NBCU Telemundo Enterprises Unveils Latino-Focused Film Unit

MIAMI: NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is launching Telemundo Films to develop, produce and market feature films for moviegoers in the U.S. Hispanic market, with Lowriders starring Eva Longoria slated as the first release.

The new division under Telemundo Studios is intended to serve the growing moviegoing U.S. Hispanic market and will make films in English and Spanish. Led by Luis Silberwasser, the president of Telemundo Network, the unit will kick off with the release of the feature film Lowriders in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions’ BH Tilt and Universal Pictures. The movie stars Longoria, Demian Bichir, Melissa Benoist, Theo Rossi, Tony Revolori and Gabriel Chavarria.

Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, Lowriders is set against the backdrop of East L.A.’s near-spiritual car culture. It follows the story of Danny (Chavarria), a talented street artist caught between the lowrider world inhabited by his old-school father (Bichir) and ex-con brother (Rossi), and the adrenaline-fueled outlet that defines his self-expression. The film was produced by Academy Award winner Brian Grazer and Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Jason Blum. Lowriders will be released in theaters on May 12.

“Telemundo Films will allow us to leverage our expertise to expand our entertainment business into a new genre of storytelling,” said Cesar Conde, the chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. “We are excited to kick off this new venture in partnership with Imagine, Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, and look forward to working with them to serve the vibrant moviegoing Hispanic market.”