Press Releases

NEW YORK, NY (July 7, 2008) - The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF), presented by HBO, returns for its Ninth Annual Edition from July 22-27 and is proud to announce its biggest line-up yet with over 100 national and international films, documentaries and shorts. NYILFF also boasts more premieres than ever before including Opening Night's AMERICAN SON, directed by Neil Abramson and starring Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz and Jay Hernandez, and Closing Night's THE MINISTERS, directed by Franc. Reyes and starring John Leguizamo and Harvey Keitel. Other talent represented in this year's NYILFF include Daddy Yankee, Laurence Fishburne, Taye Diggs, Rosie Perez, Wilmer Valderrama, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Tyson Beckford, skateboarding star Paul Rodriguez, Jr., Jesse Garcia, Emily Rios and David Banner, many of whom are confirmed to attend.

"We are delighted to be back for a ninth year with the most films and premieres we've ever had," said NYILFF executive director Calixto Chinchilla. "Also, the large number of celebrities attending this year's festival attests to the strides made by Latinos in the film industry, both inside and out of Hollywood; we hope to continue providing a platform for Hispanic film talent in front of and behind the camera."

The NYILFF is not only showcasing national and international feature films, documentaries, and shorts. The festival will also hold industry panels on such topics as film distribution and financing and special events such as the Hola Mexico Film Festival (www.holamexicoff.com), which demonstrate the festival's dedication to providing a wide milieu of culturally relevant programming. The six-day schedule of film, music, outdoor screenings and cultural events highlights the full range of Latino culture, targeting different segments of the community.

"HBO is proud to call itself the NYILFF's founding sponsor," notes Lucinda Martinez-Desir, HBO's Vice President of Market Development. "We have watched it evolve from a seed of an idea into the nation's premier Urban Latino film event. Its ongoing commitment to the Latino film community and the passionate support of its audience are just some of the reasons why we come back every year."

As the leading U.S. Urban Latino Film festival with an estimated audience of 25,000, the NYILFF's continued growth and success is due, in part, to its unique position as the only Latino film festival specifically targeting the second and third generation, English-dominant, acculturated Urban Latino - an increasingly powerful demographic that has caught the attention of Madison Avenue. According to the latest Pew Research Center figures, Latinos will comprise nearly 30% of the entire U.S. population in the next few decades and is growing at a rate eight times faster than the general population. By all accounts, any marketer wishing to add new consumers MUST target the Latino demographic. "We feel extremely fortunate to be considered leaders in the U.S. Latino cultural landscape. The corporate community now recognizes the buying power, sophistication and influence of this progressive, multicultural community. We're just a reflection of the voices we serve," commented Executive Director, Elizabeth Gardner.

OPENING NIGHT
The 2008 NYILFF opens on Tuesday, July 22 with the premiere of AMERICAN SON starring Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz and Jay Hernandez and directed by Neil Abramson at 7 PM at the Directors Guild of America Theater. On his way home from Camp Pendleton for a four-day liberty over Thanksgiving weekend, Marine Corps Private Mike Holland (Nick Cannon) meets Christina (Melonie Diaz), a smart, beautiful young Latina. By the time they arrive to their hometown of Bakersfield, a romance has blossomed. Opening Night is presented by Suzuki Auto and sponsored by Heineken and Tequila Tres GeneracionesT.

WORLD PREMIERES
TALENTO DEL BARRIO (TALENT OF THE BARRIO), starring Daddy Yankee and directed by Jose Ivan Santiago and George Rivera. Daddy Yankee, stars as Edgar Dinero, a misunderstood product of the slums of Puerto Rico who becomes torn between the street life of his childhood neighborhood and his ambition to become something more. Wednesday, July 23, 7:00 PM at Directors Guild of America Theater.

DAYS OF WRATH starring Wilmer Valderrama, Laurence Fishburne, Taye Diggs and Ana Talancon, directed by Celia Fox. The carjacking of a rap star and the killing of a mother ignite a war across Los Angeles between Latino and African American gangs in this compelling, explosive, intertwining story of a teacher, a TV reporter and a gang member, who struggle to survive in the crossfire. Wednesday, July 23, 9:30 PM at Directors Guild of America Theater.

BIG PUN: THE LEGACY. Directed by Vlad Yudin and featuring interviews with Rosie Perez, DMX, Method Man, Xzibit, Snoop Dogg and Juelz Santana, among others, BIG PUN: THE LEGACY is a film for the fans and gives us a true portrait of a rapper to remember. Thursday, July 24, 9:30 PM at Directors Guild of America Theater.

THE MINISTERS, John Leguizamo gives a tour-de-force performance as fanatical twin brothers, hell-bent on exacting revenge on the murders of their family. But their plans become undone when one of the brothers becomes involved with a beautiful police detective (Florencia Lozano) investigating a series of murders. Saturday, July 26, 7:00 PM at Directors Guild Theater. Sponsored by: Heineken.

SPECIAL SCREENING
CELIA THE QUEEN. Directors Joe Cardona and Mario de Varona use archival footage of both Celia and her loving husband, Pedro Knight, to tell the inspiring story of a little girl from Havana who became an international diva. CELIA THE QUEEN is presented by Kodak Gallery, and sponsored by Latina Media Ventures and Tequila Tres GeneracionesT. Friday, July 25, 7:00 PM at Directors Guild Theater.

For a full roster of festival films, special activities, or to purchase tickets, please visit the festival's website at www.NYLatinoFilm.com, or call the NYILFF hotline at (212) 726.2358.

The 2008 NYILFF is presented by HBO, and made possible with the additional support of Official Sponsors HBO Latino, Heineken, Suzuki Auto, TBS & TNT, American Airlines, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily News/VNY, Telemundo, Time Warner Cable's New York City Region, 103.5 WKTU, WNBC and Impre.com. The NYILFF is also proud to have Absolut, Cafe Bustelo, El Especial/El Especialito Newspapers, Kodak Gallery, Latina Media Ventures, MiGente.com, nochelatina.com, Overture Films & State Street Pictures, Roger Smith Hotel, Tequila Tres GeneracionesT, and De Pelicula and De Pelicula Clasico as Benefactor Sponsors. Special Thanks to Avid Technology Inc., BMI, Latino Public Broadcasting, Ethos Water, Showbiz Software, Tribeca Film Institute and the Mayor's Office for Film, Theater and Broadcasting.®

About the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF)
Launched in 1999, the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) is now the premier Urban Latino film event in the country. The NYILFF's mission is to showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, offer expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. Programming includes the flagship film festival in NYC, new music and art showcases, free community events, scholarships, and a nationally recognized short film competition in partnership with HBO. The NYILFF has been endorsed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission since its inception in 2003.

HBO® is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Press Contacts

Latin Press Contacts:
Reyes Entertainment
Gabriel Reyes
213.483.4511
gabriel@reyesentertainment.com

Yesenia De Avila
917.650.3933
yesenia@reyesentertainment.com

NYILFF:
Jennifer Abreu
646.287.9566
press@nylatinofilm.com

Gabrielle Bernstein
917.660.4132
gabrielle@gabriellebernstein.com