Think all Salsa Dancers are good?! Think again!!

Salsa Dancing Spy Daniel James

Guilty of Spying for Iran.

 

 

 

An army translator and salsa dance teacher who worked for the head of Nato forces in Afghanistan has been found guilty of spying for Iran.

 

Cpl Daniel James who worked for General David Richards, recently appointed as the head of the British Army, was found guilty of emailing details of troop movements to a military attaché in the Iranian embassy in Kabul.

James, 45, denied the charge, under the Official Secrets Act, claiming he was trying to improve relations with Iran and was protecting the general with voodoo spells. The jury is still deliberating on two further charges, also denied by James, alleging that he leaked two sensitive situation reports.

James, an Iranian by birth who had changed his name from Esmail Mohammed Beigi Gamasai, sent a series of "coded" emails between November 2 and December 18 2006.

One email told Colonel Mohammed Hossein Heydari that forces were setting up a camp on the Iran-Iraq border near al-Amara and added: "Take care of that side."

It finished by adding: "Any other work that you may have, I am at your service" and was signed "Esmail the interpreter."

 

12th International LATINO FILM FESTIVAL, San Francisco

SF Latino Film Festival

Article By M.S.

SF LATINO FILM FESTIVAL

Article by M.S.

The International Latino Film Society kicks off the 12^th International Latino Film Festival in San Francisco on November 7, 2008, with a gala opening night, “Noche Cubana,” at the Castro Theatre, followed by “Cuba Exposure,” an exciting event filled with Cuban rhythms by John Santos and DJ Nica at the Kabuki Hotel in San Francisco.

The acclaimed Festival, which celebrates the diversity of Latino culture through the timeless medium of film, runs November 7- 23, 2008. The program includes over 70 features, shorts, and documentaries from Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela and Spain. The Festival will present screenings in eight Bay Area cities: San Francisco, Redwood City, San Jose, San Rafael, Larkspur, Berkeley, San Mateo, and San Bruno. All films include English subtitles.

"This year we were able to bring together an amazing collection of films that truly reflects the diversity of Latino cinema throughout the world. We are especially excited to honor several outstanding artists this year including Gregory Nava, and Alex Rivera. These US-based filmmakers have all done extraordinary work that embodies the vital connection between Latino cinema in the US and in Latin America," said Sylvia Perel, Festival Director.

Some of the highlights of the 2008 festival will include:

Tribute to “El Norte,” US, celebrating its 25^th Anniversary and honoring its director, Gregory Nava

New Vision Award to Alex Rivera, for “Sleep Dealer,” US

CinePride: A celebration of LGBT marriage equality, “Spinnin,’” Spain

Lehaim to Salvadorean Righteous: “Glass House,” El Salvador

Noche de Arte y Política: “Against the Grain,” Peru

Closing Night: ¡Viva Brazil! “Mare, Nossa Historia de Amor,” Brazil

Youth in Video: A collection of 2008 films by our young students

Opening Night “NOCHE CUBANA”

Cachao: uno más

dir. Dikayl Rimmasch, 2008, Cuba / USA, 68 min.

Celebrating the life of one of the most influential Afro-Cuban musicians, Cachao: uno más explores the musical journey of Israel "Cachao" López. This documentary follows the legendary bassist from his early days in Cuba to worldwide recognition and features interviews with Andy García and John Santos, who will perform at the opening night party “Noche Cubana.”

CASTRO 11/7/2008 7:00 PM

Closing Night VIVA BRASIL!

Maré, nossa história de amor / Another Love Story

dir. Lucia Murat, 2008, Brazil / France / Uruguay, 104 min.

This musical inspired by West-Side Story mixes Brazilian funk and hip-hop to remake Shakespeare's most famous romance, Romeo and Juliet. Set in favelas (slums) where rival gangs divide the inhabitants into 2 camps, Analídia and Jonatá are being punished for their attempts to stay together.

CinePride Tribute

Spinnin' (6.000 millones de personas diferentes) / Spinnin' (6 Billion Different People)

dir. Eusebio Pastrana, 2007, Spain, 110 min.

If this film was ever released in theaters all over the country before the elections you could kiss Barack Obama good-buy. Those Americans who vote with their bibles would turn up in droves to support MacCain. Not only it projects the idea that the world is gay, it dares to challenge the bible suggesting god himself (herself?) was one of the members of the "happy" tribe.

Here's a preview of some festival films from the main programming :

Amor, dolor y viceversa / Love, Pain, and Vice Versa

dir. Alfonso Pineda Ulloa, 2008, Mexico / Spain / USA, 85 min.

The beginning was innocent enough: if you're creative maybe the police would help you find your imaginary lover just like the one you dreamt up. But the plot thickens and things twist and turn in this film reminiscent of The 6th Sense. Lesson learned supports an old wisdom that there's no bigger fury than a woman scorned.

Maldeamores / Lovesickness

dirs. Carlitos Ruíz Ruíz, Mariem Pérez, 2007, Puerto Rico, 90 min.

The title Lovesickness befits this view of love as a life long roller coaster, in which passion overrides reason. We watch ordinary Puerto-Ricans of all generations go through trials and tribulations of emotions, but the story of an elderly love triangle is particularly endearing – you will never see real 70-somethings in Hollywood culture obsessed with youth.

Sleep Dealer

dir. Alex Rivera, 2008, USA, 90 min.

This Sundance and Berlin festivals award-winner paints a scary tale of possible future projected from some real events. In South America, private companies have taken over municipal water supplies in at least half a dozen countries (including SF Bechtel corporation suing Bolivia that dared to cancel its contract). US finally achieved the goal of having cheap labor without immigration. Thanks to advanced technology these workers can stay where they are and operate robots by remote controls inserted in their bodies. Maybe Alexander Beliaev, a Russian author of science fiction who wrote the Air Trader in 1929 was not that far off…

Cochochi

dirs. Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán, 2007, Mexico / Canada / UK, 87 min.

If you like the award-winning films of Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, this story will not disappoint you. Set in the lush Sierra Tarahumara in northwest Mexico, the beautifully photographed slow pace movie is an antidote to fast action oriented Hollywood productions.

General admission to all films is $9 and $7 for students, seniors and disabled. $6 for groups of 10. A package of 5 films would cost only $30 and students will pay only $40 for all movies.

For additional information about the Festival and tickets visit www.LatinoFilmFestival.org.

Article by Maya Salsaloca