Desert Mountain Media just announced the creation of a new label that specially targets the Hispanic market. The Latin Cinema Collection features internationally-acclaimed, award-winning films, both classic and contemporary. Over the next six months, Desert Mountain Media will release films from classic Latino directors that will all be restored from the original negatives. The series of films includes the works of Alfonso Arau, Arturo Ripstein, Felipe Cazals and Carlos Carrera.

The first three films in the Latin Cinema Collection include Cilantro Y Perejil (Recipes to Stay Together), El Imperio de la Fortuna (The Realm of Fortune) and Angel De Fuego (Angel of Fire). All are being offered in the original Spanish language with English subtitles with Bilingual packaging and DVD menus.

”Cilantro Y Perejil” is the winner of nine Ariel (Mexican Academy) Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Story. It¹s a heart-warming, contemporary comedy about couples within the same middle class family that are stricken by crisis, leading to the philosophical and practical question: Is it worthwhile to stay together?

”El Imperio de la Fortuna” is from internationally-acclaimed director Arturo Ripstein and is the winner of eight Ariel Awards including Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Actor and Best Original Story. It is also the winner of the San Sebastian International Film Festival Award for Best Actor. Based on a classic story by Latin American literary master, Juan Rulfo, this drama follows the story of Dionisio Pinzón, a poor peasant living in a small Mexican town with his mother. He becomes interested in cock fighting when he is given an injured gamecock. Together, they set off to find their fortune at cockfights in country fairs.

Winner of the 1993 International Critic’s Award for Best Picture at the International Latino Film Festival and an official selection for Director’s Fortnight in Cannes 1992, “Angel de Fuego” was deemed “one of the top 100 Mexican Films of all time” according to Somos. In a rundown circus on the outskirts of Mexico City, 13 year old Alma earns a living as a trapeze artist and fire breather. When her fellow performers find out that she is pregnant, Alma is expelled from the circus. She lives on the streets until she meets a troupe of traveling puppeteers that preach the word of God. Alma sees a promise in them a glimpse of hope. This is the story of a young girl’s search for redemption and forgiveness.