Report on the 2016 HOLAfestival

On Thursday, December 8, 2016, the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) presented its latest incarnation of the HOLAfestival, a spotlight on HOLA member-writers. This year, it was a film festival where three short films and a feature film written (or co-written by HOLA members) were to be presented. The short films included Twice Upon A Time (written by Iliana Guibert, who unfortunately could not attend due to a previous engagement), Sal (written by Lucio Fernández), ¡Ay, Que Susto! (written by Mo Zapata and A.B. Lugo), and the 2016 HOLA Award-winning film The Stockroom (written by 2016 HOLA Awards honoree Víctor Cruz). The festival took place at Teatro LATEA in The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood.

During an intermission held between the screenings of the short films and the feature presentation, filmmaker Víctor Cruz offered a proposition. He happened to have several copies of his film The Stockroom, and he offered to sell them (at a regular price, and at a discount for HOLA members in attendance) with 50% of the proceeds going to benefit HOLA. He also offered a free copy to those who signed up for a one-year membership with HOLA that evening.

Special thanks to the staff of Teatro LATEA, Anthony Ruiz, the staff of The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, Víctor Cruz, the filmmakers, and those in attendance for helping make this event a success.

[Photos on this blog by Ken Bravo/Ken Bravo Photography. To see more photos of this event, click here.]