Valley-made film to screen at huge HBO film festival
A film made in the Valley will hold its New York City premiere next week at one of the biggest events in Latino filmmaking.
Cruzando, directed by San Juan natives Mando Alvarado and Michael Ray Escamilla, will screen at the 10th Annual HBO New York International Latino Film Festival on July 30 and Aug. 1.
The movie, filmed largely in the San Juan area, is about two Mexican nationals who attemped to cross the Rio Grande before one man’s father is executed at a Texas prison. It stars, along with Alvarado and Escamilla, Maria Helan (World Trade Center), Anthony Campisi and David Barrera, who’s show Generation Kill was nominated for an Emmy last week.
Over the past year, Cruzando has made its mark in the independent film festival circuit. It has screened and won awards across the country, from Seattle to Washington D.C. The HBO-sponsored festival, which runs July 30 to Aug. 2, will arguably be their biggest premiere to date.
Cruzando will be screened alongside some films starring big names, including The Line (starring Andy Garcia), La Mission (starring Benjamin Bratt) and Where God Left His Shoes (starring John Leguizamo).
For more information about the festival, visit www.nylatinofilm.com. For more on Cruzando, visit www.cruzandothemovie.com.
