The New York Latino Film Festival 2011

My favorite event of the year, not only because it marks 1 year after meeting Carmen Rosa from Mamachas Del Ring, but it also marks 1 year of meeting and knowing En La Escena. 

This year I attended Chico y Rita, a heartbreaking and exhilarating animated feature-length film about a piano player and extravagant singer who come together. Their talents and passion for music brings them together and they fall in love. 

I also attended a series of short films called "Empire State of Mind," featuring films: "NightLife", El Spanish Lesson," "Our Time," "Mosquito," "Gone," "The Act of Love," "The Interview," "Piel," and "Trouble Child."  

One of my personal favorites was El Spanish Lesson, by Hannah Sanderson. A girl goes out of her way to meet her boyfriends mother, Magdalena at Magdalena's hair salon. Its humorous and cute to see the combination of two races coming together. The only thing stopping them from interacting is their difference of language. But in the end it comes to show that one can learn a lot from sitting in a Spanish Hair Salon.  

Another one of my personal favorites was Mosquito, by Jeremy Engle. Mosquito follows a young boy that is tortured by his neighborhood locals. It shows the struggle he goes through to deserve the respect he needs. I have a soft spot for films about youth due to the fact that I work with children. I'm around them all day and I felt like this movie would be great for children who are tormented and need to believe that they can overcome their fears and gain respect.

Elizabeth Ortiz (President of My Life Style Magazine) got a chance to attend the pre-screening of CNNs "In her Corner", a documentary about Latino Women and boxing.