The Chicas Going to Work it Out!
Senorita Cinema is The Lone Star States very first ALL LATINA film festival.
In the past the role of the Latina woman in film, for the most part, was left to the
imaginations of others with very typical Hollywood results. Senorita Cinema turns the
screen over to the rising wave of Latina women who are sharing their stories and
visions by making movies and video art. The festivals aim is to show the rich tapestry
of different voices, styles, ideas, unique to the Latina experience.
Founder Stephanie Saint Sanchez explains more, “A few years ago I was real hot on
sending my short films out to festivals. This was at a point when I thought Sundance
and Telluride were accessible and you didn’t have to have a publicist or agent or uncle
in the biz to get in. I got in a few smaller festivals which was nice but as a whole I was
spending a lot of time, effort and entry fees that really added up after a while and not
really getting anything out of it. That was until I heard about Real Women Have Curves,
screenwriter Josephina Lopez’s Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Extravaganza!
(BHLiFE) in L.A.. I figured if I couldn't get my stuff shown there then I should pack it in
for sure. They dug my stuff and even invited me out. That festival saved my life. I felt
like I was a young punk seeing my first Ramones show at CBGB in it’s heyday. Like
something big was happening and that we Latina filmmakers were the future architects
of an important chapter in film history. For me Senorita Cinema is a continuation of
that promise.”
In the past the role of the Latina woman in film, for the most part, was left to the
imaginations of others with very typical Hollywood results. Senorita Cinema turns the
screen over to the rising wave of Latina women who are sharing their stories and
visions by making movies and video art. The festivals aim is to show the rich tapestry
of different voices, styles, ideas, unique to the Latina experience.
Founder Stephanie Saint Sanchez explains more, “A few years ago I was real hot on
sending my short films out to festivals. This was at a point when I thought Sundance
and Telluride were accessible and you didn’t have to have a publicist or agent or uncle
in the biz to get in. I got in a few smaller festivals which was nice but as a whole I was
spending a lot of time, effort and entry fees that really added up after a while and not
really getting anything out of it. That was until I heard about Real Women Have Curves,
screenwriter Josephina Lopez’s Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Extravaganza!
(BHLiFE) in L.A.. I figured if I couldn't get my stuff shown there then I should pack it in
for sure. They dug my stuff and even invited me out. That festival saved my life. I felt
like I was a young punk seeing my first Ramones show at CBGB in it’s heyday. Like
something big was happening and that we Latina filmmakers were the future architects
of an important chapter in film history. For me Senorita Cinema is a continuation of
that promise.”
Blame it On Texas
Blame it on Texas...well sort of. Having had such a great experience at BHLIFE I knew it was really something special but I would have never thought, Hey let's make it happen here in Houston. Well that wasn't until the Lawndale Art Center's Studio Residency Program which I was lucky to be selected for in it's inaugural year came along. As per stipulation for the program each artist had to host a workshop, talk or presentation and it is then that Senorita Cinema came to life. We held our first festival over a weekend at The Lawndale Art Center with entries from all over with an attendance of about 50. Since then we have kept if going through the help and hard work of friends, colleagues, and film-lovers.