'Alondra Smiles' Wins the IFFF Director's Gold Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Villa Media Productions
Juan Francisco Villa
(626) 893-0536
Conchita Nora Villa
(626) 485-2582
"ALONDRA SMILES"
Wins the Directors Gold Award at the International Family Film Festival
A Heartwarming Feature Film Produced by a Family
Hollywood, March 5, 2008 - Independent film "Alondra Smiles" premiered in Hollywood this weekend at the 13th Annual International Family Film Festival, and garnered the festival's top recognition, the IFFF Directors Gold Award.
Villa Media Productions, along with an up-and-coming cast, brings this heartwarming story to life. In "Alondra Smiles," we meet Alondra, a fourteen-year-old who's planning to have a very special 15th birthday celebration, and her spoiled cousin Tatiana, who wants to ruin Alondra's plans.
Alondra (Natalie Gomez) has a positive attitude towards life despite having lost her parents to an accident seven years ago; she is grateful for her loving grandparents (Jose V. Villa and Josefina Ortega-Villa), whom she now lives with. Alondra befriends Armando (Anthony Marquez), a nice guy she met while working at her uncle's restaurant. Unfortunately, Alondra's manipulative step-cousin Tatiana (Paloma Rodriguez) wants Armando as her date for her debutante party, and with the help of her sidekicks she keeps Armando and Alondra apart while making them believe that she's just trying to help.
Director Conchita Nora Villa says, "My family and I wanted to produce a movie that an entire family can watch together. It was also important for me to portray Latinos in a positive, non-stereotypical way."
Ms. Villa's credits include working on "Selena" and "Mi Familia/My Family" as well as producing various independent projects. After over 10 years of experience in the various facets of the film industry, she decided to team up with her brother, Producer/Writer Juan Francisco Villa, and her family to produce and finance "Alondra Smiles." This film is Ms. Villa's directorial debut.
"Alondra Smiles" has also been selected to the International Film Festival in England (June 2008), the International Film Festival in South Africa (October 2008) and the Kids First! Film Festival. "Alondra Smiles" is currently looking for distribution. Trailer, photos and further information are available at www.villamediaprod.com and www.myspace.com/alondrasmiles.
Villa Media Productions is a family-owned and operated company. It is currently developing an "Alondra Smiles" television pilot.
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