Even Minus La Dona, Festival Has a Lot to Celebrate

The fourth annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival closed on a bittersweet note, with its honorary guest, Mexican actress Maria Felix, a no-show, but with record crowds packing the Egyptian Theater for the 10-day festival.

Organizers estimated about 30,000 people attended the festival, which concluded Sunday. The festival’s popularity has increased every year, with about 23,000 people in attendance last year.

“This has been the single most successful [Latino] festival we have ever had in the history of this city,� said co-founder Edward James Olmos.

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With lines snaking into the Egyptian Theater courtyard for many of the sold-out evening shows, some attending questioned whether the festival had outgrown its venue. The historic Egyptian accommodates about 600 people per show.

Indeed, an audience backup from the movie preceding the awards gala Saturday delayed the ceremony nearly an hour.

Several celebrities who had, according to festival organizers, confirmed their attendance were no-shows, among them Salma Hayek, John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez. But the biggest disappointment was the absence of Felix, who decided at the last minute not to appear. Felix called Olmos on Saturday morning, saying that she would not make it, and in classic diva fashion, offered no reason why.

Olmos had to face not only 617 people in the theater--some in tears--but a frustrated press corps at a news conference earlier in the day. “She’s La Dona, OK?� was all Olmos could say, referring to her nickname, the Grand Diva.

Festival organizers scrambling to find a solution to their problem telephoned the 85-year-old actress at her home in Mexico during the awards ceremony. After a few unsuccessful tries at reaching her, they finally got Felix on the phone so audience members could at least hear her voice.

“I send my love to all of you. Even though I am not there physically, I am with you all in my heart,� said Felix as Olmos held the phone to a microphone.

And without missing a beat, showing off her legendary spunk, she said to Olmos, “And, hey, are you going to send me all the things I have won?�

Pedro Armendariz Jr., whose father, Pedro Armendariz, starred with Felix in several films, told the actress that he would personally deliver the goods, which included a signed photograph of her eyes--taken from a scene in her favorite film, “Enamorda,� which was shot by the great Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa. She also received a mini-pedestal sculpture by artist Robert Graham.

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Following the Felix ceremony, festival organizers honored the new generation of filmmakers.

Brazil’s Nigel Noble won best documentary and $5,000 worth of Fuji film for his heart-wrenching movie “The Charcoal People.� Chilean filmmaker Cristian Galaz was named best first-time filmmaker, receiving a $3,000 cash award for “Chacotero Sentimental.�

Best screenplay and director awards went to Mexico’s Luis Estrada for his black comedy on Mexican politics and corruption, “La Ley de Herodes.� His film recently swept Mexico’s Arieles, the country’s equivalent of the Oscars. He will receive $5,000 for each award.

And in a decision that surprised many in the audience, “El Valle,� directed by Gustavo Balza, a young Venezuelan filmmaker, won best film. The movie is a gritty tale about a girl who dies from a botched abortion.

“This is the first time in my life I have ever won an award,� said Balza as he stood before the crowd. “This film was not an easy film to make or watch. So thank you all very much for this award.�