The University of Houston was host to a special event featuring Salvadoran Oscar winner, Andre Guttfreund. The event kicked off with a VIP reception followed by an intimate conversation with the Oscar winner where he opened up about his life, career and his current role as a leading architect of the film industry in Central America. Andre also screened a curated list of Central American films that have garnered recognition around the world.
He also included the trailer for Cachada: The Opportunity, a documentary by Marlén Viñayo about five Salvadoran women -poor, single mothers, street vendors- have decided to embark on an unlikely dream: they want to become theater actresses. This film has high expectations as it is a contender for the highly acclaimed SXSW Film Festival (in Austin, TX in March 2019) and the theater troupe continues to tour around the world.
This event is possible thanks to our Community Partners:
UH Center for Mexican American Studies | EGMN | Consulado Houston de El Salvador en Houston | Consejo de Comunidades Salvadoreñas en Houston | Cámara de Comercio Centroamericana | The Law Office of Edwin E. Reyes, PLLC
Salvadoran native André R. Guttfreund became the first and only Central American awarded an Oscar for Best Short Film (Live Action) by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science in 1977 for his short film, In the Region of Ice. He is a Fullbright Scholar with Master degrees from Tufts University and American Film Institute. Since 2012, he chairs the Salvadoran Association of Film & Television (ASCINE) and currently serves as an Ambassador of the Arts for the Salvadoran Foreign Ministry. His extensive career also includes the role of managing director of the International Film Festival of San Salvador where he is leaving a mark by mentoring up and coming filmmakers and producing various projects throughout the region.
