11th International Latino Film Festival-San Francisco Bay Area
by Jesse Jbozz Stone Ingram
One can only wonder what to expect each year The International Latino Film Festival rolls around. This year's run was from November 2nd-18th and hit select Silicon Valley venues such as MACLA Art Gallery, San Jose State University and Camera 12 Cinemas Art House. This year's De-Bug pick was closing night at MACLA Art Gallery for the showcase of two films: THE GRASS GROWS GREEN, written and directed by bay area resident Jesus Beltran, as well as CAMILO-THE LONG ROAD TO DISOBEDIENCE, documentary directed by Peter Lilienthal.
The opening film was the beautifully shot "The Grass Grows Green", which was written and directed by Mountain View resident Jesus Beltran. Beltran, an engineering Graduate of Stanford University with dreams of directing, jump started his goal with "The Grass Grows Green". Produced by Los Angeles casting coordinator Larissa Eisenstein and Consultant/Marine Raymond Beltran, this stunningly shot, 2006 film features a solid cast and stand-out performances from the film's two stars: Martial Arts Actor Santiago Vasquez and Co-Star Anthony Neil Moss. "The Grass Grows Green" runs 19 minutes long and is based out of Texas.
Vasquez and Moss portray Marine recruits, who recruit mainly high school teens for military service enlistment. Vasquez's character seems to lead the American Dream: high profile job and house with a beautiful family. That all takes a turn once his character learns that one of his most recent recruits-turned Marine dies while serving in Iraq. The effects of this event cause major inner turmoil for the Marine recruiter who is somewhat shunned by his community...a community that knows and respects the deceased young man's family very well. While Vasquez's character is forced to reconsider his career as a recruiter, Moss' character is the most ambitious...a recruiter without a soul, so to speak. Moss' main objective is to recruit, without consequence, as his job description states.
In an unbelievable 19 minutes, this film is able to deliver a power-punched message of morality in a record-short time that takes most feature films a minimum of 2 hours to deliver. For myself, this particular film hits a little close to home. As a high school senior, I was also recruited by, coincidentally, a Marine. I did, in fact, meet with the recruiter, listened to his proposal, but, in the end bowed out due to immediate college ambitions and the pursuit of entertainment.
All in all, Jesus Beltran and his colleagues deliver a wonderful film worthy of presentation in high schools, colleges and universities alike. There is no doubt that there is more to come from this very talented visionary in all of his future endeavors.
The evening's closing film, "Camilo-The Long Road to Disobedience", is a 2007 documentary, directed by Peter Lilienthal. The U.S. premiere of this film has one thing in common with "The Grass Grows Green" in that its central focus is on military recruitment. The film's main subject, Camilo Mejia, served one year in prison, when he refused to return to duty, after 6 months, on his claim that he was committing torture to prisoners. The documentary goes on to profile different victims and their families who were subjected to military recruitment. Mejia and his colleagues run an organization of war veterans who are opposed to the war in Iraq.
Lilienthal's film is able to weave different perspectives and experiences of families whose loved ones died serving in the military. His documentary is moving, yet honest and forthright.
This year's 11th International Latino Film Festival did not disappoint, with films showcased very relevant messages both past, present and future. We look forward to many more festivals and beyond.
Contacts:
"The Grass Grows Green": info@zumpangofilms.com
"Camilo-The Long Road to Disobedience": dps@steelecht.com
