2011 Rosarito Film Festival ··· August 6-14

2011 Rosarito Film Festival recognizes student achievement in cinematography at Baja Studios

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By: Kaitlin Barnes
Rosarito, Baja California; August 16, 2011.  The 4th Annual Rosarito Film Festival concluded this past Sunday, August 14th, with a red carpet premier at Baja Fox Studios that showcased six student-created films.  Nine participants entered the 2011 Film Festival and teamed up to conceptualize, film, edit, and produce five-minute short films during the eight-day festival. The Rosarito Film Festival is a collaborative effort of Hugo Torres and the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which hosts students and festival staff for the entire week; Daniel Costa and Campus Movie Fest, which provides HD camcorders, Apple laptops, and additional filming equipment; and Baja Fox Studios, which hosts the festival premier.  Additionally, Emerson College students contributing to the RediscoveRosarito image restoration campaign (led by professor Dr. Gregory Payne) and participants of the L.A. Internship Program (directed by Janice Payne) participate as festival staff and communication consultants.  Michael McManus of Lone Knight Productions directs the film workshops and serves as lead professor. Pete Hall, a graduate of Emerson College, coordinates the media for the festival and also assists students with their film projects.  All festival staff volunteer their time and expertise for the festival and neither the City of Rosarito nor festival participants incur any costs.

The closing event of the festival unveiled the films of Fabian Veloz, Monica De Leon, Marcos Daniel Delgado, Alejandro Solórzano Garibaldi, Hector Rico, Jesus Vazquez, Martha Nevarez, Armando Calderón, and Gerardo Remírez.  The premier also showcased the work of past participants, Corina  Martinez Tobón and Yesli Ferrusca, in a behind-the-scenes film of all the week's activities.  Before the presentation of awards, McManus told the audience that "award decisions were harder than any past year" because of the high level of filming and creativity demonstrated by all participants.  The Best Film Award, sponsored by Rosarito Beach Hotel owner and former mayor, Hugo Torres, was presented to Jesus Vazquez for "Casting Call"; Vazquez was also awarded the Michael McManus Best Actor Award for his role in the film.  The Pedro Rodrigues Public Diplomacy Award went to Marcos Daniel Delgado and Gerardo Remírez for "Cambio de Perspectivas," which depicts the experiences of two friends living on opposite sides of the U.S.-Mexican border.  Alejandro Solórzano and Hector Rico received the David Twomey Award for Creativity for "Somewhere," a film that showcases the skateboarding culture of Rosarito.  Payne noted that, "all films showcased give voice to Rosarito and Baja, and help promote positive images of the area."

Notable attendees and judges for the premier included Daniel Torres, general manager of the Rosarito Beach Hotel; Ron Raposa, communications consultant; Rolando Navarro, manager at Baja Studios; Dr. Gregory Payne, executive director for the festival; Janice Payne, executive director of the L.A. Internship Program; Michael McManus, festival director; Terri Pagano, Rosarito resident; and festival communication coordinators, Kaitlin Barnes and Ada Renedo.  During the premier, Payne and Barnes also presented a check to the Rosarito Boys & Girls Club; the Club was the beneficiary of over one thousand dollars from a RediscoveRosarito fundraiser previously hosted in Boston.

For more festival information, visit <www.2011rosaritofilmfestival.weebly.com>, and to learn more about the RediscoveRosarito campaign, please visit <www.rediscoverosarito.org>.

Media Contact: Kaitlin Barnes, <[email protected]>, 617-990-4806




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