81R36105 JGH-D
By: Castro H.R. No. 2786
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The media arts center Cine Las Americas in Austin
has contributed significantly to the cultural vitality of Central
Texas for more than 10 years; and
WHEREAS, Cine Las Americas began in 1997 as a Cuban film
retrospective sponsored by the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin; the
program's success led to the presentation of the Cine Las Americas
International Film Festival the following year; sponsored by the
local Latino community with support from the City of Austin and the
Texas Commission on the Arts, the festival showcased motion
pictures by and about Latinos, from all over the Americas; and
WHEREAS, Today, the CLA International Film Festival
continues to thrive, exhibiting an average of 100 films annually
from across Texas, the United States, and Latin America during a
nine-day event held every April; films are also shown throughout
the year in collaboration with other venues, such as the Museum of
Fine Arts in Houston and the South by Southwest Film Conference and
Festival; and
WHEREAS, In addition to showing and promoting Latin and
indigenous film and video, CLA is actively engaged in bilingual
media arts education for minority youth; it sponsors Emergencia, an
international youth film competition for high school students and
BeatLab, a digital music creation program for students in the
Austin Independent School District, in which professional
musicians help students explore their creativity and talent through
technology and music; and
WHEREAS, This unique nonprofit institution has embraced its
mission to educate, entertain, and challenge individuals through
film and the media arts, and in so doing, it has promoted greater
cross-cultural understanding and appreciation; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commend Cine Las Americas for its contributions
to its community and to the Lone Star State and extend sincere best
wishes to the center's staff and students for continued success;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for CLA as an expression of high regard by the Texas House
of Representatives.