These Latino Films Are Now Available on Prime Video
Edward James Olmos arrives at the world premiere of "7th & Union" during the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) has dedicated itself to sharing stories from the Latine perspective and bringing culturally significant cinema to audiences in Los Angeles and beyond since 1997. Founded by Edward James Olmos and co-founders Marlene Dermer, Kirk Whisler, and George Hernandez, it was the first-ever Latino focused International Film Festival of its kind. And during this Hispanic Heritage Month, LALIFF has partnered with Prime Video to bring 16 of its films to their streaming service.
“This is the first time that our roster of films that are quite different than the normal roster of films that you’re going to see on Prime Video or on any of the streamers,” Olmos told Remezcla during an exclusive interview. “Some of these films have never been seen before and some will never be seen again.”
And why is that? According to Olmos these films don’t have the opportunity to get to big international film festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) because they’re not “commercial enough.” Olmos added, “These films are great stories, inviting great understanding of our culture and the passion and the empathy and the true dignity of the Latino, Ibero-American Latinos from all over the world.”
On the Prime Video Hispanic Heritage Month landing page, the LALIFF films have their own dedicated carousel under “LALIFF (LA Latino International Film Festival) Spotlight. There you can scroll through the 16 films from talented directors like Anthony Nordolillo, Maria Corina Ramirez, and Kase Peña. And all the LALIFF films will be available to watch from September 15th to October 15th. The only caveat is that it’s only for US customers only.
“These films are coming in from Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Brazil, the U.S.,” Olmos said, “And they’re directed by talented talented directors.” And to give further perspective on how platforms like LALIFF or Prime Video can change people’s lives, Olmos also shared a little tidbit about three “unknown” directors that were platformed at the very first LALIFF: Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Alfonso Cuarón.
“Twenty five years ago we brought, I brought Guillermo del Toro, Cuarón, and Iñárritu to the United States for the first time. They had never been here in 1998. They came here for the very first Latino International Film Festival,” Olmos shared, “We presented them to the world here. We presented them to all the major studios. And they just picked up and started looking at their world. And so, boom, they were on. That’s exactly what’s going to happen now with these kids on Prime Video.”
So if you’re looking to support LALIFF and Latine talent, make sure to check out some of the films below!
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A Place in the Field directed by Nicole Mejia
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Alemania directed by María Zanetti
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Bridges directed by Maria Corina Ramirez
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La Raya directed by Yolanda Cruz
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Moe directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela
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My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To directed by Jonathan Cuartas