2014 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Diego Luna’s Cesar Chavez: An American Hero

I originally included this in last year’s predictions’ list, but the team took their time in the post-production phase which might, in the end, make for some better packaging as with this pre-buzz NYTimes piece. During that time, Lionsgate nabbed the title, loaded this on their Pantelion Films label for a possible April rollout and gave the film a bulkier title (Cesar Chavez: An American Hero). While this no longer becomes a high value acquisition title, Luna’s association with the fest is strong (he presented his debut film Abel at the fest in 2010) and Participant Media’s has a strong rapport with Park City previously supplying the fest with socially conscious docs.

Gist: Written by Keir Pearson, the inspirational story of Cesar Chavez (played by Michael Peña), the celebrated Mexican American activist who, at great personal cost, put the shameful treatment of his fellow field workers on the map. He took their cause to the powerful Californian land-owners, the state government and beyond. A complicated man with a mission, Chavez never gave up. His extraordinary journey changed the history of unionism, labor conditions and the civil rights movement forever.

Production Co./Producers: Mr.Mudd’s Russell Smith, Lianne Halfon and John Malkovich, Pablo Cruz, Larry Meli and actor Gael García Bernal

Prediction: Premieres showing. Opens April 4th, 2014.

U.S. Distributor: Pantelion Films (Lionsgate)

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