Maya and Blockbuster Film Series Begins July 17

7 Jul, 2009 By: Angelique Flores

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The Maya Independent Film Series, presented by Maya Entertainment and Blockbuster Inc., kicks off next week in Los Angeles.

Throughout the summer, eight Latino-themed films will have limited theatrical showings in eight cities through Sept. 10. The host cities are Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Miami; San Francisco; San Diego; Dallas; and New York, where the screenings will run in conjunction with the New York Latino Film Festival.

All the films will be available for rent on home video exclusively at Blockbuster stores, in special merchandising sections. The Line streets Sept. 4, and the other seven films in the series arrive Sept. 8.

“There is growing number of movies that are not getting the attention that they need,” said Moctesuma Esparza, CEO of Maya Entertainment. “It takes something extra to set yourself apart and have people be aware of the choices that are there and get their attention.”

Indeed, in addition to the theatrical screenings and home video, the films also will be available on video-on-demand through all the major cable systems such as Comcast, TimeWarner and Verizon.

The eight films in the series are the bilingual crime drama The Line, which stars Ray Liota, Andy Garcia, Esai Morales and Armand Assante; Bad Guys, starring Kate del Castillo (La Misma Luna) as an attorney who schemes to produce and distribute a new designer drug; Bajo la Sal, a Spanish-language thriller from Mexico; Vicious Circle, a teen love story starring Paul Rodriguez Jr. and Emily Rios (Quinceañera); the Brazilian love story Once Upon in Rio, in Portuguese; Máncora, a Spanish-language film from director Ricardo de Montreuil (La Mujer de Mi Hermano), starring Enrique Murciano (The Lost City, “Without a Trace), which was nominated for a Grand Jury prize at Sundance in 2008; the crime thriller Sultanes del Sur, starring Tony Dalton, Jordí Molla and Ana de la Reguera; and the comedy Crónicas Chilangas.

On Nov. 10 (prebook Sept. 30) Maya releases The Line ($24.98 DVD, $29.98 Blu-ray Disc), Bad Guys ($14.98 DVD) and Bajo la Sal ($19.98 DVD). Vicious Circle streets on DVD Dec. 8 (prebook Nov. 10) at $14.98. Once Upon a Time in Rio and Máncora street Jan. 12, 2010 (price TBD). The other two films in the series will be released in the first quarter 2010. All the DVDs will have English subtitles.

This batch of films is intended to target both Latino audiences and Latino film enthusiasts.

“We were looking for movies that have both American mainstream commercial sensibilities as well as artistic Latin American sensibilities and Latin American commercial films,” Esparza said.

Esparza said the partnership with Blockbuster will give these Latino films more visibility at retail and provide them with a higher profile in the market place.

“This is furthering our goal of bringing quality movies from Latin America and providing quality exposure,” Esparza said.

The films also will run in Esparza’s California-based Maya Cinemas in Salinas and Bakersfield, where the new 60-screen megaplex opens July 14. Maya Cinemas is a chain of movie theaters in locations that have a strong Latino presence.

More information about the film series will be posted at .

 

 

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