Bass and Lauer to Receive Circle of Excellence Award

Bass and Lauer to Receive Circle of Excellence Award

WASHINGTON, April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Latino Coalition has created a new film-related award, designed to assist filmmakers with artistic endeavors that help spotlight and bring attention to issues which are meaningful to the Latino community. This year, the award is for the upcoming film project called LITTLE CUBA, (produced by Edward Bass, and written/directed by Andy Lauer) at the upcoming 2007 Small Business Economic Summit at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. May 1 - 2.

The Coalition expects a full spectrum of political speakers and attendees at the conference. The film award is part of a new focus on the entertainment industry which the group is instituting as they feel that nothing brings the spotlight to today's issues better than film.

Robert Deposada, President of The Latino Coalition, said The Latino Coalition wanted to further Bass and Lauer's humanitarian body of work, including Lauer's latest work, "THE TEHUACAN PROJECT," about the plight of deaf children in rural Mexico (Brad Pitt Executive Produces, Adrian Brody/Esai Morales narrates), and Golden Globe nominee Edward Bass' film, BOBBY, directed by Emilio Estevez, and with an all-star cast including Freddy Rodriguez, Anthony Hopkins, Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, brought Latino issues to the screen in a very accurate manner.

"When I first watched Andy's magnificent documentary on the plight of deaf children in Mexico, I thought, what insight and compassion!" Deposada said. "When I realized later it was Executive Produced by Brad Pitt and directed by Andy, I was intrigued. I then found out about "LITTLE CUBA," based on his award-winning short film which puts a real face on humanitarian issues facing Cuba, and opens the immigration debate which will be part of the Agenda at the Four Seasons. It goes along with the goals of the Coalition: to bring all sides to the issue, like the movie, "CRASH." The interesting point in this script was the entire board loved it! It is honest, and it depicts the coast guard cutting into refugee ships and the hardships in Cuba."

Deposada continues, "It's very appropriate that the film is being initiated on the date of the 7th anniversary of Elian Gonzalez. The story takes place when an American and his best friend try to smuggle a baseball player out of Cuban waters, but instead run into the Cuban military. They become emotionally involved with the Cuban people and take personal responsibility for helping their new friends, meanwhile exposing Cuba's plight. We were so proud when LITTLE CUBA was picked for the Power of Diversity Award given by the Producer's Guild, when you think of all the producers like Stephen Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, and others."

Edward Bass, known in Los Angeles as a "film producer of conscience," was introduced to Lauer by the Chairman of Membership of the Producers Guild, Grant Stoner. "When I saw this moving story, I immediately thought of Edward," says Stoner, "He's always on the hunt for projects of socio-political conscience. I knew Andy was near completion of his Cuban script and thought there'd be a great fit."

Bass comments, "Lauer has worked in so many Latin American countries and shares the values of Latino culture including family...he is married to a Latino woman who helps him feel the real human tragedies these countries go through, and to tell his stories without lecturing, like "THE KILLING FIELDS" I congratulate the Alliance for recognizing Andy's work and am excited to see it unfold further in "LITTLE CUBA."

Edward Bass' award-winning theatrical releases include COME EARLY MORNING starring Ashley Judd, MINI'S FIRST TIME, starring Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Jeff Goldblum. His upcoming films include WHILE SHE WAS OUT, Kim Basinger, and DON'T FADE AWAY, Mischa Barton (from the OC).

The Latino Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. TLC was established to address policy issues that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States. TLC's agenda is to develop and promote policies that will foster economic equivalency and enhance overall business, economic, and social development of Hispanics. For more information please visit our website at http://www.thelatinocoalition.com/.

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Source: The Latino Coalition

CONTACT: Martha Lozada of The Latino Coalition, +1-202-546-0008

Web site:

http://www.thelatinocoalition.com/

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