‘Muertitos’ chosen as one of five competition finalists

San Antonio, TX--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--October 11, 2007--¡Sorpresa! announced today that it has selected the short film “Muertitos” as one of the five finalists for the ¡Sorpresa! Youth Film Competition, a part of the 15th Anniversary Hamptons International Film Festival to be held October 17th – 21st, 2007. The ¡Sorpresa! Youth Film Competition is a new signature program developed by ¡Sorpresa! and the Hamptons International Film Festival’s Youth Media Program. The competition commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month and was launched in August for youth ages 6 to 17.

The film “Muertitos” encapsulates the sister duo directors, Sara and Olivia Hinojosa’s interest in the Mexican-American religious and cultural expressions. The sisters collaborated with co-directors Carly Garza and Desiree Martinez. Their three minute film focuses on the Mexican traditions of Día de Los Muertos and its celebration in their home town of San Antonio, Texas. They include the religious and history of the holiday as chronicled by author Yolanda C. Luna.

“As a film maker, I aspire to tell a great story, and create an elaborate new world for the audience,” remarked Sara Hinojosa. Her sister, Olivia added, “I think about culture and the ways in which I express myself artistically. Día de los Muertos was something I really wanted to explore, so the project really opened my mind for the better.”

“The Hinojosa sisters effectively capture the cultural heritage that Latinos bring to America and the increasing importance these traditions are having in the U.S.,” commented Maria Badillo, ¡Sorpresa! V.P. of Programming.

¡Sorpresa! connected with area school districts, community and cultural organizations, its multiplatform operators and digital community to promote film submissions that showcase Hispanic culture and identity. In San Antonio, the Say Si! organization, a youth focused year round, long-term arts program for students from San Antonio's urban high schools, actively promoted the Competition to its members. In addition to Texas, ¡Sorpresa! received submissions from the California, New York and New Mexico.

The five competition finalists will have their films screened at the 15th Anniversary Hamptons International Film Festival and will be aired on ¡Sorpresa! as part of as a special program entitled Luz, Camera, ¡Sorpresa! on October 28th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific and at 6:00 p.m. Central time. The grand prize winner will be selected at the Hamptons International Film Festival and receive a $1,500 scholarship for participation in the New York Film Academy’s Teen Film Program in New York City and Universal Studios. Visit http://www.sorpresatv.com for competition program details and learn more about the Festival at http://www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

About ¡Sorpresa!
Sorpresa! is the nation’s first Hispanic children's television network and digital community. ¡Sorpresa! is owned and operated by Juniper Content Corporation, a media and entertainment company focused on branded content services in high growth markets across multiple distribution channels. ¡Sorpresa! is offered on Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Time Warner, Verizon and The National Cable TV Cooperative. ¡Sorpresa! is also available through third party mobile and broadband platforms, including: Verizon’s FiOS and Brightcove; on VOD basis through Akimbo, AOL TV, MSN, and AT&T Homezone; and on a mobile basis through MobiTV, that provides Spanish language video services to Sprint and AT&T Wireless; and sorpresatv.com.