MEMOIRS OF A MEXICAN (1950): Commemoration of the Mexican Revolution November 20, 2008

Inauguration of the festivities in Commemoration of the Mexican Revolution with the showcase of Memoirs of a Mexican (1950), historic documentary film recipient of an Ariel award in the category of Most Valuable National Film.

Los Angeles, CA – On Thursday, November 20 the Cervantes Center of Arts & Letters, in collaboration with the Carmen Toscano Foundation, Mexico Tourism Board, The Consulate General of Mexico, The Mexican Cultural Institute and the Million Dollar Theater, will present the showcase of Memoirs of a Mexican (1950), a documentary film produced by Carmen Toscano (1910-1988) featuring newsreels shot by her father, filmmaker Salvador Toscano (1872-1947).

Memoirs of a Mexican (1950) presents real scenes with the likes of Porfirio Diaz, Francisco I. Madero, Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, Venustiano Carranza and Alvaro Obregón. The film showcases rare glimpses of Mexican history that include the Celebrations of Mexico’s Independece (1908), the Tragic ten days (1913) and The invasion of Veracruz (1914).

The film will be introduced by Dr. Verónica Zarate Toscano, representative of the Toscano Foundation, who will speak about the legacy of Salvador Toscano and the work of the foundation in the preservation of Mexican cinema.

When: Thursday Nov. 20 / 7:30 pm

Where: Million Dollar Theater

307 South Broadway Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90013

*Entry: FREE / Voluntary 5$ donation / $25 film and reception

offered by Chichen Itza Restaurant

Info.: (310)526-1480

www.milliondollartheater.com

cervantescenter@yahoo.com

*Part of the proceeds will be destined to the Carmen Toscano Foundation and the Friends of the Million Dollar, a group in charge of efforts to restore the historic Million Dollar Theater.

In 1950, Carmen Toscano Moreno concluded the production, direction and edition of the documentary film Memoirs of a Mexican, a project she began in 1947 right after the passing of her father, filmmaker Salvador Toscano Barragan. For the making of this documentary Carmen classified, organized and selected over fifty thousand feet of footage shot from 1897 to 1929. Due to the archive’s historic value Carmen went on to establish the Salvador Toscano Historic Film Archive.

The Carmen Toscano Foundation was established in 1992 with the purpose of preserving the Salvador Toscano Historic Film Archive, the film archives donated by Jesus H. Abitia, Alberto Licerio, Ezequiel Colin Garces, Concepcion Tafoya and archives documenting the Mexican Presidency. As a result the Carmen Toscano Foundation has established itself as a film archive specialized in preserving newsreels and documentary films related to Mexican history. www.fundaciontoscano.org

The Cervantes Center of Arts & Letters is a non profit organization established with the goal of producing quality cultural events www.cervantescenter.org

Excerpts from Memoirs of a Mexican (1950):

Celebration of Mexico’s Independence (1910)
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=kHXm_K9fvhw

Death of President Porfirio Díaz (Paris, July 2nd, 1915)
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=i438xp5cokI

Assassination of Pancho Villa (1923)
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=zchqNEeoQuE&feature=related

Official Website: http://www.milliondollartheater.com/Toscano.html