Going hybrid, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) kicks off tomorrow with five days of virtual and several in-person screenings, from June 2 – 6.
This year’s full hybrid program is comprised of feature films, episodics, music, XR projects and short films, and includes its first-ever Animation Day on June 4 and its inaugural Latinx Inclusion Fellowship Series. The program and complete schedule of events is available at: www.latinofilm.org and https://laliff.org/festival/
The festival will kick off tomorrow with a robust schedule of online screenings and the Opening Night World Premiere Screening and Gala of 7th & Union by director Anthony Nardolillo and starring Omar Chaparro and Edy Ganem. The screening and gala will be live and in person at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
In the film, Raymundo, a Mexican ex-fighter forms an unlikely bond with a disgruntled African American man, whose life is unraveling alongside the fragile relationship with his daughter. The two men join forces to win a fight that could very well save Raymundo, his wife and their child.
On June 4, LAIFF will host a special preview screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming In the Heights, the highly anticipated film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical from director Jon M. Chu. The preview will take place one week before the film premieres in theaters and on HBO Max. In addition, LALIFF and the Tribeca Festival have partnered in celebration of their 20th anniversaries.
“We cannot wait to share this incredible film with our audience as part of this year’s festival,” comments Edward James Olmos, founder of the Latino Film Institute. “In the Heights celebrates the Latino culture and allows us to continue to support our mission of providing a platform of stories that are told by us and for us. We are equally excited to partner with such a renowned film festival like Tribeca and we know that this will be a partnership that will flourish over the years.”
“Congratulations to LALIFF on their 20th anniversary of extraordinary storytelling for Latino filmmakers, artists and visionaries everywhere. We celebrate this incredible partnership with a shared goal, to beautifully showcase diverse and under-represented voices through the power of film,” adds Robert De Niro, Actor and Co-Founder of the Tribeca Festival.
Photos/Video Courtesy of LALIFF
