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Anthony Quinn dances
with his son Ryan at Providence's Latin Film
Fest VIP party held at the Biltmore Hotel. Photo
by Julio Perez.
Below, Festival director
extraordinaire Marcos Antonio. Photo by Anka
Theroux
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"I feel so blessed to have
portrayed characters from so many cultures-Asian,
Greek, Italian, Mexican. I feel that I am a citizen
of the world, and for that I am very grateful." -Anthony
Quinn
The Providence Festival of New Latin
American Cinema, which took place late April, announced
that beginning this year it would grant an annual
award in Anthony Quinn's name, the Anthony Quinn Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Film. It is the only
venue/event to which Mr. Quinn would lend his name.
Sadly, Anthony Quinn died shortly after the festival
on June 3rd in Boston. On the festival's opening day,
Quinn stated that the festival's philosophy was truly
global and inclusive, and loved the concept of "no
boundaries", where the creative process could flow
and be appreciated universally.
In addition to establishing the
award in his name, the festival presented a Lifetime
Achievement Award to Mr. Quinn during the opening
night's festivities.
His final film, 2000' ORIUNDI, opened the festival.
Directed by acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Ricardo
Bravo, with a script by Marcos Bernstein of CENTRAL
STATION fame, ORIUNDI features Quinn in a moving performance
as a 93 year-old Italian patriarch who longs for the
magical love he experienced once in his life.
Anthony Quinn, of course, delivered
countless magical moments to the world of cinema throughout
his prolific career. During a press conference held
on the festival's opening day at the office of his
dear friend, Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr.,
Quinn reflected upon his enormous global appeal: "
I believe in no boundaries, that we are all first
human beings, and I have been fortunate to bring this
to my characters. I guess I was lucky in a way, to
have been born with a certain face that many could
relate to."
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The legendary Anthony
Quinn sits back and enjoys the party at the
Providence Latin Film Fest. Photo by Julio Perez.
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Of course, much has been made of
Quinn's legendary status, and it would be naive to
think that his evolving screen persona was not informed
by his lusty, real-life adventures. Yet while we all
associate him with his "Zorba The Greek" character,
clearly this complex man had many dimensions. He was
a passionate artist, both a painter and a sculptor,
whose pieces have been exhibited and sold around the
world. And at his essence, he was humble and generous,
as friends remember how attentive he was to the fans
who would approach him everywhere, not merely signing
an autograph, but asking how they were and what they
did: " He was genuinely interested in human beings,"
says Mayor Cianci. Perhaps that humanity explains
how people the world over have been able to relate
to this extraordinary man.
AGAINST ALL ODDS
"I always like the impossible.
I think that challenges keep me alive. A lot of people
quit...I don't know how to quit."
-Festival Director Marcos Antonio
For the last 3 years, Marcos Antonio
has been at the helm of the Providence Festival of
New Latin American Cinema. With each year the festival
has grown, somehow generating enormous interest from
Hollywood and bridging any gaps between Tinsel town
and the Latin film community: "I see this festival
as a wonderful opportunity to bring together people
from different backgrounds, with different ideas,
to create something truly unique," says Antonio.
But no one said it would be easy: "Probably the most
difficult type of film festival in the world to do
is this one," says Antonio, "it's a crazy process,
just getting permission from multiple sources to acquire
the films (various governments in addition to producers/directors),
flying them over, translations into English and subtitling;
the cost is a challenge." But such logistical headaches
never discourage Antonio, whose persistence and tenacity
are already legendary. During last year's festival,
when featured guest Danny Glover called at the last
minute to cancel due to illness, Antonio convinced
the actor to come, saying, "there are two rules until
the festival is over: nobody gets sick, and nobody
dies!"
THE QUALITY AND THE ASTOUNDING
SUCCESS
One of the most highly attended
film festivals in the Northeast owes its success to
its high standards of quality and to its range. Antonio
assembled the Official Festival Jury of film and media
stars from Puerto Rico, Argentina, Italy, and Cuba,
including Julio Acanda, head anchor of Cuba's National
Newscast at Noon, which has a daily audience of 3
million. The festival's Honorary President is renowned
filmmaker Fernando Birri, who Antonio refers to as
"our bearded angel who has embraced our city to become
our ambassador all over the world." The festival's
celebrated range featured some 25 films from such
diverse countries and cultures as Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
And with special guests like Danny Glover, Manny Perez
(of Sidney Lumet's 100 Centre Street on HBO), and
Anthony Quinn, the festival has clearly established
its ability to resonate with a mass audience.
IN THE WORKS FOR NEXT YEAR
Of course, Antonio's mental wheels
are turning with plans for next year. For 2002, he
promises a "one of a kind festival", where the 10
best Latin American films in the world, each having
won 1st prize in other festivals over the last 3 years,
will come to Providence to compete. "Rhode Island
will have the best films made in Latin America, the
cream of the crop, next year," says Antonio. Special
guests from Hollywood are also in the works, including
Antonio Banderas. "This festival has great potential
to educate as well," says Antonio, "I think we all
have the instinct to learn about all cultures. Basically,
in the United States we are all foreigners."
