'A Conversation with Oscar Nominee Adriana Barraza' Opening Night Program of the Second Annual Women's International Film and Arts Festival

'A Conversation with Oscar Nominee Adriana Barraza' Opening Night Program of the Second Annual Women's International Film and Arts Festival

MIAMI, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Sit down with Academy Award-nominated actress Adriana Barraza, our featured guest speaker on opening night of the Second Annual Women's International Film and Arts Festival (WIFF) on March 29 2007 at the Cielo Garden SupperClub in Coconut Grove. Mexican-born Adriana Barraza is most recognizable for her heroine roles in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu films "Amores Perros" and "Babel", for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.

In the role of Amelia in Babel, Barraza plays a woman who is in the United States illegally and after 16 years returns to Mexico to attend her son's wedding. This provocative, emotional and political film also stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Koji Yakusho and Elle Fanning.

"This nomination is a dream come true for me and as part of this dream I would like to inspire, motivate and support other women in film whether they are in front of the camera or behind the scenes," said Barraza.

Women accounted for 7% of directors in 2005, according to the Celluloid Ceiling Study released in 2006 on Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women in the Top 250 Films of 2005. This represents an increase of two percentage points over 2004. However, this is less than the recent historical high of 11% recorded in 2000. Part of WIFF's mission is to have a positive impact on women in film and this March, in recognition of Women's History Month, the festival showcasing 40 films in 4 days all by women will do just that. It will create a community of supporters of women's films globally.

Access the full line-up of features at www.wiffonline.org.

Sponsors of this year's event include: American Express; Miami Dade County Cultural Affairs; The Miami Herald; The City of Miami; The Coconut Grove Art and Historical Association; Comcast and NBC 6.

About the Women's International Film and Arts Festival Inc.

The Women's International Film and Arts Festival, Inc.'s mission is to enhance the cultural resources of the South Florida community by providing events to the general public which bring together women artists from all over the world to explore, share and dialogue about issues concerning women through the arts.

Media Contact
Yvonne McCormack-Lyons
Executive Director
Women's International Film and Arts Festival
305-653-9700

Source: Women's International Film and Arts Festival Inc.

CONTACT: Yvonne McCormack-Lyons, Executive Director, of Women's
International Film and Arts Festival, +1-305-653-9700

Web site: http://www.wiffonline.org/

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