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The 23rd Chicago Latino Film Festival; featuring films, special events and visiting filmmakers from around the world, will run from April 13 – 25, 2007. “The International Latino Cultural Center (ILCC) is proud to present this year’s Festival, considered the largest and most influential of its kind in the nation. The Festival will showcase over 100 feature films, documentaries and shorts from all over Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States,” said Ariani Friedl, Acting Executive Director of the ILCC.

“This year it was our goal to inject energy and creativity into the Festival. The programming is diverse and strong. The selection of films is based on artistic merit and craftsmanship, and we are recognizing the filmmaker’s efforts by honoring them,” said Interim Film Festival Director, Carolina Posse. “Cinema is art and commerce. That is what gives movies their democratic appeal. But the marketplace often finds itself in conflict with the marketplace of ideas. Therefore, we must always remain vigilant to promote and defend those voices that challenge convention and speak truth to power.”

The two-week schedule will also feature opportunities for audiences and filmmakers to participate in discussions with the directors at the screenings as well as a series of special events highlighting the diversity of the Latino culture.

OPENING NIGHT – sponsored by Univision Chicago

The Festival will officially launch at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 13 with Opening Night, held at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark St.). The night will begin with a screening of the Cuban and Mexican feature, “Las Paginas del Diario de Mauricio” – a touching story about a man who has just turned sixty, and reflects on the events of the last decade, from the death of his wife and forbidden love for a student, to the economic deterioration in his homeland of Cuba. A reception will immediately follow the screening with a special appearance by the film’s director, Manuel Perez.

“GOAL 2! LIVING THE DREAM” – sponsored by Mexico Tourism Board

The Festival will also be offering a special opening-weekend presentation of “GOAL 2! Living the Dream,” directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Anna Friel, and featuring appearances by stars of the Real Madrid football team. After gaining a season of experience at Newcastle United, Santiago Munez (Becker) and Gavin Harris (Nivola) get transferred to Spain. A new season begins at Real Madrid for the duo as they take their place on the field alongside the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo in this realistic football drama! SPECIAL NOTE: This industry screening will be the first U.S. look at the second film within the footie trilogy. Producers Danny Stepper, Matt Barrelle, writer/producer Mike Jefferies will be in attendance.

NOCHE MEXICANA – sponsored by La Raza newspaper

The rich vibrancy of Mexico will come to life with the Festival’s Noche Mexicana, Friday, April 20, at the Chicago History Museum. The night will feature the Mexican drama, “Mas Que a Nada en el Mundo.” This is the story of a young girl, Alicia, with an overactive imagination who blames her mother’s romantic woes on a curse imposed by a vampire. Convinced that her neighbor is the mastermind behind her mother’s misfortune, Alicia sets out to break her mother’s unlucky streak by challenging the vampire next door. This compelling film will begin at 7:00 p.m., followed by a reception with appearances by the directors Andres Leon Becker, and actress, Elizabeth Cervantes.

SPANISH NIGHT – sponsored by Instituto Cervantes

Another layer of Latin influence will be introduced to the Festival on Monday, April 23 during Spanish Night. Opening with a reception at the Alliance Francaise (810 N. Dearborn St.) at 6:00 p.m., and an appearance of the film’s director, David Trueba, the evening will include a film screening at 9:00 p.m. presented at AMC Pipers Alley Theater (1608 N. Wells St). “Bienvenido a casa” is a comedic tale of Samuel, a young man who moves to Madrid to live with his girlfriend, Eva, where he quickly finds a job, and finds support among his unconventional colleagues. However, his world takes a drastic shift when Eva shares some shocking news that will change his life.

CLOSING NIGHT – sponsored by Telemundo/NBC

The Festival concludes with Closing Night on Wednesday, April 25 at the Chicago History Museum. This special evening includes a post-film reception and the presentation of the Gloria Lifetime Achievement Award to director Alberto Lecchi at 7:00 p.m. with the screening of his latest film, “Una Estrella y Dos Cafes.” This Argentinean film tells the story of Estela, who resides in a small town in northern Argentina when she meets and befriends Carlos, an architect hired to build a development in the town. They form an affectionate bond prior to Carlos’ ex-wife, Ana, arriving in Purmamarca to save her marriage. As Ana also meets Estela, she realizes that the young girl’s strong feelings for Carlos may hurt her.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

-- The Made in Chicago segment features three films by Chicago directors such as Ricardo Islas, Juan Frausto and Jaime Mariscal.

-- In addition to the Gloria Achievement Award, the 23rd Chicago Latino Film Festival will feature awards for the Best Opera Prima, Best Documentary Feature and Audience Choice Awards for the best Feature and Short film. Online voting options will help choose the audience favorite within the Made in Chicago segment, where the winning film will receive recognition.

-- The Festival will feature a series of world and U.S. premieres. These include such films as “El Clown” by Pedro Adorno Irizarry and Emilio Rodriguez, and “Como Mariposas En La Luz” by Diego Yaker.

-- In collaboration with Latino Art Beat and Columbia College Chicago’s Latino Affairs Department, the Festival is able to show the works of budding Chicago filmmakers through the Student Segment. Films range from the abstract to animations and to the everyday demands of growing up, often addressing the sometimes taboo topics of drug abuse and peer pressure.

-- The Gay and Lesbian Ingredient showcases “Super Amigos” by Arturo Perez Torres and a short named “Busco” by Arturo Turon.

For more information on the 23rd Chicago Latino Film Festival or to obtain a film schedule, please visit http://www.latinoculturalcenter.org or call (312) 431-1330. For tickets to the special events, please visit http://www.ticketweb.com or call (312) 431-1330.

LOCATIONS AND RESOURCES

This year’s films will be shown in three of Chicago’s popular theater venues: Piper’s Alley 4 (1608 N. Wells Street), Facets Cinamatheque (1517 W. Fullerton Avenue) and Landmark Century Centre (2828 N. Clark Street). The full film schedule can be found on the ILCC website at http://www.latinoculturalcenter.org . As of March 19th, a daily schedule of films is available on the ILCC hotline at (312) 409-1757.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL

The Chicago Latino Film Festival is produced by the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC) in cooperation with Columbia College Chicago. As part of the ILCC mission, the Festival serves as a vehicle to break the barriers of stereotypes and provoke the audience to challenge mainstream ideals of the Latino identity by showing, through film, that Latinos are defined by more than 20 Iberoamerican countries and come from all social and racial backgrounds.

Corporate sponsors of the 2007 Chicago Latino Film Festival include:

Platinum: Telemundo, NBC5, American Airlines, and Univision Chicago.

Gold: La Raza, WTTW 11, WYCC TV-20, CTA, Pinata Graphics, La Kalle, La Que Buena, Passion, and Edelman Public Relations – Multicultural.

Silver: Hoy, Chicago Tribune, Seneca Hotel, American Family Insurance, Metrolatinos.com, Lapiz, Starbucks, and Landmark Theatres.

Contributing: Cingular, Extra, Budweiser, Illinois Film Office, Mexico Tourism Board, Aetna Insurance, Baseline Studio System, Prado & Renteria Accountants, and Nochelatina.com.