Chicago, IL (April 5, 2009) – The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) is partnering with the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) to bring prominent Mexican film productions to the 5th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival to be held from April 17th to April 29th in select theatres around Chicago. A total of eight feature films and seven short films make up the series of Mexican movies that promise to transport the audience into Mexico’s legendary past and present.
To celebrate Mexico and honor the country’s film talent, on Wednesday, April 22nd the MTB will host the CLFF’s traditional “Noche Mexicana” (Mexican Night) at the Thorne Auditorium of Northwestern University located at 375 E. Chicago Avenue. Tickets for cocktail and movie screening ($50) are available to the public at auditorium’s box office. Attending this Noche Mexicana will be Director of Arráncame la Vida/Tear This Heart Out, Roberto Sneider.
“We take great pride in our talented artists and the magnificent places where these films are shot,” says Rodrigo Esponda, Director of the MTB in Chicago. “This artwork gracefully portrays Mexico’s culture and heritage.”
Film Arráncame la Vida/Tear This Heart Out, set in post-revolutionary Mexico, was selected for the 25th Latino Film Festival due to its compelling story about Catalina (Ana Claudia Talancón) who at a very young age marries the much older and charming, General Andrés Asensio (Daniel Giménez Tacho) and who to escape General Asensio’s abuse, enters a forbidden relationship with musician, Carlos Vives (José María de Tavira). The scenery and architectural beauty of Puebla has captivated movie goers to a degree that demand for a new product was created: the Tourism Board of Puebla now offers a specialized tour that showcases the film’s set locations.
Roberto Girault’s El Estudiante/The Student filmed in the state of Guanajato, portrays the story of 70-year old Chano as he enrolls in college to study literature and confronts a challenging generational gap. Colonial buildings from the 19th Century and Guanajuato’s world famous landmarks are Chano’s stage on his journey to obtain his college degree.
Just as Sneider and Girault’s films delightfully display Puebla, Mexico City and Guanajuato – all UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the rest of the festival’s selected films also provide an insightful portrayal of Mexico’s extraordinary architecture and cultural richness.
For more festival information, movie listings and previews, visit their website at http://latinoculturalcenter.org/cinema-festival/