DALIA TAPIA is weeks away from closing a deal for domestic DVD distribution of her debut feature “Buscando a Leti” (“In Search of Leti”).
A Pilsen school teacher and alum of the Columbia College MFA film program, Tapia shot “In Search of Leti” in Chicago and Mexico in 2004.
The Spanish-language film tells the story of a ten-year-old girl (local Tatiana Marie Tien) left behind when her parents immigrate to Chicago, then finally brought across the border to join them.
Tapia connected with a number of prospective distributors at “Leti’s” premiere last October at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
“We’re going for the offer that’s going to give the film the most publicity,” Tapia said. “We’re targeting the Latino market, in the hopes that it will grow to other communities.”
Tapia is also negotiating with sales agents she met at the Guadalajara Film Market for international distribution.
“In Search of Lety,” the short version that Tapia made before the feature, is wrapping up the first year of a two-year broadcast deal for regular rotation on cable network S? TV.
Tapia is seeking international production partners, and possibly someone else to direct, her followup feature, “Silent Shame.” “I realized after visiting the Market in Guadalajara that in the independent world, the films that lend themselves to success are co-productions, not limited to the U.S.,” Tapia said.
“Silent Shame” is the story of a young man whose mother died of AIDS, searching for and reconnecting with his estranged father.
“We’re dealing with a lot of taboos within the Latino community as far as sexuality,” Tapia said.
See www.daliatapia.com.
