March 30, 2019 | 7:00pm-10:00pm
1969 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

About event:
It's extremely important for us to create spaces in which we share Salvadoran experiences and narratives while educating and empowering our communities. We are extremely excited to share the award winning Salvadoran film of Arturo Menéndez, MALACRIANZA. The film has been showcased in over 20 Countries, 40 film festivals such as Latin American Film Festival, Festival Internacional de Cine de la Habana, Festival Internacional de Cine de Panama, Chicago Latino Film Festival and Innsbruck International Film Festival. The film won Best Narrative at the Festival Internacional de CentroAmerica.

Synopsis:
MALACRIANZA tells the story of a humble piñata salesman in the city of San Salvador, Don Cleo, who one day receives an extortion note for $500 - must get the money in less than 72 hours. Feeling forced and without resources to obtain it, decides to face the “supposed extortionists” who sent the note.

Moderators: Cynthia Gonzalez & Mario J. Novoa

About the Director:

Arturo Menéndez. Writer/Director. El Salvador 1978. Forbes magazine considered Arturo as one of the most influential people in Central America on 2015, and made it to the "Most creative" list of Central America in Forbes México 2018. Writer and director of 5 films (3 shorts, 2 features) "Parávolar"(2008) "Cinema Libertad" (2009) "Nada" (Written by Javier Kafie, 2015) "Malacrianza" (2014) and "Pablo's word" (2017) His first feature film, "Malacrianza" 2014 (Coproduction between El Salvador, México and Canada) was premiered at the AFI Latin American Film Festival in Washington DC. It was selected at the Havana Film Festival, Panama International FF, Chicago latin american Film Festival, Innsbruck international FF, Vancouver Latin American FF, Costa Rica international FF, among others. It was commercially exhibited in El Salvador and México between 2015 and 2016. Winner of best screenplay and best actress in the Central America International FF (caiff), Received a Jury mention at the Innsbruck International Film Festival, Winner of the Pixels Award (Given by MINEC El Salvador) in 2015, award that helped financing his second feature "Pablo's Word" premiered in 2018 (Chicago latino Film Festival) in co-production with Canada (Sivela Pictures/FirePower entertainment) has been acquired by HBO to be realeased in the USA, And Sony Pictures for the LATAM territory. Winner of 6 international awards. His work had let him into the Berlinale Talent Campus #9 and nominated to the Berlin Today Award with his short film script Cinema Libertad. His short films had been shown in more than 40 film festivals, and Cinematheques like México,Telaviv, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, Santo Domingo and Buenos Aires. Also they have been screened In Melbourne Cinematheque (ACMI), and the Iconic Babylon Theater in Berlin. He created (Written and directed) Horror Stories (TV Pilot) in 2011. Produced by Meridiano 89, on 2017 Arturo directed 30 episodes (3 seasons) of the colombian TV Series "Los Vecinos" (Release TBC) Soon, he will be directing in Los Angeles, his first feature film in english "Una de loroco".