Cine+Mas SF

Call For Entries- 2012

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:44:57 +0000

The fourth edition of the San Francisco Latino Film Festival takes place in September. If you’re interested in submitting a film, you can download the application here. We’re looking for recent works- shorts and features, documentaries and fiction films- by US Latino, Latin American, and Iberian (Spain/Portugal) filmmakers. The mission of the festival is to provide a platform for these filmmakers and their stories.

Cine+Mas SF Latino Film Festival Entry Form 2012- PDF

Cine+Mas SF Latino Film Festival_Entry Form 2012-Word

Dia de la Amistad

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:56:19 +0000

In several Latin American countries Valentine’s Day is referred to as “Dia de la Amistad y Amor” or “Dia de la Amistad” for short. Melding love and friendship makes it so much more inclusive irrespective of your relationship or marital status. Inspired by the theme of love, we found this ’vintage’ video of a young and dapper Placido Domingo singing “Maria Bonita” to the said Maria- Maria Felix, the iconic film star known as La Doña. Written by her husband Agustin Lara, “Maria Bonita” went on to become a Mexican standard.

Happy Valentine’s Day! ¡Feliz día de la amistad!

Chico & Rita Early Screening

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:20:27 +0000

Win a chance to join us at a sneak preview of CHICO & RITA, an Oscar nominated animation film directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal. E-mail us your contact information by February 6 including address so we can mail you passes: programming @ sflatinofilmfestival.com The event is next Thursday February 9 in San Francisco. The film opens on February 17 in Bay Area Theaters.

Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings heartache and torment. From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas, two passionate individuals battle impossible odds to unite in music and love.

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Oscars 2012

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:10:32 +0000

Lots of great films seem to come just in time for the awards season. This year is no different. The nominees for this year’s Oscars were announced earlier this week. Here are some of the nominees that excited us just a little more:

Demian Bichir from Mexico was nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in “A Better Life”. The film was released in 2011 with much critical acclaim. It’s a drama about an undocumented immigrant father, working as a gardener, that struggles both to provide for his son and to keep him out of harms way. Gangs beckoning and immigration agents on their heels.

“The Artist” has been marketed heavily with both critical and popular appeal. It’s no surprise that Oscar nominations would be in the cards. Though we don’t get to hear her in this fantastic silent film, here’s your chance to hear Argentina born Berenice Bejo, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, in an interview last year after a film festival screening:

Five time Oscar nominee Emmanuel Lubezki, cinematographer, hails from Mexico and has worked on some amazing films including “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “Children of Men”, ”Y Tu Mama Tambien”, and many more. He’s up for an Oscar with “Tree of Life” directed by Terrence Malick which stars Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. Here’s a great introduction by Ben Affleck at the Hollywood Film Awards:

Esai Morales Explains 4-H in Hollywood

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:09:53 +0000

We had a chance to spend some time with Esai Morales last summer when he was promoting the release of “Gun Hill Road”. It’s clear that Esai gets behind projects with substance. Here’s a piece we just came across where he speaks to Latinos in Hollywood- source HBO Latino.

Salma Hayek Knighted in France

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:13:21 +0000

Actor, producer and director Salma Hayek will be among those receiving the Chevalier award from the prestigious National Order of the Legion of Honor of France. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, the Order is the highest decoration given in France to both civilians and military personnel. It consists of five tiers: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). The award ceremony will take place at the Champs Elysee Palace in Paris and given by the President of France, Nicolas Sarcozy.

Here’s a clip from “Desperado” by Robert Rodriguez, Salma Hayek’s breakthrough role starring opposite Antonio Banderas.

Pedro Armendariz, Jr. Dies

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:21:13 +0000

Beloved Mexican actor Pedro Armendariz, Jr. died on December 26, 2011 at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer. He was undergoing treatment in a New York city hospital .

Armendariz had a long career in Mexico and in the US on both television and film. He appeared in more than 100 films including westerns, dramas, comedies, and action films. Some of the more recent titles include “Un Mundo Maravilloso” and “La Ley de Herodes” by director Luis Estrada; “Once Upon a Time in Mexico”; ”Original Sin”; zorro films “The Mask of Zorro” and ”The Legend of Zorro” alongside Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. He appeared in tele-novela “La Fuerza del Destino”, carried on Univision, which just aired the final episode this past Monday to an audience of nearly 8 million viewers.

We will have a chance to see him once again in a yet to be released film, ” Casa De Mi Padre”, a Spanish language comedy starring Will Ferrell along with Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal.

El Bulli: Cooking in Progress

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:57:54 +0000

If you know what ‘molecular gastronomy’ is, you’re definitely a foodie. Chef Ferran Adria revolutionized the culinary world with his innovative techniques and artistic presentation. This documentary, EL BULLI: COOKING IN PROGRESS, takes us behind the scenes to see first hand the creativity and intensity that garnered accolades as the best in the world. The film just opened in San Francisco and Berkeley. Check your local listings. A real treat!

Dia De Los Muertos Community Concert

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:33:11 +0000

San Francisco Symphony Dia de Los Muertos Community Concert

The Dia de Los Muertos Community Concert has now become an annual tradition at the San Francisco Symphony. The concert will be conducted by SFS Resident Conductor Donato Cabrera with guest soloist Mexican tenor David Lomelí performing “Besáme Mucho”, “Granada” and other beloved Latin American favorites. Tickets are selling fast! Get yours, too!

This family friendly event includes other activities in the Davies Hall lobbies before the concert. See performances by Ensables Ballet Folclorico de San Francisco, San Francisco’s longest running folkloric dance troupe. Take in a special art piece created for the occasion- a 25–foot installation of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent Aztec god, made of colorful chilies by Bay Area artist Victoria Canby. Interact with actors from Circulo Cultural, a theater company that performs Spanish language productions. In the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, there will be sugar skull painting, pan de muerto, and Mexican hot chocolate! ¡Que rico!

Channeling Spain

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:00:24 +0000

Diego el Cigala is making his much anticipated debut in the Bay Area as part of his first major North American tour. Noted as a pioneer for his unique approach to Latin American music forms such as the bolero, tango and Afro-Caribbean jazz, Cigala has deep roots in flamenco. As explained by Josh Kun in the New York Times, Cigala is able to ”enter flamenco into conversations with other traditions without ever sacrificing its distinctive identity.” He won his first Latin GRAMMY for Bebo & Cigala: ”Lagrimas Negras,” hailed by critic Ben Ratliff of The New York Times as Album of the Year and ”one of the great new cross-pollinating documents of Latin music.” And then he went on to win another for a more flamenco-oriented CD ”Picasso en Mis Ojos” which featured guests such as the legendary Paco de Lucia and Latin jazz master Jerry Gonzalez. Returning to the bolero, his 2008 project ”Dos Lagrimas” united him with giants of Cuban percussion Tata Guines and Changuito and established his ongoing collaboration with the musicians who will be appearing with him at Zellerbach: guitarist Diego del Morao, pianist Jaime Calabuch Jumitus, percussionist Sabú Porrina and Cuban bassist Yelsy Heredia. Just nominated for yet another Latin Grammy, his latest album ”Cigala & Tango” marries “Spanish flamenco with the equally gritty and powerful South American tango.” (The Observer, UK). “It works effortlessly,” says Felix Contreras of NPR.
Click here to get your tickets online or call 800-838-3006

ZAHARA is a dynamic exploration into the links between Flamenco and Moroccan music and dance. A journey into the heart of ‘el Andalus’ that combines the passion and power of Flamenco with the richness of Moroccan traditions, Zahara is a unique collaboration featuring Gypsy Flamenco singer Kina Mendez, the Moroccan Musicians of El Hamideen and Artistic Director/Dancer Kerensa DeMars. Watch this clip from a recent performance.

See it at Cafe du Nord 8PM/Doors at 7PM. Friday October 21. Tickets can be prepurchased at cafedunord.com for $25. You can also RSVP with us at programming (at)sflatinofilmfestival.com for a discounted rate of $20. You can pay at the door.

THE SKIN I LIVE IN / La Piel Que Habito by Pedro Almodovar opens tomorrow (October 21) in San Francisco (Kabuki & Embarcadero). Familiar faces (including the talented and muy guapo Antonio Banderas) drama, and fixations as Almodovar fans can come to expect but with a storyline that’s thrilling and twisted. Check it out.