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LATINO FILM FEST CONCLUDES IN UTAH WITH AWARDS CEREMONY CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN FILMMAKINGSol Dance Film Festival & Filmmakers Discovery House® 2008 presented by Bud Light showcased the work of Latino and Native American filmmakers in Park City, UtahSalt Lake City, UT — (January 24, 2008) Latino and Native American filmmakers from coast to coast converged in Park City at the 2nd annual Sol Dance Film Festival & Filmmakers Discovery House® 2008 presented by Bud Light. During the three day event that took place from January 20 to 22, 2008; emerging filmmakers living in the U.S. showcased their talent, telling their stories from a culturally rich perspective. Sol Dance 2008 presented film screenings, workshops and VIP receptions that enhanced the experience of the attending film enthusiasts.With a packed house and salsa dancing, the opening night reception got the film festival underway. Actor, comedian, and community activist Cheech Marin encouraged the filmmakers and movie enthusiasts to strive and excell in the movie business while telling the American experience from a Latino perspective, Also in attendance, Jesus Rangel, vice president of sales development and community relations, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. said: “Bud Light is pleased to present the 2008 Sol Dance Film Festival. Latino filmmakers have been making great strides in the film industry and this festival is an example of their progress.â€On the closing awards ceremony, the Sol Dance 2008 awards were handed out as follow:Best Director – Iris Almaraz who showcased three films: New Light in the Realm of Possibility, La Puta, and Untitled. Iris Almaraz is a graduate of San Francisco State University's film program with a BFA in film production; she was born into a working class Chicano family in East Los Angeles, California. With poignant stories, insightful, original and intelligent films, Iris’s distinctly creative style is stamped on each project. Her short films have won several awards at film festivals across the nation. Iris is currently concluding production on her first feature film Delusions of Grandeur.Best Cinematography - Anthony Nardolillo who presented the world premiere of the short film Mano, a highly artistic and visually rich movie where a family tragedy unfolds on the backdrop of a salsa dancehall. In the film, creative expression flies, struts, dips and twirls when Anthony Nardolillo takes the dance floor. A truly masculine flow of studied footwork driven by passionate inspiration steeped in cultural improvisation, actor, dancer and executive director Anthony Nardolillo takes the stage with the confidence and attitude of a cultural warrior about to hit the streets. Brooklyn born Nardolillo is a “West Side Story†symbol engendered of Puerto Rican and Italian parents. A renaissance man of sorts, Nardolillo created, financed, wrote, dances and stars in Mano. Nardolillo steps up to the plate, literally, with this impressive short film based on brotherly love and fellowship in the competitive world of salsa music and song. Nardolillo is in the planning stages of re-releasing Mano as a feature length film.Best Screenplay - Adam Schlachter, writer and director of the film My Backyard Was A Mountain. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Miami, Adam Schlachter graduated from the American Film Institute with an M.F.A. in Film Directing. Adam was a finalist in Esquire Magazine's Celluloid Style Film Competition for his film adaptation Father Figure. Adam has written and directed a dozen shorts, written seven feature screenplays, attended seven esteemed writing and producing labs, and is a member of the Writers Guild of America. My Backyard Was A Mountain, qualified and was shortlisted for the 2006 Academy Awards for Best Live Action Short, was last year's recipient of the Imagen Award for Best Short Film, and won prestigious awards from Kodak and Panavision.Special Recognition Award - Ruben Obregon Casas with the film La Primavera. Ruben was selected as he was the only filmmaker that received votes in every one of the three awarding categories. Ruben Obregon is a first-generation Mexican-American born in San Antonio, Texas. Following high school, Ruben served in the U.S. Navy as an air traffic controller. Four years later, Ruben enrolled at UT Austin where he completed a BA in Film. Ruben subsequently received his MFA in Film Production from UCLA, where he focused on writing, directing and cinematography. His work on numerous short films have showcased at festivals worldwide. He is currently developing the feature-length version of his award winning short La Primavera.Other festival highlights included filmmakers’ interaction, workshops and intimate discussions with actor/producer Carlos Gallardo (Mariachi), Josefina Lopez (Real Woman Have Curves), German-Michael Torres of Professional Latinos in Entertainment (PLIE) and Steven Nemeth of Rhino Films. Cristina Castro, Founder of Sol Dance Film Festival & Filmmaker Discovery House® and CEO of Your Great Ideas Inc, said: “Filmmaking is by far the most complete and complex art form. Our support for emerging Latino and Native American filmmakers will stimulate the next generation of filmmakers – our children- to express themselves and tell their universal stories. We look forward to Sol Dance 2009â€.The Sol Dance Film Festival & Filmmakers Discovery House® 2008 presented by Bud Light proudly featured the films of: Adam Schlachter, Katrina Elias, Iris Almaraz, Ruben Obregon Casas, Anthony Nardolillo, Fanny Veliz, Shawna Baca, Veronica Caicedo and Julian Conde.The Sol Dance Film Festival & Filmmakers Discovery House® 2008 presented by Bud Light also received sponsorship and support by Coca Cola, Univision 34,Southwest Airlines, Univision-Utah, L’Bel Paris, Pixel Flick Entertainment, LatiNation, American Latino TV, Royal Limousine, Showbiz Software, Creative Handbook, Linares Consulting Group, LTP Marketing & Promotions, Blast Printing, J-Team Security, Oxxo Films, La Bulla Music, Monavie, Paragon Consulting Group, Converge Entertainment, Red Bull, Volk Caffe & Bar in Salt Lake City.About Sol Dance Film Festival & Filmmakers Discovery House® Sol Dance supports the nurturing of up-and-coming independent Latino and Native American filmmakers whose culture, traditions, family values and lifestyle make up a special segment of the population and, provides a venue to showcase these unique and innovative artists' works to the world. The Sol Dance Filmmakers Discovery House provides an all inclusive location to screen and celebrate the work of Latino and Native American filmmakers at the footstep of the most prestigious independent film festival in the world.See www.soldancefilmfest.com for more information. For filmmakers and talent interviews, post-event multimedia resources (including audio, video and photo), and other logistical information, please contact us.
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