The New York International Film Festival Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary in a New Home With Star-Studded World Premieres.

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Click HERE for a full list of films in the festival.

NEW YORK, June 25 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) celebrates its 10th Anniversary as the premier Latino film festival in the country, unspooling in New York City from Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 2, 2009. This year, NYILFF will debut in its new venues at the Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 9 (260 West 23rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues) and the School of Visual Arts Theater (333 West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets go on sale July 04 and will be available at the festival’s box office at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 9 and the festival’s web site: http://www.NYLatinoFilm.com. NYILFF is presented by HBO®.

Major stars that will be igniting the screens this year’s festival are Benjamin Bratt, John Leguizamo, Calle 13, Ruben Blades, Vin Diesel, Christina Milian, Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Jim Jones, Kerry Washington, Brandon Routh, Illeana Douglas, Shannyn Sossamon, Lara Flynn Boyle, Esai Morales, Ericka Alexander, Voltio, Tego Calderon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Rasuk, Kuno Becker, Ana de la Reguera and Al Sharpton.

“We are very excited to be celebrating our 10th Anniversary,” says Calixto Chinchilla, Executive Director. “The NYILFF began as a dream to showcase our talent and to empower Latinos. We’ve been fortunate to have grown in size and stature. This year, we have everything; highly anticipated Hollywood premieres to independent films from filmmakers across the globe, industry forums, music showcases and free outdoor events for everyone.”

“Our 10th Anniversary is a testament to the strong support we receive from our corporate partners and the community, at large,” says Elizabeth Gardner, Executive Director. “The NYILFF has come a long way since 1999, and we continue to break ground as the #1 showcase for Latino and Urban films and filmmakers.”

“We congratulate the NYILFF on reaching a 10-year milestone,” said Lucinda Desir, vice president, Acquisition and Multicultural Marketing at HBO. “Their spirit, passion, energy and commitment to the Latino film community are just some of the reasons why we come back every year. They have truly raised the NYILFF to the premier Latino festival that it is today.”

10th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

OPENING NIGHT – Tuesday, July 28
LA MISSION. Opening Night is the New York premiere of LA MISSION, starring Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez and Talisa Soto Bratt. LA MISSION is writer-director Peter Bratt’s rich and powerful story of a man’s journey toward redemption through his struggle with violence and homophobia. The film is produced by Benjamin Bratt, Alpita Patel and Peter Bratt. Sponsored by Heineken.

JOHN LEGUIZAMO TRIBUTE: – Wednesday, July 29
WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES. The NYILFF and Tres Generaciones® Tequila are proud to honor John Leguizamo, a great Hollywood success, a shining example to our community, and a long-time supporter of NYILFF. Leguizamo will be honored with the Tres Generaciones COA Award, a special award created by the brand to recognize outstanding achievements in Latino filmmaking. The film is the story of Frank, Angela, and their two children who are evicted from their New York City apartment and have no choice but to move into a homeless shelter. After a few difficult months, good news comes on Christmas Eve: a nearby housing project has an apartment available immediately, but Frank needs a job to qualify. While the rest of the city prepares for Christmas, Frank and his stepson roam the cold streets of New York trying to find a job by day’s end. Where God Left His Shoes is the story of a family that refuses to break apart during the darkest time of their lives and discovers that they will survive as long as they have each other.

DOMINICAN NIGHT – Thursday, July 30
DON’T LET ME DROWN. Directed by Cruz Angeles. In a post-September 11th world overflowing with fear and hate, two Latinos discover that sometimes the only thing that can keep them from drowning is love. Presented by Heineken, sponsored by HBO and the Dominican American Professional Alliance.

CLOSING NIGHT – Saturday, August 1
THE LINE. Directed by James Cotten, LA LINEA is the story of rival mobsters and mysterious assassins waging warfare on the mean streets of Tijuana. It is a gripping crime drama with an all-star cast that includes Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Esai Morales, Armand Assante, Bruce Davison, Jason Connery, Michael DeLorenzo, Joe Morton, Valerie Cruz, Jordi Vilasuso, Danny Trejo, Kevin Gage and Gary Daniels. Presented by DIRECTV Mas, sponsored by Heineken and Tres Generaciones® Tequila.

PREMIERES

CALLE 13: SIN MAPA. Calle 13’s innovative fusion of urban music with pan-regional sounds from across Latin America has garnered a Grammy, Five Latin Grammy awards, and worldwide critical acclaim. In Sin Mapa, we join the socially outspoken duo on their journey “Without a Map” across South America for an exploration of indigenous music and culture.

LOS BANDOLEROS/FAST & FURIOUS. Los Bandoleros is the never-before-shown in theaters short film that reveals what happened to ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) after his disappearance at the end of the original adrenaline-pumping blockbuster, “The Fast and the Furious.” Living as a fugitive in the haven of the Dominican Republic, Dom’s tranquil life is eventually affected by a series of political and personal events, including his friendship with Don (Don Omar), Tego (Tego Calderon) and Han (Sung Kang), and the unexpected appearance of Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).

This leads to the latest adventure in the series, “Fast & Furious”. When a tragedy brings Dom back to Los Angeles, his long dormant feud with FBI agent Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) threatens to reignite — until they discover a common enemy. Dom and Brian declare a precarious truce, as they try to outmaneuver their adversary and exact revenge. From convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, the two men push the limits of what is possible behind the wheel as they live for speed, drive for the rush and break all the rules!

RED APPLES FALLING. An uncensored look into the life and music of Harlem rap superstar Jim Jones and his Dipset Byrdgang. Rappers Mel Matrix, Sandman, NOE, Freeky Zeeky and Chink Santana comprise the most dangerous assembly of talent and muscle to emerge in decades from the streets of NY. Their real life stories, uncovered in hard-hitting interviews by Angie Martinez, weave together gritty realism with musical interludes.

LIFE IS HOT IN CRACKTOWN. Based on the 1993 best-selling novel by Buddy Giovinazzo, LIFE IS HOT IN CRACKTOWN shows the gritty, hard realities of a neighborhood, as well as the struggling, proud people who attempt to survive. The intertwining stories come together in a powerful climax of love and salvation, showing that despite the obstacles of life in the inner city, humanity and hope can still prevail.

ASSAULT IN THE RING. For the first time ever, the HBO Sports(R) Documentary ASSAULT IN THE RING reveals the real story behind the infamous 1983 Luis Resto-Billy Collins Jr. fight at Madison Square Garden — a boxing match turned thirty-minute criminal assault.

BRING IT ON: FIGHT TO THE FINISH. Christina Milian stars as sassy cheer captain Lina Cruz, whose world is turned upside-down when her family moves from the urban streets of East Los Angeles to the sunny beach town of Malibu. At her new school, Lina clashes with Avery, the ultra-competitive all-star cheer captain, while also falling for Avery’s super-cute brother, Evan. Lina’s always been able to rise to a challenge, but can she create a new all-star squad, beat Avery at the Spirit Championships, and still keep her romance with Evan? Hot music, fierce competition and high-flyin’ fun continue in this all-new movie!

OTHER PREMIERES

— PARAÍSO. Directed by Leon Ichaso.

— SULTANES DEL SUR (Sultans of the South). Directed by Alejandro Lozano.

— LA CLAVE. Directed by Mariella Sosa.

— ROAD TREK TO THE HOLY LAND. Documentary featuring Al Sharpton.

As the leading U.S. Urban Latino Film festival with an estimated annual 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 2-3 times faster than the general population. By all accounts, any marketer wishing to add new consumers MUST target the Latino demographic.

The 2009 NYILFF is presented by HBO, and made possible with the additional support of HBO Latino, Heineken, DIRECTV Más, American Airlines, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily News/VNY, Telemundo, WNBC, 103.5 KTU and 93.1 WPAT FM. The NYILFF is also proud to have as Benefactors Café Bustelo, Clarins, CNN, El Diario La Prensa, El Especial/El Especialito Newspapers, glaceau, Maya Entertainment, nocheLatina.com, Tres Generaciones® Tequila and Cinelatino. Venue partners are Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 9, School of Visual Arts Theater, New York Restoration Project, Imagenation and Showbiz Software. Technology partners are Analog Digital and Audio Video Group. Special Thanks to Avid Technology Inc., Crunch, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, Screen Actors Guild, Urban Latino Media Group and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting®.

About the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF)
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2009, 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.

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