(Released February 6, 2010)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival Announces the Film Festival and Production Team for 2010, Indio, California

The 2nd Annual Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival, 2010 will be held on October 15-17 in the City of Indio, California. The event will be a fundraiser to benefit the principle The National Hispanic American Educational Fund, a national Non-Profit 501c(3).

Returning as the regional Producer is Florence Ren Figueroa who will once again produce this year’s event under her Under One Sky Productions banner. Ms. Figueroa comes from an extensive background in the entertainment industry as a independent, writer, producer of documentaries films and having been a Casting Director for the major film production studios, television networks and feature films. Ms. Figueroa was also the Director of Development to Mark R. Harris (the Harris Company – Academy Award winner for the feature films, Crash and Gods and Monsters). Under One Sky Productions’ previous events in the Coachella Valley include: the World Peace Day Festivals, Raw Spirit Celebration, 2009 and the upcoming Alive Spirit Celebration, 2010. Under One Sky Productions maintains the domain name and ownership rights to the Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival.

Returning as the Programmer of the Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival will be Craig Prater of Craig Prater Productions. Prater has a long history with international film festivals and served most recently for 5 years as the Executive Director of The Bangkok International Film Festival. Prater is currently developing new international film projects in Belgrade, Serbia and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He also serves as the Executive Director of Southeast Premieres, a film society organization based in Florida. He is the co-founder of The Women’s International Film & Television Showcase and his company manages The Film Forecast: A Research Marketing Project held annually in various USA cities.

Gerald A. Vukas is the Co-Founder and Managing Director for The National Hispanic American Educational Fund and is president of the twenty-year-old Los Angeles based firm of Hecht, Harman and Vukas, originally established as a public relations, marketing and advertising agency. Commercial celebrity tie-ins, for profit and non-profit event concept and production are also services provided by the firm. Clients have included nationally and internationally recognized individuals in all areas of the entertainment world: theater, motion pictures, television and recording, as well as production companies, civic groups, corporations and a wide variety of non-profit organizations. Presently, and in the past he has served as a member of the board of directors, advisor or officer to a number of non-profit organizations. These include Los Angeles Theater Alliance, David Livingston Missionary Foundation, Los Angeles Ballet Society, Friends of the United Nations, Aid for AIDS, Los Angeles Friends of the Soroka Medical Center and the Art for the Blind Foundation. For the past nine years, Mr. Vukas, has worked closely with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and developed its educational youth award program now in twelve major cities in addition to co-founding the National Hispanic American Educational Fund.

The Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival is also known as CVLIFF will once again present a weekend of rare, new, independent films that promote positive depiction of the Hispanic culture, Latino family and important social-political themes. Local and international Latino filmmakers and entertainers will be a part of the 3-day event, featuring Special Guests from Hollywood, an Audience Favorite Award, decided upon the Festival’s attending audience on Sunday evening, at the close of the film festival. The complete line-up of the film schedule will be announced in September, 2010. For complete information on the Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival please visit the Website: www.cvliff.com.

Press Release – February 6, 2010