Latino film fest offers Web b'casts
3 L.A. events to stream live
"We did a live Webcast last year as well and it was amazing. It was a dream of (festival co-founder Edward James Olmos), and I really took his dream and ran with it," said Marlene Dermer, co-founder and exec director of the festival.
Made possible by West Hollywood-based Balize.com -- an Internet salon that provides free software to Latino businesses, organizations and communities --Web audiences will be able to view the events at 7 p.m. on July 21, 29 and 30.
Aside from Cannes, fest is the only one broadcast live on the Web. Dermer estimates that 60,000-70,000 people tuned in last year to view the events online.
The festival, which has welcomed Latino celebs like Salma Hayek, Jimmy Smits and Andy Garcia in the past, has seen its attendance grow to 22,000 from the 5,000 at its inception in 1997.
This year, the festival will open with the L.A. premiere of "Woman on Top," a Fox Searchlight pic featuring Penelope Cruz and Murilo Benicio and directed by Fina Torres.
Honored with the 2000 Gabi award -- named for Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa -- will be actress Maria Felix, who has made 47 films since her screen debut in 1942. (Her last pic was "La Generala," in 1970.) The honor recognizes contributions to the Spanish-lingo film industry.
Studio luncheons, film screenings and childrens' workshops are also skedded to take place during the festival's July 21-30 run.
"We have a very clear mission in our festival. It's not only about promoting Latin-American films and trying to open up opportunities -- we're not trying to replace American products but instead trying to share the screens," said Dermer. "We're trying to show the public here that there is an audience for Latin films that encompasses not only Latinos, but Americans as well."
