Renowned Latino filmmakers, actors and crew will converge on The Tech Museum for the premiere of five poignant dramas and intriguing documentaries to be screened as part of the 2010 San Jose Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival.
The extraordinary films, which run Sept. 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 24th, will be screened at The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater, which houses a 9,000-square-foot perforated aluminum screen and a 13,000-watt, 6-channel, all digital surround-sound system. The showings – one of which is a world premiere and another, which is making is first Bay Area appearance – will be followed by Q&A sessions with the cast and/or creative teams from each film.
“The San Jose Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival is the colorful, artistic and brilliantly expressive embodiment of Latino culture,” Peter Friess, museum president, said. “The Tech Museum is honored to be a new partner in this grand celebration of Latino traditions and customs, which continue to play an important role in Silicon Valley and the world. We look forward to working with Mexican Heritage Corporation in service to the community.”
The festival, now in its 19th year, presents a weeklong schedule of music, film and educational events for the entire community. The film series, which has proven increasingly popular with festival-goers, has been expanded this year to include a broad mix of genres ranging from the searing truths of the documentaries to the heart-tugging themes of the feature films.
The joint partnership marks the first time both institutions have worked together to bring the annual cultural event to their respective audiences.
“The San Jose Mexican Heritage Festival is proud to be launching this exciting new partnership. The Tech Museum is a leading institution of learning and culture that is internationally renowned for its exhibits and innovation,” Marcela Davison, president s and CEO / Mexican Heritage Corporation, said. “This association in general, and film series in particular, will do much to bring our communities together to explore common ground between the world of invention and our Hispanic heritage.”
The Films
“Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna), which tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite (Monday, September 20, 7 p.m.)
“Cruz Reynoso: Sowing the Seeds of Justice. The one-hour documentary paints a portrait of Cruz Reynoso, a man who felt the sting of injustice as a child and later – as a lawyer, judge, and teacher – fought for over five decades to eradicate discrimination and inequality (Tuesday, September 21, 7 p.m.)
“Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano. This biography of the “Father of Chicano Music” guides the viewer through seven decades of Mexican-American history. Guerrero captured it all in a dazzling array of musical genres including rancheras, boogie, tropical, norteño, cha-chas, mambos, and beautiful boleros (Tuesday, September 21, 7p.m.)
“World Premiere at The Tech Museum! Cartas a Elena, Enjoy the Bay Area premiere of this not-yet-released feature film with its stunning cinematography of the Chihuahua region of Mexico. The film tells a story of first love and the very special bond that develops between a Mexican small town and the young boy who delivers their mail (Wednesday, September 22, 7 p.m.)
“Bay Area Premiere at The Tech Museum! The Storm That Swept Mexico, tells the story of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the first major political and social revolution of the 20th century. This was a conflict that not only changed the course of Mexican history, but also profoundly impacted relationships between Mexico and the rest of the world (Friday, September 24, 7 p.m.)
**EDS: Cast and crew are available for interviews**
Tickets for each film are only $5.
For more information, visit: www.thetech.org