by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Eduardo José Cabra Martínez (right) and René Pérez Joglar in a scene of the film, Sin Mapa.
ROTATING SHOWCASE: Eight Latino-themed films will be screened in the same number of U.S. cities before being released on DVD this fall as part of a deal between Maya Entertainment and Blockbuster.
The Maya Indie Film Series launches July 17 with a one-week run at Los Angeles’ Nuart Theatre. Titles included in the series, some of which will have their national premieres in Los Angeles, are The Line, Vicious Circle, Bajo la sal, Sultanes del sur, Once Upon a Time in Rio, Crónicas Chilangas, Bad Guys and Mancora.
After the Los Angeles run, the series moves to NewYork’s Clearview Chelsea Cinemas (July 27): Chicago’s Century Centre Cinema, Washington’s E Street Cinema and Miami’s Cinebistro (Aug. 7); San Francisco’s Luumiere Theater (Aug. 14); San Diego’s Hillcrest Theater end Dallas, The Magnolla (Sept. 4).
Maya Entertainment, a production and distribution enterprise heeded by industry veterans Moctesuma Esparza and Jeff Esparza, will release all films on DVD for Hispanic Heritage Month. The DVDs will be available at Blockbuster stores.
DOCUMENTARY DEBUTS: Following a preview screening this month in Puerto Rico, Calle 13’s fi rst fi lm Sin mapa is set for its continental premiere this month in New York and its release on DVD.
The documentary chronicles several recent trips to South America by the Puerto Rican duo formed by René Pérez (Visitante) and Eduardo Cabra (Visitante). It shows their interactions with some at the continent’s native communities, such as the Yekuana, Yanomami, Arhuacos and Wayuu, in visits to Perú, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela.
The travels provided some of the themes for Calle 13’s latest album, Los de atrás vienen conmigo.
Sin Mapa will be available on DVD July 28. On July 29, the fi lm premieres at the New York Latino Internetional Film Festival.
Calle 13 performed July 11 in New York at the closing event of the 10th annual Latin Alternative Music Conference.
ONE LINERS: Puerto Ricans mournedtheJune30death of Paquito Cordero, a pioneering TV producer who helped launch the careers of many of the island’s entertainers.
Benicio del Toro visited inmates at several prisons in Puerto Rico this month, including one with a theater group that performed for the Oscar-winning actor. Mexican actress Kate del Castillo guest stars in the July 14 episode of the A&E drama The Cleaner… and a musical inspired by the songs of the original Puerto Rican boy band Menudo is set to premiere in Caracas in November with a cast yet to be chosen… Hispanic Link.
