This is a story about the families of those who for a time were our witnesses, our eyes and our voice, but when threatened, they had to leave Mexico and have been forced to live in exile in search of political asylum. This is not about how the pen is mightier than the sword but about invisible reporters who represent the most fragile link in the news chain and are now in a migratory limbo.
Seen through the eyes of small, midsize and large Mexican maize producers, SUNÚ knits together different stories from a threatened rural world. This film documents how people realize their determination to stay free, to work the land and cultivate their seeds, to be true to their cultures and forms of spirituality, all in a modern world where corn is being threatened at the center of its origin: Mexico.
Disturbing the Peace follows a group of former enemy combatants – Israeli soldiers from the most elite units, and Palestinian fighters, many of whom served years in prison – who have come together to challenge the status quo and and say “enough”. The film traces their transformational journeys from soldiers committed to armed battle to non-violent peace activists. It is a story of the human potential unleashed when we stop participating in a story that no longer serves us, and with the power of our convictions take action to create a new possibility.
Two brothers deal with the loss of their father, and while their lives intertwine and spiral out of control they both begin to fall in love for the same woman. Dealing with issues of loss, pain, family, and love the film delves into the real lives of individuals who must pull themselves out of their own suffering.
Raising 11 children while wrestling with gender bias, union defeat and victory, and nearly dying after a San Francisco Police beating, Dolores Huerta bucks 1950s gender conventions to co-found the country’s first farmworkers union.
Domingo, 23 de Abril del 2017
7:00 p.m. Teatro Trías – Trabajo en Progreso – “Closer to Bottom”
Plática con el Escritor y Productor Alex Avila.
Lunes, 24 de Abril del 2017
7:00 p.m. Teatro Trías – Documental – “Sunú”
Plática con la Directora Teresa Camou.
Martes, 25 de Abril del 2017
7:00 p.m. – Teatro Trías – Documental – “Disturbing the Peace”
Plática con el Director Stephen Apkon.
Miércoles, 26 de Abril del 2017
7:00 p.m. Teatro Trías – Documental – “El Paso”
Plática con el Director Everardo González.
Jueves, 27 de Abril del 2017
7:00 p.m. Teatro Trías – Película – TBD
Plática con el Primer Actor Otto Sirgo.
Sunday, April 23, 2017
7:00 p.m. Premiere Cinemas – Feature film – TBD
Talk with Actress Cindy Picket.
Monday, April 24, 2017
10:00 a.m. El Paso Main Library – Documentary – Sunú
Talk with the film’s director Teresa Camou.
7:00 p.m. Premiere Cinemas – Feature work-in-progress –
Talk about this work in progress with Director Jesse Borrego and Producer-Writer Alex Avila.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
7:00 p.m. Premiere Cinemas – Documentary – El Paso
Talk with the Documentary subjects.
Wednesday, April 26, 2015
10:00 a.m. La Fe Culture & Technology Center – Short Subject Videos
Talk with the Directors: Oscar Ruben Zamora and Luis Gamboa Camarena
7:00 p.m. Premiere Cinemas – Documentary – Disturbing the Peace
Talk with the director Stephen Apkon. Actor Otto Sirgo will also be present.
Scholarly talk with Professor & Filmmaker Rajeev Nirmalakhandan.
Thursday, April 27, 2015
7:00 p.m. Premiere Cinemas – Documentary – Dolores
Plus scholarly talk with Chicano Studies Professor Carlos Ortega.
The only truly bi-national festival in the world is upon us: from April 23 to 27 we will have a week of films, documentaries, filmmakers, and celebrities from both sides of the border: on both sides of the border!
And, once more, this 2017 we celebrate Supporting Actors with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Supporting Actors and Actresses are the backbone of any film. It is the supporting actor’s task to create the believability around the main actors, and to maintain our suspension of disbelief. To their, sometimes, unsung work, one more year is dedicated.
From the American side we have Cindy Pickett, who with her countless supporting roles, but also some starring roles has brought: first the beautiful young American girl next door (Guiding Light), and then many tough as nails characters (Saint Elsewhere, Call to Glory, Deep Star Six, etc.), and finally the Quintessential American Mother (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Son in Law, Sleepwalkers, etc.), and all of those different phases with not only talent and beauty but with a beautiful charisma that has set her apart from many others.
From México we have Otto Sirgo. He was born in Cuba, but is an Actor made in Mexico. No less supporting roles and starring roles in Movies, Television, and Theater, where he also has directed: in other words, a whole life in the limelight. We celebrate all that he has given us with this well-deserved award.
We are also bringing wonderful documentaries Dolores, Sunu, Disturbing the Peace, and El Paso – two from each side of the border, and for the first time in the festival A Work in Progress. We are going to have the privilege of showing for the first time Jesse Borrego’s directorial debut Closer to Bottom, with Alex Avila the Producer and Writer of the piece present to talk to our audiences: quite a cinematic treat.
Monday, August 22, 2016
6:00 p.m. – Telón de Arena – Película – “Mil Nubes de Amor…”
La película será presentada por la Actriz Ganadora del Ariel: Perla de la Rosa.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
6:00 p.m. – Telón de Arena – Película – “Película de la Frontera”
Plática con el Director de la película.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
6:00 p.m. – Telón de Arena – Película – “After Words”
Plática con el Director Uruguayo Juan Feldman.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
6:00 p.m. – Telón de Arena – Película – “Showroom”
Plática con la Actriz Perla de la Rosa.
