EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The legendary Hispanic writer and film director Luis Valdez will be a special guest at this year’s 18th annual El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival this summer, organizers announced on Wednesday, May 28.
Valdez will appear for on-stage interviews before two of his movies — 1987’s “La Bamba” and 1981’s “Zoot Suit,” which is considered the first major Chicano feature film.
Both events will be at the Plaza Theatre.
The film festival will run from July 17-27.
Valdez’s appearances will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 18 before “La Bamba” and at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19 before “Zoot Suit.”
Tickets for both programs will be $10. They go on sale with the rest of the Plaza Classic Film Festival schedule on Tuesday, June 10 at the Plaza Theatre box office (no service fees) and Ticketmaster.com (with service fees).
“Valdez is one of the most important and influential American playwrights and filmmakers living today. He has enjoyed success in the worlds of theater, television and film. He founded the Obie Award-winning theater company El Teatro Campesino in 1965 in California’s Central Valley, joining Cesar Chavez in his United Farm Workers rights movement. It is the longest running Chicano theater in the United States,” festival organizers said in a news release.
This year’s Plaza Classic Film Festival will feature 100 movies over 11 days, including “Cabaret,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” “The Godfather Part II,” “Notting Hill,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Toy Story,” “Schindler’s List,” “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” and many more.
Information: (915) 533-4020 or email info@plazaclassic.com
Festival passes are on sale now at plazaclassic.com/tickets. Individual tickets go on sale June 10 at the Plaza Theatre box office and Ticketmaster.
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