THE ZERO HOUR (LA HORA CERO) continues to receive more accolades, winning the coveted Audience Favorite Award at the 15th Annual Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival held this past week in Hollywood, CA.
One of the most acclaimed feature films in the history of Venezuelan cinema, The Zero Hour, directed by rising star Diego Velasco, made its U.S. bow at a standing-room-only premiere at the iconic Egyptian Theater. The film’s debut launched U.S. distribution efforts by HSI Films, a subsidiary of Hollywood Studios International.
In the last year, The Zero Hour has won numerous awards in Venezuela, elsewhere in Latin America, and Europe for directing, editing, acting, and best overall feature at the 2010 Festival de Merida in Venezuela, among other accolades. It has also earned rave reviews throughout Latin America and, in fact, recently became the highest-grossing Venezuelan film ever. The action-thriller is produced by Carolina Paiz and Rodolfo Cova, and stars acclaimed hip-hop artist Zapata 666. The movie marks the full-length feature directing debut of Velasco, who is well known in Venezuela for award-winning short films, TV directing, cinematography, and documentary work.
Steven Saxton, CEO of Hollywood Studios International and a Co-Executive Producer of the movie, says this award shows that global audiences are equally impacted by the story told in the film.
He commented, “We are proud and thrilled that The Zero Hour inspired and entertained its first U.S. audiences with the result being this special recognition at LALFF. We look forward to bringing the film to a larger audience.”
Latino International Film Institute Homepage
www.latinofilm.org
The Zero Hour website
www.theZeroHour-movie.com
About HSI Films:
HSI Films is a worldwide theatrical motion picture financing, production and distribution company. The company handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures, as well as acquired films. HSI Films is led by Eric Christenson, who has licensed films that represent more than 50 Academy Award nominations, including: 2010 Academy Award “Best Picture” winner “The Hurt Locker,” and Martin Scorsese’s 2008 Academy Award winner “The Departed,” as well as “Traffic”, “The Aviator,” and “Gangs of New York”. Producer Paul Schiff recently signed a first-look production deal with HSI Films to bring his expertise and several projects into the company’s growing portfolio of films, including several he developed in recent years through his production company, Paul Schiff Productions. Some of the films produced by Schiff include “Young Guns I & II,” “My Cousin Vinny,“ “The Vanishing,” “Rushmore,” “Maid in Manhattan,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Walking Tall,” “Solitary Man,” and “Green Street Hooligans,” to name a few.
About Hollywood Studios International:
Hollywood Studios International is a media holding company focused on the intelligent deployment of capital in the entertainment industry. The company has developed a portfolio of fee-based businesses ranging from talent representation to international distribution.
Find out more at:
Hollywood Studios International
www.hollywoodstudios.co
Artist International
www.artistint.com
Models International
www.mi-agency.com
