Arts & Entertainment

Latino Film Festival Kicks Off With 'Ruben Blades Is Not My Name'

Daniela's Lens takes us down to the red carpet at opening night of the New York Latino Film Festival!

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This year's New York Latino Film Festival kicked off with a screening of the documentary 'Ruben Blades Is Not My Name'. This star-studded documentary offers an intimate portrait of Ruben Blades, revealing a living legend and his struggle to come to terms with his legacy.

Latin American icon Ruben Blades was at the center of the New York Salsa revolution in the 1970s. His socially charged lyrics and explosive rhythms brought Salsa music to an international audience. Blades won 17 Grammys, acted in Hollywood, earned a law degree from Harvard and even ran for President of his native Panama. Critically acclaimed director Abner Benaim takes us on a journey through Ruben’s 50-year career, revealing that Ruben might still have both musical and political future ambitions.

6:25 p.m.
It's the opening night of the Latino Film Festival at AMC Empire 25 movie theatre near Times Square!

6:30 p.m.
Arturo Menendez and Paola Baldion are first on the carpet.


6:39 p.m.
Paola gives an interview to a South American TV station. Sadly, my Spanish is not good enough to understand what she is saying.


Dominique Nieves

6:42 p.m.
Great smile Dominique!

6:55 p.m.
Actor Flaco Navaja.


7:01 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Thiego.


7:05 p.m.
Performer Juanialys Corsino.


7:08 p.m.
Director Abner Baldion and legend Ruben Blades arrive! I almost can't get a photo of them. There are so many TV crews!


7:11 p.m.
Ruben gives interviews.


7:13 p.m.
Ruben with Latino Film Festival founder Calixto Chinchilla and director Abner Benaim.


7:14 p.m.
He smiles at me! That's a shot!


7:16 p.m.
And there are the excited fans with a Panama flag!


7:18 p.m.
This girl is the star of the evening. Here with daddy James R.


7:19 p.m.
So cute!


7:20 p.m.
Musician Soleil Laurent is dancing for us!


7:22 p.m.
100%! Daphne Rubin-Vega.


7:24 p.m.
"Let's take a photo together!" says Chris Mulkey to the PR. You got it!


7:27 p.m.
Multitalent GianSol.


7:29 p.m.

Thalia Romina is in a good mood!


7:31 p.m.
Filmmakers Courtney Baxter and Sebastian Rea.


7:35 p.m.
Filmmaker Miguel Angel Caballero.

Daniela Kirsch is a renowned entertainment photographer and founder of NameFace — an event photo agency based in New York City. Through her creative expertise and unique visual style, Kirsch not only just knows more than just a thing or two about photographing A-list events, but is forever changing the way we interact with the entertainment industry. In June 2018, Kirsch teamed up with Patch to launch the photo series 'Daniela's Lens' offering weekly features from local events to red carpet magic.

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