The International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (IPRHFF) will run from November 1-5, at Regal Essex Crossing, 129 Delancey Street, New York, New York. [The films will also stream from November 6-12, 2023.] Actor Luis Guzmán will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award (see bio below). Opening night events on November 1 will take place at El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Avenue, New York, New York); on November 2, CENTRO (The Center for Puerto Rican Studies) will host a conversation with selected actors—Cafecito con actors—at the Silberman School for Social Work (2180 3rd Avenue, New York, New York). See schedule for more information.

The International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (IPRHFF)’s mission is to create platforms that allow a diverse pool of influencers in filmmaking to reach a broader audience.

The festival includes short films, including titles for children, and feature films, including documentaries. Here are just a few titles: Fenomenal: Rompeforma 1989-96 (Merián Soto, Viveca Vázquez), For Sato’s Sake (Evelyn O. Vaccaro), Los mecánicos (Julio Román), Playing Sam (Ramon Felipe Pesante), Nochebuena (Adam López), Santiago of the Women (Rosamary Berríos-Hernández), and Story Ave (Aristotle Torres), among many others. There are too many to list here, here is a link to the full list: https://iprhff.org/2023-films/. This list includes teasers! Also see Virtual Film Schedule.

Luis Guzmán, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: With over 30 years in the movie industry, Luis Guzmán is finally bringing his vast knowledge and experience into producing films. Best known for years as a favorite of director Steven Soderbergh, who cast him in Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic, and Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love. Also seen on television in hits shows such as Netflix’s Wednesday, Showtime’s Shameless, Epix’s Godfather of Harlem and Perpetual Grace, LTD. As one of the FOUNDERS of Dark Rabbit Productions, he has set a clear vision to creating high quality original content for the universe.

Born in Puerto Rico and brought to New York City as an infant, he grew up in Manhattan’s Lower East Side where he took a keen interest in advocacy work for the benefit of his community. Since the 1970s, he has worked with the organization CHARAS, a group noted for its community-based urban ecology, and arts and culture where he also collaborated with Cesar Chavez during the grape boycott.

His early work strengthened his passion for helping others and has and continues to support to the East LA Rising (formerly East LA Boys & Girls Club), Advocates for Children, and the Henry Street Settlement House, among others, where he goes to speak and help in any way he can, anytime he has an opportunity.

He began his career as an actor by chance. He started by doing street theater in the Lower East Side as a favor for friends who wrote plays and asked him to perform. Being an actor is not something he dreamed of pursuing, but nevertheless continued to do so as a hobby. After graduating from The City College of New York and taking a job as a social worker, a friend offered him a part in a TV show he was writing and auditioned, unaware that the project was the hit show, Miami Vice. He then continued his career as a social worker for six more years in a leading program with one of the highest success rates of getting people off government aid and starting new lives, while also continuing to act. Acting then became his primary craft and other notable credits include the films The Count of Monte Cristo, Carlito’s Way, and the television series Narcos, OZ, and How to Make it in America. 

An active family man and proud father of five, Luis has instilled his strong work ethic in his children who are each pursuing their own careers in entertainment. When he is not on set, he enjoys dancing, playing music, photography, cooking (signature dish, Chicken a la Louey) and being a good human that helps others. [. . .]

For more information, see https://iprhff.org/ and https://iprhff.org/2023-honorees/