by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Benjamín Bratt and actress Talisa Soto (wife) attend the reception of the International San Francisco Film Festival at Bruno’s Restaurant in SF. (photo by Marvin J. Ramirez)
FIRST DECADE: The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) is set to mark its 10th anniversary this summer with a slate of local and national premieres.
The festival opens July 28 with the New York premiere of La Mission, a film set in that San Francisco neighborhood written and directed by Peter Bratt and produced by his actor brother, Benjamin Bratt, He also stars in the film, along with his wife Talisa Soto-Bratt and Jesse Borrego.
A highlight of the festival is the July 29 tribute to actor John Leguizemo that includes a screening of his film Where God Left His Shoes.
Other premieres include the documentary Calle 13: Sin Mapa, about the Puerto Rican urban duo’s road trip through South America and Los Bandoleros/Fast and Furious, the latest installment in the action saga reuniting actor Vin Diesel with reggaetón stars Don Omar and Tego Calderón, Tickets go on sale July 4 for screenings, which move into two new venues this year. Complete schedule and ticket information at: www.NYLatinoFilm.com.
TRIBUTE: The late Puerto Rican comedian José Miguel Agrelot will become the fi rst Latino to join the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Agrelot -who was listed in 2003 in the Guiness World Book of Records for having hosted a morning radio broadcast, Su alegre despentar, for 54 years, will receive the tribute Nov. 7 at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
Besides his longevity on Puerto Rican radio, he also became a beloved TV star. Following his 2005 death, Puerto Rico’s newest and biggest sports and entertainment venue was named Collseo Jose Miguel Agrelot.
Ironically, Fuerto Rico’s government is selling naming rights to the venue.
ONE LINERS: Mexican tenor RolandoVillazón, who had previously cancelled all 2009 engagements to undergo and recover from surgery of the vocal chords, has cancelled his May 3 scheduled performance in Carmen at the Viena (Austria) State Opera… the Archivo Digital del Tango, the fi rst digital correction of recordings and other audiovisual material related to Argentina’s national dance, was launched this month by the group Tango Via Buenos Aires and singer, actor and model Julio Iglesias Jr., best known for his participation in reality shows such as Gone Country, is now competing on ABC’s The Superstars; he is also the son and brother, respectively, of international stars Julio and Enrique Iglesias… Hispanic Link.
