San Diego, CA. Media Arts Center San Diego is proud to announce a one-week exclusive engagement of the acclaimed Mexican film Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas. The second installment of the Third Annual Cine Mexicano: Mexican Film Series, Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas will be screened beginning Friday, September 14 and ending Thursday, September 20th. Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas and the entire Cine Mexicano: Mexican Film Series will take place at Mann Hazard Center 7 movie theaters located in Hazard Center in San Diego’s Mission Valley (7510 Hazard Center Drive in Mission Valley). Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas will be screened daily at 5:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; with additional screening times on the weekend (12:45 p.m., 3:00 p.m.).

An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 14th in honor of visiting director Antonio Serrano, co-star Susana Zabaleta and producer of Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas, Matthias Ehrenberg. The reception will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel San Diego's Club Max from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. In addition to meeting these very special guests, the reception will include entertainment, free beer provided by Dos XX, free tequila provided by Tequila Cazadores, and delicious hors d'oeuvres.

Originally a successful stage play in Mexico, Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas (Mexico, 105 min., 1999) follows the amusing trials and tribulations of two young couples in an upscale Mexican neighborhood frustrated at their failure to live up to their professional and personal ambitions. After hedonist Ana and slouchy husband Carlos split up, and high-strung ex-model Andrea gets fed up with the constant infidelities of ad executive spouse Miguel, the men decide to take one apartment and the women another, with comic results. The story holds on with great acting, a superb dialogue, and a very modern soundtrack. Highly recommended, especially for its original script and its witty dialogue. The surprise hit of 1999, S.P.Y.L. (as it became known among Mexico's young hip crowd) is a hilarious and sometimes poignant romp through a world most of us only see through a telescopic lens, behind closed curtains or across a crowded city street. Featuring Mexican sex symbol Demian Bichir (Santitos, Todo el Poder). S.P.Y.L. became the most successful domestic film ever, in the history of Mexican cinema.  Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas had its' San Diego premiere at the 2000 San Diego Latino Film Festival where it was presented at two sold-out screenings.

"Ever since we screened this film to packed houses at our 2000 San Diego Latino Film Festival, we have been trying to bring Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas back to San Diego", states Media Arts Center San Diego Executive Director, Ethan van Thillo. "It is the highest grossing Mexican film ever and for various unknown reasons has never been distributed here in the United States. We are honored to be able to provide local audiences with this rare opportunity to see the film for an entire week."

Cine Mexicano: Mexican Film Series is produced by Media Arts Center San Diego (www.mediaartscenter.org). MACSD nurtures and supports media artists working in film, video, audio, and computer-based multimedia. The organization seeks to provide a forum for and promote the diversity of interests of San Diego Border Region media artists through regular screenings, educational outreach, distribution, film festivals, production and technical assistance, scholarships, and fiscal sponsorships. Most recently MACSD produced the successful Eighth Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival held March 2001 at Mann Hazard Center 7 and attended by a record-breaking 7,500 people.

The Third Annual Cine Mexicano: Mexican Film Series will continue to run through November 22, 2001. In addition to the presentation of Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas, Cine Mexicano 2001 will include family screenings, receptions, guest filmmakers, student outreach presentations, and much more. Sponsors for this year's series include: Major Sponsor: National Endowment for the Arts. Student Outreach Sponsor: San Diego Community College District. Gala Sponsors: Tequila Cazadores & Dos XX. Film Sponsors: California Council for the Humanities, Mexican Cultural Institute, Yolanda Walther Meade & AeroMexico. Radio Sponsors: La Nueva 106.5 FM & KLOVE 102.9 FM. Television Sponsor: Telemundo San Diego-Tijuana. Newspaper Sponsors: El Latino, El Sol de San Diego, Hispanos Unidos & El Mexicano. Hotel Sponsor: Doubletree Hotel San Diego. Additional Sponsors: California Arts Council, Taylor Guitars, UCSD CREATE, The Moran Group, & Community Health Group of San Diego.

Ticket prices are $7.50 General Admission / $5.50 Students & Seniors. Tickets can be purchased prior to each screening at the Mann Hazard Center 7 box office. Also available for purchase is a $20 Reception Pass (includes screening of Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas & September 14th Opening Night Reception). The pass can be purchased at the door on the night of the reception and/or in advance via the Internet at www.sdlatinofilm.com

Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas is in Spanish with English subtitles and is recommended for mature audiences only. For complete series schedule and ticket information visit www.sdlatinofilm.com or call (619) 230-1938.

- photos available upon request -