La Chiva
Short/5min/Queens/2006/Spanish with English Subtitles

Director: Akiva Penaloza

Producer: NALIP, Ford/Mercury Latino Lens

Cast: Siara Padilla, Marcela Bragagnolo, Sergio Arras

Synopsis: Based on the true story, "La Chiva" is an inspiring tale that traces the indomitable spirit of a poor Mexican girl.  Young Gloria's (Siara Padilla) parents finally have enough money to buy her a new dress.  But when her father (Sergio Arras) comes home with a goat to provide his family with fresh milk breaks loose and eats the new dress off the clothesline.

Director’s Bio: AKIVA PENALOZA - is a writer/actor/director from Queens, New York.  She attended the America Film Institute (AFI) where she studied screenwriting and acting under the tutelage of Daryl Nickens, Frida writer Anna Thomas and director Gloria Gifford.  At AFI, she won the coveted Target Foundation Award selected by Academy Award Winner Diane Keaton.  She was last seen in Clifford Odet's WAITING FOR LEFTY, where she received critical acclaim for her performance as Edna.  In 2006, she won funding to direct her short film, La Chiva, from the Latino Lens Film Challenge sponsored by Mercury and the National Association of Latino Independent producers (NALIP).  She recently participated in the 2007 Tribeca Film Institute's All Access program representing her award-winning screenplay, Hannah Henri.

Akiva Penaloza
Scorpyofilms
718-309-4582
email:  akiva@scorpyofilms.com