media as art forms and a meaningful her life by moving to New York City. sity of the Arts and want to thank agent for social change, this year América offers the opportunity to their staff for their support of our we partnered with the Restaurant showcase a complex film about work. We would also like to extend Opportunities Centers (ROC) to family, friendship, migration, a special thanks to our Board of present two premiers, produced by intimate partner violence, sacrifice, Directors and Advisory Committee Danny Glover’s Louverture Films. and the complex realities of the members for their hard work over Just completed, and screened at the Puerto Rican migratory experiences, the past year to make this Festival a 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, these contrasted against the migratory reality. two shorts offer an opportunity to experience of other Latin American examine the exploitation of labor immigrant women. Director Sonia We hope you enjoy the program- in the food service industry in this Fritz, visiting our Festival from Puerto ming, and that you will come back country and in Philadelphia, Rico, will present her work. for more! specifically. We would not be here today with- out our supporters, including our When the lights dim, and the film The Festival closes with the most dedicated, our donors and rolls, we too are you. Welcome. Philadelphia premiere of Sonia audiences. We would like to thank Fritz’s América. Produced and shot in our sponsors, the Greater Philadel- Sincerely, Puerto Rico and New York City, phia Film Office, the Philadelphia América tells the story of a young Foundation, The University of the woman living in Vieques, Puerto Arts, International House, The Rico during the island’s confronta- Leeway Foundation, Casa de tion with the U.S. navy. Abused by Duende, and Bread and Roses. We her husband and wanting to protect are honored to work with both Beatriz Vieira & David Acosta, her daughter, she decides to change International House and the Univer- Co-Founders/Directors

2013 FLAFF • 6 Staff

Directors Board Advisory Board

Founders Linda Blackaby, Consultant & Film Festival Manager Beatriz Vieira Denise Brown, Executive Director, Leeway Foundation David Acosta Gretjen Clausing, Executive Director, PhillyCam Fran McElroy, Media Producer Members Louis Massiah, Filmmaker, Executive Director, Scribe Video Center José Benitez Joacy Mendonça, Educator Susan Chernin Kay Pyle, Film Producer Gerald Macdonald David Haas Nina Moreno Pedro Ospina

2013 FLAFF • 7 Schedule

Saturday, April 27 Sunday, April 28 International House Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium, Gershman Hall, University of the Arts

1:30PM Paal/Child 1:00PM 7 Cajas / 7 Boxes

2:15PM The Unique Ladies 3:30PM Lemon

3:15PM ROC Shorts 6:00PM The Unique Ladies 7:00PM América 4:30PM Violeta se fue a los Cielos / Violeta Went to Heaven 9:00PM Party

6:30PM Reception Music: Magdaliz and Her Latin Ensemble Crisol

8:00PM Mi Primer Amor / My First Love 8:20PM 7 Cajas / 7 Boxes

2013 FLAFF • 8

Paal/Child

Saturday, April 27th 1:30PM @ International House

Christoph Müller & Victor Vargas Mexico / Canada / Switzerland Mayan, English subtitles 21 minutes

Paal tells the story of Memo, a Mayan child, whose biggest dream is to tell the stories of his people. Through his own vision and fantasy, we explore the everyday life and culture of his town, and the exuberant nature of Yucatan's jungle in the south of Mexico. Paal pays homage to a magical world that is not exempt from the influence of the occidental world.

2013 FLAFF • 10 The Unique Ladies

Saturday, April 27th 2:15PM @ International House Sunday, April 28th 6:00PM @ University of the Arts

Gloria Moran USA / English, with Spanish subtitles 30 minutes

The Unique Ladies is a short docu- mentary aimed to expose an audi- ence to Lowrider culture localized around women's work and participa- tion. Using a hybrid style of verite footage with interwoven interviews, The Unique Ladies take you on a funky ride down the streets of Chica- no San Diego.

2013 FLAFF • 11 ROC Shorts: Latino Restaurant Workers in the USA

Sunday, April 28th 3:15PM @ International House

2 Shorts presented by Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) Sponsored by Bread & Roses USA English with Spanish subtitles 14 minutes

2013 FLAFF • 12 Violeta se fue a los Cielos/Violeta Went to Heaven

Saturday, April 27th 4:30PM @ International House

Andres Wood Chile / Argentina / Brazil / Spain Spanish with English subtiltes 110 minutes

Like a Chilean Edith Piaf, Violeta Parra was a folksinger and pop culture icon whose songs, like "Gracias a la Vida," expressed the soul of her nation and protested social injustice. Violeta Went to Heaven tells Parra's extraordinary story, tracing her evolution from impoverished child to international sensation to Chile’s national hero.

2013 FLAFF • 13 Mi Primer Amor/ My First Love

Saturday, April 27th 8PM @ International House

Raul Gutierrez Colombia Spanish, English subtitles 11 minutes

Matthew is a curious 10 years old kid who wants to explore and learn all of Camila, his older cousin and platonic love who lives in the same house. Camila is a 24 year old model that records television spots for a brand of pads, and lives with her aunt and uncle, who are traveling and ask her to take care of her little cousin.

2013 FLAFF • 14 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE PHILADELPHIA SCREENS OVER 500 UNIQUE FILMS A YEAR.

For $60 or less you can become a member and get free admission to IHP film programs all year long. It’s the best deal in the city for cinephiles and film-buffs.

As a member, you also get admission to members-only receptions and panel discussions, as well as discounts on concerts, language classes, and cultural events.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY. Call 215.387.5125, or stop by our box office during our expanded hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 1pm-8pm.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE PHILADELPHIA • 3701 CHESTNUT STREET • 215.387.5125 • WWW. IHOUSEPHILLY.ORG 7 Cajas / 7 Boxes

Saturday, April 27th 8:20PM @ International House Sunday, April 28th 1:00PM @ University of the Arts

Juan Carlos Maneglia & Tana Schémbori Paraguay Spanish, with English subtitles 105 minutes

Víctor, a 17-year-old wheelbarrow delivery boy, dreams of becoming famous and covets a fancy TV set in the infamous Mercado 4. He is offered a chance to deliver seven boxes with unknown contents in exchange for quick cash. What sounds like an easy job soon gets complicated. Víctor and his pursuers quickly find themselves caught up in a crime they know nothing about.

2013 FLAFF • 16 Lemon

Sunday, April 28th 3:30PM @ University of the Arts

Laura Brownson & Beth Levison USA English, no subtitles 83 minutes

Three-time felon, one-time Tony Award winner, Lemon Andersen is an acclaimed poet who broke out on Broadway in ’ . This beautifully crafted film follows Lemon when he winds up living back in the projects and strives to stage a comeback in the world of and . Lemon’s life personalizes the anguish of men fighting for something more.

2013 FLAFF • 17 America

Sunday, April 28th 7:00PM @ University of the Arts

Sonia Fritz Puerto Rico English and Spanish, with English and Spanish subtitles 95 minutes

Based on the book by Esmeralda Santiago, América is a story about a young woman (same name) living in Vieques, P.R. during the American Naval occupation of the island. She is constant- ly physically, sexually and mentally abused by her husband Correa. Deter- mined to change her life and save her child, she decides to move to New York where she will raise money working as a nanny and eventually be able to send for her daughter.

2013 FLAFF • 18 Thank You

Sacha Dages, International House Scott Pinkelman (Web Design) Austen Brown, International House Didier García (Program Book Design) Justin Miller, International House Elizabeth Perez Luna William Parker, International House Tequilas Tania Steinberg, International House Brewers Outlet Karen Cornell Rosenberg, University of the Arts Sean Buffington, University of the Arts Fabricio Rodriguez, ROC Duane Perry Christine Saunders, ROC Boone Nguyen, Scribe Video Center Joan Bressler, Greater Philadelphia Film Office Nicole Dul, The Gershman Y Nicole Giles, Greater Philadelphia Film Office Olivia Antsis Director, Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival Gloria Moran (The Unique Ladies) Linda Steinberg, The Gershman Y Patricia Guitierrez (The Unique Ladies) Stormy Lundy , Reading Terminal Philadelphia Beth Levinson (Lemon) Andrew Greenblatt, Philadelphia Film Society Lemon Andersen (Lemon) Maori Holmes, Black Star Film Festival Sonia Fritz (América) Sharon Pinkerton, GFFO Yareli Arizmendi (América)

2013 FLAFF • 19 CINEASTAs

The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival would like to thank the following individuals for their generous support of our festival.

Nina Ahmad Alison Gerig Trombeta Roberta Jason Alexander Elicia Gonzales Ann Ricksecer Jane Baker Debra Khan Shauna Shwartz Rebecca Baranowski James Khan David Gary Smith Larry Beaser Susan Langmuir Evelyn Torres Shelly Beaser Alba Martinez Howard Trauger Richard Capelli Ben Francisco Maulbreck Shirley Trauger Casey Cook Maria Miranda Cris Van de Velde Hellen Cunningham Adelaide Moreno Lee Van de Velde John Cunningham Ahsan Nasratullah Bonnie Wish Susan DiPronio Theodore Newbold Cassandra Ecker Susan Othoff Carmen Febo Joseph Pyle

2013 FLAFF • 20 Notes

2013 FLAFF • 21 Casa de Duende is proud to sponsor the 2013 Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival. is proud to partner with the Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival.

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