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A look back at 2012 reveals an undeniable fact, it has been a great year for Latino film. Sundance started the year off strong with films like Aurora Guerrero’s sweet and tender Mosquita y Mari and Marialy Rivas’ rambunctious Joven y Alocada (Young & Wild). Gina Rodriguez broke out in Filly Brown, as a rapper who needs to make it big so she can raise money to get her mom out of jail. In the film, Jenni Rivera played the part of Filly’s mom in her first, and sadly last, movie role.

There was also a strong Latin American presence at Cannes this past summer, boasting films from Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It might as well have been called Mexi-Cannes, with Mexican films winning awards across all main sections of the festival. Carlos Reygadas was honored as the Best Director for his controversial film Post Tenebras Lux, despite having received boos at its premiere screening. The prize for the Critics’ Week section went to Aquí y Allá (Here and There) and Después de Lucía (After Lucia) won the top prize for Un Certain Regard.

It’s been an especially favorable year for Chilean cinema. The New York Film Festival, in its 50th edition this past Fall, included three highly anticipated films by Pablo Larraín, Valeria Sarmiento, and the late Raúl Ruiz. And Chile continued to outshine the rest of the region by winning two top spots at the Festival Internacional de Nuevo Cine Latino de La Habana (the Havana Film Festival) just a few days ago. Pablo Larraín’s No, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, won the First Coral Prize. It’s a brilliant take on the real life story of an advertising campaign that ousted General Pinochet from power during a shining moment in Chilean politics. Violeta se fue a los cielos (Violeta Went To Heaven), a biopic about internationally famous Violeta de la Parra, a Chilean singer, songwriter, and poet won the Second Prize.

Whether it was at Cannes, Sundance, or countless other festivals, Latino films were winning award after award this year and even getting distribution (albeit usually in limited release). With the flurry of activity surrounding the region’s filmmaking, it can be hard to keep up with it all. Thankfully, there are professionals who get paid to keep track of what movies are receiving accolades, have the most buzz, and got picked up for distribution. LatinoBuzz went straight to the experts, film programmers, to ask, “What’s your top 5 Latino films of 2012?”

Carlos Gutierrez, Co-Founder and Director of Cinema Tropical

In no particular order, a list of five Latin American films that made it to Us screens in the past year (some of them are a couple of years old), which I highly recommend.

De Jueves a Domingo (Thursday Till Sunday), Director: Dominga Sotomayor, Chile

O Som ao Redor (Neighboring Sounds), Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil

El Estudiante, Director: Santiago Mitre, Argentina

El Velador, Director: Natalia Almada, Mexico

El Lugar Más Pequeño (The Tiniest Place), Director: Tatiana Huezo, Mexico/El Salvador

Juan Caceres, Director of Programming at the New York International Latino Film Festival

Mosquita y Mari is a gorgeous film full of heart. Marialy Rivas (Director of Joven y Alocada) is an incredibly exciting new voice in Latin American cinema. She's fearless and full of love. I'm a huge fan of Lucy Mulloy (Director of Una Noche). She draws these wonderful performances from non-professional actors. A natural at using the lens to tell a story. In Las Malas Intenciones Fatima Buntinx plays the lead perfectly. Andres Wood made a beautiful film called 'Machuca', that captured the soul of Chile in the 70's and he does the same with a bio-pic of Violeta Parra, a folk singer who was a part of 'La Nueva Canción Chilena'.

Mosquita y Mari, Director: Aurora Guerrero, USA

Joven y Alocada (Young and Wild), Director: Marialy Rivas, Chile

Una Noche, Director: Lucy Mulloy, Cuba

Violeta Se Fue A Los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven), Director: Andrés Wood, Chile

Las Malas Intenciones (The Bad Intentions), Director: Rosario García-Montero, Perú

Christine Davila, Programming Associate at Sundance Film Festival

There are way too many Latino films and not enough coverage on American Latino films so with that -- mine are going to be strictly American Latino films.

Los Chidos, Director: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, USA/Mexico

Mosquita y Mari, Director: Aurora Guerrero, USA

Elliot Loves, Director: Terracino, USA

Aquí y Allá (Here and There), Director: Antonio Méndez Esparza, USA/Spain/Mexico

Love, Concord, Director: Gustavo Guardado, USA

Lisa Franek, Artistic Director at the San Diego Latino Film Festival

Just 5?? That's tough! In Filly Brown, Gina Rodriguez turns in a great performance, and I expect to see more great things from her very soon. No, I saw at Cannes, and it was fascinating, especially in contrast to Larraín's previous (amazing) films. La Hora Cero has unforgettable scenes and characters! La Mujer de Ivan has amazing acting, and I believe Maria de Los Angeles Garcia is definitely a talent to watch. Reportero is also fantastic.

La Mujer de Iván, Director: Francisca Silva, Chile

No, Director: Pablo Larraín, Chile/France/USA

La Hora Cero, Director: Diego Velasco, Venezuela

Reportero, Director: Bernardo Ruiz, USA/Mexico

Filly Brown, Directors: Youssef Delara, Michael D. Olmos, USA

Marcela Goglio, Programmer for Latinbeat at The Film Society of Lincoln Center

Las Acacias, Director: Pablo Giorgelli, Argentina

As Cançoes (Songs), Director: Eduardo Coutinho, Brazil

Unfinished Spaces, Directors: Alyssa Nahmias & Benjamin Murray, USA

O Som ao Redor (Neighboring Sounds), Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil

Aquí y Allá (Here and There), Director: Antonio Méndez Esparza, USA/Spain/Mexico

Pepe Vargas, Executive Director of the International Latino Cultural Center and Chicago Latino Film Festival

Not an easy task to come up with 5 titles - there are so many good movies.

La Piel que Habito (The Skin I Live In)

Director: Pedro Almodóvar, Spain

Salvando al Soldado Pérez, (Saving Private Perez)

Director: Beto Gómez, Mexico

Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Out)

Director: Sebastián Borensztein, Argentina/Spain

Lobos de Arga (Game of Werewolves)

Director: Juan Martínez Moreno, Spain

Mariachi Gringo

Director: Tom Gustafson, USA/Mexico

Amalia Cordova, Coordinator of the Latin American Program at the Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Granito, Director: Pamela Yates, USA/Guatemala/Spain

Desterro Guarani, Directors: Patricia Ferreira y Ariel Duarte Ortega, Brazil

Violeta Se Fue A Los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven), Director: Andrés Wood, Chile

5 x Favela – Agora por nós Mesmos (5 x Favela, Now by Ourselves), Directors: Manaíra Carneiro, Wagner Novais, Cacau Amaral, Rodrigo Felha, Luciano Vidigal, Cadu Barcelos, and Luciana Bezerra, Brazil

Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Out), Director: Sebastián Borensztein, Argentina/Spain

Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on twitter.

According to his IMDb page bio, Jorge Diaz ("Hor-Hey" - don't call him "George") is lactose Intolerant. He feels you should know that. He was recently in New York to attend the HBO New York International Latino Film Festival for the world premiere of 'Love, Concord' directed by Gustavo Guardado, in which he plays the lead role of Gerry, a class clown who meets Melinda (played charmingly by Angelina Leon), a pretty Latina bookworm and his world is flipped upside down in this sweet funny story that is the first feature set in Concord, California. Jorge's charm, sweetness and inappropriate humor proves he has something for everyone. LatinoBuzz caught up with him! LatinoBuzz: 'Love, Concord' is very inspired by throwback films from the 80's. What was the dopest thing from those films that you would treasure most; Marty McFly's Hoverboard, Ralph Macchio's Crane Kick from 'The Karate Kid', A Mogwai or Phoebe Cates taking off her top in 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High'? Jorge: Gizmo, the Mogwai, has to be the cutest creature on this planet and I had my own stuffed animal as a kid, but can I treasure a combination of a couple of these options? Can I add to my basket my Hoverboard and fly around with Gizmo in it E.T. style??? Imagine that silhouette flying across the moon. Let's come from a place of all possibilities and throw in a topless Phoebe on my board, she was in 'Gremlins' too! We're all homies, she's comfortable. I can do the Crane Kick pose while I'm at it. Boom. Let's take a mental still image of that flying across the moon. I want that tattooed on my back right now, or at least framed to hang on the wall of my bedroom. Wow. I'm inspired. LatinoBuzz: Stranded on a desert island, the 3 books you take? Jorge: One: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coello, book is beyond inspiring and if I'm stranded on a desert island, I'll be talking to the moon, stars, and ocean and looking for an omen to help me back home…or wherever it is I need to be. Two: "The Mastery of Love" by Don Miguel Ruiz. It has become one of my favorite books ever. I could read it over and over again. A must read for everyone. That man speaks nothing but truth in those pages. Three: "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. One of my favorite books as a kid, so I could never lose my appreciation for all that nature has to offer. It would just be me and my tree friends :) LatinoBuzz: They are remaking a movie and you would kill for the lead role, which is the film? Jorge: Can BBC just remake the entire Planet Earth series and incorporate me in it??? Just take me with the crew Wherever they go; on a boat, in the jungle, on a grassy field. I could imagine my ass just swimming with dolphins, petting goats, delivering panda babies. Yes. No, but in all honesty, I can't think of a role just now. I know that role exists in my future, and I'm open to the possibilities. Some of my favorite films are partly due to the fact that I greatly appreciate that actor/actress in that particular role. Their unique energy was needed for that project. However, there are some directors I would Love to work with…Tarantino, Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow, Luc Besson to name a few. I know James Cameron also has a few more Avatars coming up so… lol. No, but seriously. LatinoBuzz: Worst stereotype about Latinos in Hollywood? Jorge: Worst stereotype for Latinos are any roles depicting us as ignorant. Be it a housekeeper role or a brain surgeon, we need deeper stories that reveal the characters' humanity and complexity. So many roles for Latinos have been written so superficially. That is why we need more Latinos telling their stories in general! That's the beauty of "Love, Concord" it's just the director's truthful portrayal of a two young people falling in love, who just Happen to be Latino. I am first generation Mexican-American from two working class parents…I'm not gang member, I'm not a gardener. There are So many just like me. Why aren't we represented on TV and film? We underestimate just how powerful of a teacher television is. People are constantly learning social norms, which are often Not normal. LatinoBuzz: Worst song you have ever put on a mixtape? Jorge: I'm not going to say “Worst”, but this one definitely has to be the Most Random song ever put on a mix tape. The theme to The Main Street Electrical Parade from Disneyland. I know, but let me Explain. I always have to when it comes on because I still own that old mix cd! I Loved that parade as a child. It brings me back to a place of joy and awe every time I hear it. The intricate compilation of sounds that flows out of that tune was beyond its time! Like seriously. I would love for Diplo to dissect some of the music, sample it, and make a sick beat! Haha! Just so you get an idea of How random that song is, on that same mix I have Outcast's "Hootie Hoo," Maxwell's "This Woman's Work," and Cat Stevens' "The Wind." Main Street Electrical Parade theme: Download it Now! LatinoBuzz: People you would do hookah and talk smack with? Jorge: Albert Einstein. In love with this man! Einstein had such a deep understanding of life stemming from his simple child-like curiosity, and has such a wonderful spirituality I admire. He also seems like he'd be a cool dude to take around to all your BBQ's and be like "this mah' Uncle Albert, dude's kinda crazy, but he's brilliant!". The other four would have to be Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus, and John Lennon. I doubt smack is what we'll talk, but the ideas that would come from a meeting of those minds would be life changing for me and the people on this planet. However, I also just see us being So present, and simply laughing and enjoying each others company…and possibly recording an album, why not!? Those men are such inspirations to me. To think how all these men must have held such an intimate relationship with Fear…to do what they did. Such revolutionaries in their own way. To speak their Truth, when so many doubted them…to be called crazy, idealistic, and numerous other things. Fear is something I feel we all battle with on a daily basis. I'm sure they fought the same battle too, but did it anyway. I never want to let fear get in the way of anything I want to do when I'm coming from a place of truth and love. LatinoBuzz: How did your family take to your decision to become an actor? Jorge: It still hasn't sunk in. hahaha. They probably think I drive around La all day as a job. My mother is the big worrier in the family. Very "realistic" for a lack of a better term. Always mentioning education first and a back-up plan. I understand it, they sacrificed a lot, and still do. I got that college diploma though! My dad was very supportive from an early age, he'd be the first guy on set making friends whenever I booked something. I think it's mainly due to my brother being such a bad ass growing up; it made me look like an angel. I was just a kinda shy, sweet kid, but after raising that child, I think my dad was just happy with me staying out of trouble. But what's funny is that both my parents are entertainers in their own way. My mom writes rap lyrics in Spanish, and my dad is a joke-telling machine. He knows hundreds of jokes! It's insane! Such characters they are. LatinoBuzz: What is your favorite journey? Jorge: My favorite journey is this. Right now. My life on earth. I always try to take the time to reflect and see what I've done. How much I've loved those I love around me. Have I helped someone along the way? I'm I living to my fullest potential? Sharing my gifts? There so much I want to do beyond acting. Like a ridiculous Much. I have to remain connected to that sweet dreamy kid within me. Cuz that's where the expansive imagination is…that's where all possibilities lie. Little kids with no fear, they're my heroes. I admire them. Their purity, their imagination, their honesty. So much in our world is disempowering. You hear disempowering messages from the news, other people. But to the people who say it can't be done, don't curse them. Be sympathetic towards them, send them love in your thoughts…because someone killed that beautiful child in them and caused that light to dim. May our way of living will help ignite that fire again. LatinoBuzz: Who best describes you as a romantic lead? King Kong opposite Fay Wray, Patrick Swayze in RoadHouse, whatever Ryan Gosling did in the Notebook, Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything or Ron Jeremy? Jorge: I see myself as more of a John Cusack in 'Say Anything'. He has a quirky child-like demeanor to him. Pssh, I wish I could say Ryan Gosling in whatever he did in "The Notebook,''…cuz whatever he did, it worked! and keeps on working! Before Ryan became #1 on every girl's crush list, I would occasionally see him out in La and never understood why So many women threw their panties at him. Then one day I finally watched "The Notebook," and after was like "Ohhh…ok, i get it." Haha! But I think all the guys mentioned did their unique honest portrayals of a human being in state of love. That's my aim for anything I do…honesty, just plain honesty. LatinoBuzz: What do you think happens to Gerry and Melinda in 'Love, Concord'? Jorge: Gerry becomes a man whore. Melinda gets knocked up, has a kid, names it Little Pisto. Gerry drops out of school and joins a gang. No! haha... I think he remains in love with her, But I don't know if they're together or apart. I think you meet certain people, have certain experiences to ultimately grow and get you ready for the next chapter in your life. Some of us don't grow, that's the problem. So we keep experiencing the same shit over and over again, and attracting the same thing into our lives. Gerry does grow. He needed her, and will forever cherish that relationship. He Learns to become grateful for having experienced it. I think that's just as beautiful as your typical happily ever after…cuz it's Real. People need to learn to be more grateful for the experiences they interpret as "bad"…that way we don't carry them into our future. Like: 'Love, Concord' at https://www.facebook.com/loveconcord or follow Jorge at @iamjorgediaz!

Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on twitter.

There is no shortage of U.S. Latino stories and filmmaker talent. Trust me. I screen a high volume of films throughout the year specializing in submissions that are Hispanic/U.S. Latino. True, not enough of them are technically slick, but there are some out there, and more often than not, they have specific U.S. Latino points of views and permutations, and offer chronicles of unheard of, or unique Caminos de la Vida (walks of life). All of which I find is in direct correlation to their distinct American mestizo identity. Sadly there are not enough slots at film festivals, and there is not a savvy marketplace interested in embracing the fragmented and under-served U.S. Latino community until they figure out how to monetize it. Rather than dwell on this distribution dearth, however, I’d like to take a counter- positive approach by celebrating and getting the word out on U.S. Latino films ready to give birth and ignite with audiences. Oye means listen up! I’ll be profiling brand spanking new U.S. Latino films, in various stages and different genres so our community can promote their trajectory online and by word of mouth, and yes hopefully so distribution outfits and festivals take note! Case in point this week: Love, Concord:

Love, Concord is a buoyant high school comedy about Gerry (Jorge Diaz), a fun loving popular goofball who is all about basketball and has a penchant for 8 bit videogames. One day he notices cute bookworm Melinda (introducing Angelina Leon), a smart, sassy not-girly girl who eventually becomes his first ever girlfriend. As they enter their Senior year, they must sweat the stress of facing where they are going to college and what that means for their relationship. He is not your stereotypical jock nor is she your stereotypical nerd. Did I mention they are Latinos? That’s what’s so refreshing about Love, Concord, the bubbly and earnest feature debut by Gustavo Guardado, Jr., who received his Masters in Film Production at the prevalent Loyola Marymount University; his charming, semi-autobiographical story set in the suburban Bay area of Concord where he grew up avoids stereotypes and doesn’t perpetuate Latinos as they are most commonly represented. It’s likely due that its based on his experience growing up in Concord where race is not an issue. This gives the film an organic sense in how it portrays its U.S. Latino characters.

Gustavo Guardadado, Jr.

With a comic and endearing combination of quintessential John Hughes and a Ya sensibility, the film eschews any condescension and pretension in the characterization of teens and it feels pretty right on. Guardado knows that teens just seem to get it these days. They have a better sense of what lies ahead of them. They Are smart, grounded and realistic. Their expectations are more driven by their sense of self than parents and peers. More important than ever in the rite of passage into a conscious and responsible individual is the mantra ‘Don’t Sell Out”. The notion is becoming redefined to a millenial (or Me) generation to signify that one must not sell out who you really are inside, something that Melinda reminds Gerry when he gives into his popular role as class clown at his own expense and deprecation.

Miguel Angel, Jerry’s older bro

What makes this universal story, Latino? Its conveyed in subtle yet inherent ways. Melinda’s half Mexican and Gerry’s Salvadoran ethnicity is demonstrated intrinsically rather than it being imposed. Again, that’s the beauty of the film. Take for instance the mother and son dynamic that displays the latino male relationship with his ‘jefa’. Gerry’s mother isn’t seen throughout most of the movie save for the notes on the fridge they exchange yet she’s always there. When she does appear, she sits Gerardo down and they have a real catch up moment that illustrates the strong relationship between a single, hard working mother and her maturing son.

Like the 8 bit animated story chapters, this coming of age tale has a nostalgia for one’s high school dog days. It also has a very fresh sense of modernity with its portrayal of teens and in particular its portrayal of U.S. Latino teens. It’s a sweet, funny and a refreshingly authentic U.S. Latino coming of ager bound to touch audiences.

Love, Concord is currently being submitted to festivals.

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