For years, much of the film industry has considered Sundance as a ’90s legacy, one most famous for launching the festival that cemented a market for American independent film. However, the seeds for that phenomenon were sown in the previous decade.
Hollywood raced into the ’80s with its blockbuster juices flowing, as the box-office sensations of “Jaws” and then “Star Wars” rejuvenated the studio confidence in mass-market commercial storytelling, and the prospects of small-scale independent filmmaking seemed more marginalized than ever. Enter Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute, which launched its first feature film lab in 1981, and created a seminal resource for working outside the system still unparalleled in the U.S. today.
In the midst of the studios getting a second wind, Redford felt unnerved. Though the movie star made a successful pivot to directing with “Ordinary People” in 1980, he had long felt that Hollywood underserved movies made with an economy of means.
Hollywood raced into the ’80s with its blockbuster juices flowing, as the box-office sensations of “Jaws” and then “Star Wars” rejuvenated the studio confidence in mass-market commercial storytelling, and the prospects of small-scale independent filmmaking seemed more marginalized than ever. Enter Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute, which launched its first feature film lab in 1981, and created a seminal resource for working outside the system still unparalleled in the U.S. today.
In the midst of the studios getting a second wind, Redford felt unnerved. Though the movie star made a successful pivot to directing with “Ordinary People” in 1980, he had long felt that Hollywood underserved movies made with an economy of means.
- 8/14/2023
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
El Norte, the acclaimed, Oscar-nominated epic about immigrants from Central America seeking the promise represented by life in U.S., returns to 200-plus movie theaters Sunday to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month and the film’s 35th anniversary.
The revival, a presentation of Fathom Events and Lionsgate, marks the film’s first theatrical release since its 1984 debut and features a state-of-the-art restoration produced by the Academy Film Archives, supported in part by the Getty Foundation. Lionsgate will also re-release El Norte on digital formats September 17.
The theatrical presentation will include a special introduction by El Norte director and co-writer Gregory Nava (whose credits also include Mi Familia and Selena) as well as a new featurette on the dangerous “outlaw” production that yielded a heartfelt film that both Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale would invoke during the 1984 presidential race.
Gregory NavaThis was an outlaw film. You don’t make “El Norte” with permission.
The revival, a presentation of Fathom Events and Lionsgate, marks the film’s first theatrical release since its 1984 debut and features a state-of-the-art restoration produced by the Academy Film Archives, supported in part by the Getty Foundation. Lionsgate will also re-release El Norte on digital formats September 17.
The theatrical presentation will include a special introduction by El Norte director and co-writer Gregory Nava (whose credits also include Mi Familia and Selena) as well as a new featurette on the dangerous “outlaw” production that yielded a heartfelt film that both Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale would invoke during the 1984 presidential race.
Gregory NavaThis was an outlaw film. You don’t make “El Norte” with permission.
- 9/12/2019
- by Geoff Boucher
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, “El Norte” has been set for re-release, “A Dark Place” finds a home and Nazneen Contractor has joined the cast of the “Saw” reboot.
Anniversary Release
Fathom Events and Lionsgate have set a 35th anniversary release on Sept. 15 for “El Norte,” Gregory Nava’s drama about the dreams of immigrants from Central America.
“El Norte” has been set to coincide with the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month. It will play in more than 200 movie theaters in select markets nationwide and include an exclusive introduction by Nava, whose films also include “Selena” and “Mi Familia.”
The screenings will also include a featurette that explores the making of the film with the film’s stars, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando. Nava’s introduction and the behind-the-scenes featurette will be presented in both English and Spanish.
The Fathom Events presentation of “El Norte” is...
Anniversary Release
Fathom Events and Lionsgate have set a 35th anniversary release on Sept. 15 for “El Norte,” Gregory Nava’s drama about the dreams of immigrants from Central America.
“El Norte” has been set to coincide with the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month. It will play in more than 200 movie theaters in select markets nationwide and include an exclusive introduction by Nava, whose films also include “Selena” and “Mi Familia.”
The screenings will also include a featurette that explores the making of the film with the film’s stars, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando. Nava’s introduction and the behind-the-scenes featurette will be presented in both English and Spanish.
The Fathom Events presentation of “El Norte” is...
- 8/3/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
35 Years After Its Original Theatrical Release, the Oscar® Nominated Classic, Restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, to Play on More Than 200 Screens to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
“El Norte,” the epic, widely acclaimed masterpiece about the dreams of immigrants from Central America and the promise of America, will return to movie theaters in select markets this September in a special one-day-only 35th anniversary presentation from Fathom Events and global content leader Lionsgate.
Directed by Gregory Nava from a screenplay co-written by Anna Thomas, “El Norte” will play on Sunday, September 15 – the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month – in more than 200 movie theaters in select markets nationwide. This special one-day-only presentation will include an exclusive introduction by Nava, whose films also include the beloved hits “Selena” and “Mi Familia.” The Fathom Events screenings will also include a brand-new featurette that explores the making of the film...
“El Norte,” the epic, widely acclaimed masterpiece about the dreams of immigrants from Central America and the promise of America, will return to movie theaters in select markets this September in a special one-day-only 35th anniversary presentation from Fathom Events and global content leader Lionsgate.
Directed by Gregory Nava from a screenplay co-written by Anna Thomas, “El Norte” will play on Sunday, September 15 – the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month – in more than 200 movie theaters in select markets nationwide. This special one-day-only presentation will include an exclusive introduction by Nava, whose films also include the beloved hits “Selena” and “Mi Familia.” The Fathom Events screenings will also include a brand-new featurette that explores the making of the film...
- 8/2/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In an era of kids in cages, “build that wall,” and migrant caravans, Gregory Nava’s 1984 independent drama “El Norte” is both landmark and prescient. While it focused on the story of two migrant siblings from a Mayan village in Guatemala, it represented the journey of the thousands of Central Americans who left their homes for a treacherous journey to the United States, where the promise of a better life — and the harsh realities of what they would actually find — lay on the other side of barbed wire.
For the film’s 35th anniversary, it will receive a one-day release September 15 in more than 200 theaters nationwide via Fathom Events, with Lionsgate releasing the film on digital platforms September 17. This also represents the first-ever screening of the film’s Academy restoration, with a new introduction by Nava and a post-credits featurette with stars Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando, who portrayed the migrant siblings.
For the film’s 35th anniversary, it will receive a one-day release September 15 in more than 200 theaters nationwide via Fathom Events, with Lionsgate releasing the film on digital platforms September 17. This also represents the first-ever screening of the film’s Academy restoration, with a new introduction by Nava and a post-credits featurette with stars Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando, who portrayed the migrant siblings.
- 8/2/2019
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Ela Bittencourt's column explores South America’s key festivals and notable screenings of Latin films in North America and Europe.El Norte“We need to see our experiences validated, otherwise we don’t exist. And if we don’t exist, we become diminished,” says Lourdes Portillo, the filmmaker behind Corpus: A Home Movie for Selena (1999), a documentary short that screens in the current Brooklyn Academy of Music (Bam) retrospective, "¡Sí Se Puede! Pioneers of Chicano Cinema", spanning Mexican-American films from the 1970s to the 90s, and focusing primarily on the Chicano community’s rising socio-political awareness.Urgent issues of representation ripple through the entire program. From Selena (1997), a biopic about a music star, Selena Quintanilla, directed by Gregory Nava and starring Jennifer Lopez, in which we watch Selena’s budding talent consistently protected and bolstered by her father’s loving yet adamant admonishing her to always “be who you are deep down,...
- 3/15/2018
- MUBI
Arriving in limited release this weekend before expanding wide in early October, Denis Villeneuve‘s Sicario is a strong start to the fall season. The drama surrounding the drug battle at the U.S.-Mexico border might not get any points for subtlety, but Villeneuve amplifies the tension of every scene with help from cinematographer Roger Deakins outdoing himself with every shot.
If it’s not coming to your city this weekend, or if you’re simply in the mood for some similarly themed films, we’ve rounded up eight titles that are well worth watching before seeing Sicario. Rather than including past work from Villeneuve (Prisoners and Enemy make for worthy primers) or proof that Emily Blunt makes an excellent heroine (see: Edge of Tomorrow and Looper), the selections aim to cover a thematic crossroads. Check them out below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Cartel Land...
If it’s not coming to your city this weekend, or if you’re simply in the mood for some similarly themed films, we’ve rounded up eight titles that are well worth watching before seeing Sicario. Rather than including past work from Villeneuve (Prisoners and Enemy make for worthy primers) or proof that Emily Blunt makes an excellent heroine (see: Edge of Tomorrow and Looper), the selections aim to cover a thematic crossroads. Check them out below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Cartel Land...
- 9/16/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0 Chicago – Gregory Bava’s “El Norte” is a riveting commentary on the impact of the American dream on the rest of the world. It’s easily one of the best films produced about the complex struggle of immigration and a great way to kick off 2009 for The Criterion Collection.
The three-chapter films details the ripple effect of even just the perception of the money, freedom, and happiness that is supposedly only possible in “El Norte”. Bava’s highly acclaimed film is a quarter-century old but is just as pertinent today as when it was made. It’s not an easy film. The story of Enrique and Rosa is shockingly sad and hard-to-watch, but it details something that is happening every single day and should not be ignored.
El Norte was released by The Criterion Collection on January 20th, 2009.
Photo credit: Criterion
“El Norte” is split into three chapters - “Arturo Xuncax,...
The three-chapter films details the ripple effect of even just the perception of the money, freedom, and happiness that is supposedly only possible in “El Norte”. Bava’s highly acclaimed film is a quarter-century old but is just as pertinent today as when it was made. It’s not an easy film. The story of Enrique and Rosa is shockingly sad and hard-to-watch, but it details something that is happening every single day and should not be ignored.
El Norte was released by The Criterion Collection on January 20th, 2009.
Photo credit: Criterion
“El Norte” is split into three chapters - “Arturo Xuncax,...
- 1/26/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
I can't remember how old I was, but I was quite young - like 6-years-old or so - when I was in San Diego with my uncle and we stopped at a 7-11 or something similar and a group of men were standing on the curb. While my uncle was inside the store a couple of them were picked up in a truck and taken away while a few remained behind. My uncle came out of the store and I asked him what they were doing. He told me they were "the Mexicans." This meant nothing to me since I had never seen anything like it and didn't know what being Mexican had to do with it. He told me they were going to work and I still didn't understand entirely, and I can't remember if he ever told me the whole story or not, but that was my introduction to day laborers.
- 1/26/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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