Santa Fe Celebrates 400 Years with a New Movie Premiere that Showcases the Ancient City’s Treasures of History, Faith and Art
7 PM, Wednesday, July 22, 2009 The Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe
Contact: Jim Cutropia, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (505) 955-8864: Dennis Pepe, Friends of the Cathedral Basilica at (505) 989-9102ALBUQUERQUE, NM-- On July 22, 2009, the Cathedral Basilica's new bells will toll across downtown, calling the townsfolk to the red carpet for a special historic cinematic event. Capitol City luminaries such as TV personality Carla Aragon, and famed Canyon Road artist Drew Bacigalupa will be part of a gala multi-cultural celebration for the inaugural showing of the new feature-length documentary, El Corazón de Santa Fe, at 7 PM on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at The Lensic Performing Arts Center. The 82-minute movie is in English, no subtitles and was produced by the Santa Fe Community Foundation and the Friends of the Cathedral Basilica.
Filmmaker E. Anthony Martinez of Silver Horn Entertainment directed the documentary. He is a 15th-generation Santa Fean who has garnered Emmy, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow awards for his work, including his Sports Century films for ESPN. New Mexicans are familiar with his films about this State's soldiers and veterans. His film about the infamous Bataan Death March, Colors of Courage: Sons of New Mexico, Prisoners of Japan (2002), narrated by Gene Hackman, ran on KNME-TV, Albuquerque. El Corazón de Santa Fe ("The Heart of Santa Fe"), timed to kick off the annual Spanish Market, is a multi-cultural celebration of faith and history centered in the heart of the ancient Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi. The city, established between 1605 and 1610, has a long and unique history that Martinez explores from many angles. The film contains never-before-seen content, from the depths of the Cathedral Basilica's structure to its uppermost pinnacle, where a new cross replaces the 1882 version. Unique footage collected from around the State includes scores of interviews from the Southwest's preeminent historians and New Mexico's most unique individuals, providing a revisionist history on the lesson of Santa Fe as a place on the vanguard of social reconciliation and justice. The film weaves dramatic elements into the epic stories of New Mexico's origins with footage of historic reenactments of the arrival of the Spanish colonists, the Franciscan priests, and the Native peoples of the area by employing more than 60 actors in period costume, including pieces by Cathy Smith of Dances with Wolves fame. El Rancho de las Golondrinas provided the historic back-drops and buildings for many of the shoots. Additionally, Martinez incorporated more than 100 historic photographic and artistic images of Old New Mexico using startling and innovative animation techniques from Dallas' Creative Spin group. The technique uses a process that gives images a "3-D" look without the need for special glasses. Last but certainly not least, hundreds of locals aided the production in unique and profound ways. Music ranged from a Penitente group to a 50-member Cathedral Basilica choir. Professional actors were used alongside area children, including a fussy infant being baptized, circa 1610, and a 30-member group from a Santa Fe public school performing their own version of the area's colorful history, replete with a tiny Doña Tules and Don Diego de Vargas. "This film reminds us of the vital role Catholicism plays in Santa Fe history, from its very name to the icon of the Cathedral Basilica itself in the heart of the city. Ignorance has perpetuated misperceptions about our history and this story is for anyone who loves Santa Fe and wants to understand her better," Martinez says. To cap off the evening, a gala post-premier reception will be held at the Café Paris located in Burro Alley, adjacent to The Lensic. The gala reception, reserved for VIP ticket holders, includes delectable appetizers and libations. The food will be donated by Rahera and Paul Perrier, Café Paris owners. The beer will be donated by Dr. David Gonzales, MD and the Monks of Christ of the Desert in Abiquiu, and the wine donated by parishioner Ruth Ritchie. The number of VIP tickets is limited by the capacity of the Café Paris restaurant. Gala attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite New Mexican festive attire, be it 1610 or 2010. Octogenarian Andrea (Drew) Bacigalupa, a Santa Fe "Living Treasure" known by locals for his famous sculpture at City Hall depicting St. Francis gazing at a prairie dog, will be honored for his artistic contributions to many houses of worship across the nation, including his etched-glass panels in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Cathedral Basilica and for an original painting that he produced for the documentary. The painting, El Sueño (The Dream), will be auctioned off by the film maker to benefit the Cathedral Basilica. Tickets are available at The Lensic Box Office, or by telephone at 505-988-1234, or at www.TicketsSantaFe.org. There is a service fee for the ticket transaction. VIP tickets are $100, which includes one reserved center-aisle orchestra seat, a copy of the movie on DVD, and admission to the post-premiere gala reception at the Café Paris. General admission tickets are $25, which includes one reserved seat. El Corazón de Santa Fe DVDs will be available for purchase at $24.95. Other 400th Anniversary memorabilia, including cups, ceramic tiles and limited edition crystal medallions, provided by the Cathedral Basilica's Cuarto Centenario Steering Committee will be available. The Committee will also be providing hosting and hospitality services for the evening. For additional information visit: www.silverhornentertainment.com, or www.cbsfa.org, or www.lensic.org. For further information, contact Jim Cutropia, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi at 505-955-8864, or Dennis Pepe, Friends of the Cathedral Basilica at 505- 989-9102.
