Diego Luna’s Film About Legendary American Activist Stars
Michael Pena, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson and John Malkovich
Santa Monica, CA, December 9, 2013 – Pantelion Films, the joint venture between Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Televisa, and Participant Media will open Cesar Chavez, Diego Luna’s powerful cinematic portrait of the legendary activist, starring Michael Pena (End of Watch, Lionsgate’s Academy Award-winning Crash), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty, End of Watch), Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Seven Pounds) and John Malkovich (In The Line of Fire, Summit Entertainment’s Red and Red 2) on March 28, 2014 on March 28, 2014.
Chronicling the birth of a modern American movement, Cesar Chavez tells the story of the famed civil rights leader and labor organizer torn between his duties as a husband and father and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers. Passionate but soft-spoken, Chavez embraced non-violence as he battled greed and prejudice in his struggle to bring dignity to people. Chavez inspired millions of Americans from all walks of life who never worked on a farm to fight for social justice. His triumphant journey is a remarkable testament to the power of one individual’s ability to change the world.
Cesar Chavez is produced by Canana Films’ Diego Luna, Pablo Cruz and Gael Garcia Bernal and John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon and Russel Smith of Mr. Mudd. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King of Participant Media served as executive producers.
Pantelion Films is the first major Latino Hollywood studio and the new face of Hispanic entertainment. It is a synergistic partnership between Lionsgate and Grupo Televisa. Pantelion provides Hispanic moviegoers with a steady source of exciting and original films including world-class Latino actors, directors and writers. From romantic comedies and dramas to family movies, Pantelion produces and acquires movies that speak directly to acculturated and Spanish-dominant Hispanics alike. Founded three years ago, Pantelion’s films already include the recent sensation Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S., Pulling Strings, Casa de mi Padre and From Prada to Nada.
Participant (participantmedia.com) is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant’s more than 40 films include Good Night, And Good Luck, Syriana, An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc., Waiting For Superman, The Help, Contagion and Lincoln. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network TakePart.com and Pivot, its new television network for Millennials, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.
For the past eight years, Canana has opened doors to new talent: actors, writers and directors who have captured international audiences with films that offer a fresh perspective into Latin America.
Canana has produced over a dozen films including: Gerardo Naranjo’s Drama/Mex, Voy A Explotar (I’m Gonna Explode), and his most recent and critically acclaimed Miss Bala; Diego Luna’s directorial debut documentary J.C. Chávez, Abel, and his upcoming and highly anticipated film, Cesar Chavez (currently in post-production), based on the life of legendary labor union organizer César Chávez; Gael Garcia Bernal’s directorial debut, Déficit; Agustín Díaz Yanes’ Sólo Quiero Caminar; Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán’s Cochochi and Jean Gentil; and Cary Fukunaga’s Sin Nombre, a co-production with Focus Features. Canana's additional titles include Cefalópodo, directed by Rubén Imaz, Revolución, an omnibus movie directed by 10 contemporary Mexican directors (Carlos Reygadas, Fernando Eimbcke, Patricia Riggen, and Rodrigo García amongst others), and Come Out And Play (2012), premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, Midnight Madness section. Canana’s most recent production include Michael Rowe’s (winner of the Cannes’ Camera d'Or in 2010) second feature, The Well, which premiered at the Morelia International Film Festival and will play at the Rome Film Festival and Mariana Chenillo’s Paraiso, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, San Sebastian Film Festival and Morelia International Film Festival.
