The 2006 Washington DC Independent Film Festival – DCIFF Promotes Cine Latino

Carol Bidault, born in Honduras and raised in LA is the Executive Director- Founder of The Washington DC Independent Film Festival; she goes back to her Hispanic roots by promoting Cine Latino through DCIFF

(PRWEB) February 19, 2006 -- Carol Bidault, born in Honduras and raised in LA is the Executive Director- Founder of The Washington DC Independent Film Festival; she goes back to her Hispanic roots by promoting Cine Latino through DCIFF, the festival that brings independent film culture to Washington, D.C. This year’s festival will be from March 2nd through March 12th, come and indulge your love of independent films at the 8th annual, DCIFF. The Festival will feature over 110 films including feature films, short films, animated films and documentaries which will be held at locations throughout Washington D.C.

In the tradition of Sundance and Cannes comes the DCIFF, which strives to bring truly individualistic films to the nation's capital and to provide a unique forum for thousands of filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike.

Washington, D.C. is one of the three most important production centers. Where rankings are concerned, Washington D.C.’s production center is just as influential as those in Los Angeles and New York.

DCIFF strives to support new films by aiding them in finding their audiences and to help them gain as much media and industry attention as possible. This festival relies on the support of dedicated volunteers to create a forum where artistry, creativity and originality unite for 11 days of thought provoking and inspiring cinema.

This year DCIFF received over 1200 submissions from all over the world. With 116 films in the festival, audiences again can enjoy the best of independent filmmaking. Join question & answer sessions between the audience and the filmmakers after every session, and vote for your favorite film.

We are proud to announce the list of films included in our Political, Social and Controversial Session:
Halley's Comet (short, 12 minutes, Canada, 16mm, DVD) As a woman watches her mother react in denial to her father's hospitalization and inevitable dying, she recalls a childhood friend's dream to watch Halley's comet pass by the Earth before his own dying.

Director: Cecilia Araneda
Location: Goethe Institut, 3/4/2006, 6:00pm

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (feature, 128 minutes, USA) Three generations of women in a Mexican American family experience sexual awakenings over the course of a summer. (Sundance Film Festival,2005)

Director: Georgina Riedel
Location: Goethe Institut, 3/4/2006, 6:00pm

The Killings at Rio Escondido (short, 8 minutes, USA, DV/Beta SP) Blake and Justin have always shared the same dream, making movies. Their mentor is Robert Rodriquez and their film school is his book "Rebel Without A Crew". They worship the film making philosophies of Robert Rodriquez, one of them being, "you have to make 30 bad films before you make a good one". On their 29th film they manage to lock an extra in the trunk and forget about him for five days.

Director: Jorge Maldonado
Location: JCC/f4, 3/3/2006, 9:15pm

Moving Forward (documentary, 27 minutes, USA, DV, DVD) Microcredit may just be a theory to some, but to three low income women in Cali, Colombia, it has become a source of hope as they work hard to take the stigma out of poverty and provide a better life for their families. 'Moving Forward' is a powerful and inspiring tool that portrays the challenges that Luz Marina, Nancy and Consuelo have to face while revealing the impact of microcredit in their lives. (Athens International Film and Video Festival in Ohio)

Director: Karen Zider (DC Filmmaker)
Location: Goethe Institut, 3/4/2006, 8:55pm

Uso Justo (short, 22, USA, DV, Beta SP) Uso Justo is a short 22 minute existential comedy about a small town thrown into turmoil when an experimental filmmaker decides to shoot his next film there. Coleman Miller recuts, edits, and subtitles an obscure 1959 dramatic Mexican film turning it into a hilarious comedy about free will, destiny, fair use and one towns desire to understand what is happening. (Ken Burns Best of the Festival Award – Ann Arbor Film Festival, March 2005 Audience Award – Chicago Underground Film Festival. August 2005)

Director: Coleman Miller
Location: Gala/f17, 3/6/2006, 6:45pm

Valentina's Tango (feature, 108 minutes, USA, 16mm, DV/Beta SP) Valentina is a beautiful Tango dancer who's love for her husband is beyond obsesive. When tragedy befalls her husband Eduardo, she begins a decent into maddness. Valentina and Eduardo have two sons. One is studying to become a priest while the other is falling into a life of crime. They both try to help their mother in their own way as they deal with their own version of obsesive love when they fall for the same woman. This dark humored tragedy is a unique perspective on love, lust and the Tango. (Depraved - Released on HBO, Cinemax, Blockbuster Video. Screened at Minniapolis Int F.F. / The Addict - Havana Int F.F. Santa Barbara F.F. Chicago Int. F.F. / Shotgun - SDSU Film dept award in excellence)

Director: Rogelio Lobato
Location:    JCC/f4, 3/3/2006, 9:15pm
Bio: Valentina's Tango is Rogelio Lobato's 2nd feature produced though his production company, Wolfcub Films. He holds a Masters degree in film Directing from The American Film Institute and a Bachlores degree in film production from Sandiego State University. Presently employeed by CBS news in Los angeles as a videotape news editor.

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