After big Sundance win, Houston film producer looks to tell more Latino stories
Luz Films enjoyed a big win at the Sundance Film Festival with "In the Summers"
Scene from "In the Summers," a film written and directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio and produced by Luz Films.
Luz Films
Last month, writer and director Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio’s debut feature film, “In the Summers,” was a big winner at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic. The film, which stars Sasha Calle and musician René Pérez (Residente from the hip-hop duo Calle 13), is a coming-of-age story shot in New Mexico. It was produced by Luz Films, a new production company co-founded by Houston native Sergio Lira.
“It’s been a roller coaster of great emotions,” Lira says of the Sundance win. “It’s a special film that we’ve gotten to be a part of for the past year.
Houston born
Sergio Lira, Houston native and co-founder of Luz Films.
Luz Films
He’s the son of Sergio Lira Sr., a notable educator and public speaker. Lira says, “I’m Houston-born, both of my parents are there. I grew up in Southeast Houston, off Gulfgate by Barnett Stadium.” He’s an alum of César E. Chavez High School.
Then what?
Lira Graduated from New York University. He has worked for Amazon Studios and A24. While working at A24, he was involved with “Sharper,” with Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan, which was released on Apple TV+. Lira says leaving A24, which has for years had a golden touch with projects, wasn’t easy. “They’re still like family to me,” he says. But I wanted to get back to self-generating and creating stories. He and producer Lynette Coll “started a conversation about what it would be like to build a new type of Latino-led company.”
“Since the pandemic, I was reminded why I got into this business in the first place,” he says. “I wanted to tell stories that were reflective or representative of my community.”
What’s the plan for Luz?
Lira says he wants Luz Films to “work alongside the Latino diaspora.
“We want to allow for organic collaborations among creatives and, hopefully, start a new model and structure to get films made. … I know actors who want to produce, directors who want to produce, writers who want to direct. If we have this company, we can learn from each other. There’s strength in numbers, and that gives more power and agency. That’s where we can begin to shift things.”
Coming home
Lira sees Houston as being integral in Luz’s direction. “Houston made me … this big diverse city.
“We’ve made friends with the film community there, like Alfred Cervantes of the Houston Film Commission, who has identified some of the things that maybe held Houston back as being more of a production hub. It’s important to me to bring some projects back to Houston, back to Texas.
“We’re thinking outside just Los Angeles and New York. Houston would obviously be one of those places where we hope to expand our wings.”
What’s next?
Lira says there are negotiations for “In the Summers” to have a theatrical release, though it may visit a few more festivals first. “We have a pretty robust slate,” he says, with two films he hopes will start shooting in the summer and two more by year’s end. “We’re busy,” he says, “and we’re not stopping. I’m excited about finding more voices to champion.”
As published by the Houston Chronicle https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/in-the-summers-film-luz-films-18663137.php