Orange County Film Fiesta
By: Aaron Vasquez and JP Chabot
The Orange County Film Fiesta celebrates Santa Ana and the myriad artists and works associated with this multicultural city. This is the fourth year for the festival.
“Every year we highlight a Hollywood figure who had a history with Orange County,” says Festival Director Sandra Pena Sarmiento.
This year the film fest spotlights Philip K. Dick, the mind bender behind science fiction stories such as A Scanner Darkly. Dick spent his last years in Santa Ana.
“He lived in a large apartment structure that looked like a prison, but he got a lot of his inspiration being surrounded by it,” Sarmiento said.
Films shown in Dick’s honor include Mexico’s Santo vs. the Martian Invasion and Fritz Lang’s silent film Metropolis.
In addition, Pulitzer Prize-nominated director Kevin McKiernan is showing the documentary Bringing Luther to China, to be followed by a Q-and-A.
The film festival is free, though most downtown parking is $2 to $5.
Mariachi Gringo
Stereotypes are broken when a gringo dreams of becoming the next
great mariachi singer. 
Introducing the film will be a
live mariachi band Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
Buckaroo Banzai
Actor Pepe Serna, who played Reno Nevada, will be at the screening of this ‘80s
flick about a 
rock star/surgeon/mad scientist/adventurer who fights aliens from the 8th Dimension. Screening is on Sept. 4 at 3 p.m.
Our Nixon
Director Penny Lane reveals never-before-seen archival footage of
President Richard Nixon, 
by three aides between the years 1969 and 1973. The screening is Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
Alondra Smiles
Director Conchita Villa examines the quinceanera as celebrated in Los Angeles.
It follows
Alondra (Natalie Gomez) during her transition into womanhood. The screening of the film is on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
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I felt this article gave great insight about the film festival and what to expect if anyone decided to go. I really enjoyed that they will be holding a variety of acts and performances. Addition to that its free to get in with affordable parking.