Film featuring Father Benito and Father Epi wins awards

South Texas Gentle Men of Steel – Los Padres, a production of Pluma Pictures, Inc., has won two prestigious awards from the IndieFEST Film Awards. The feature documentary, which documents to contributions of Dominican priests to Duval and Jim Wells counties in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, won the Award of Excellence: History/Biographical and Award of Merit Special Mention: Christian.

The documentary is about the great impact Dominican friars had in the history and development of central South Texas, especially on how their presence assisted many Mexican-Americans struggle against injustice and harsh racism, said the film’s writer-producer-director and president of Pluma Pictures, Inc., Father Armando P. Ibáñez, OP.

The IndieFEST Film Awards recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry judge entries. Information about the IndieFEST and a list of recent winners can be found at www.theindiefest.com.

In winning an IndieFEST Film Award, Pluma Pictures joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including Liam Neeson as the narrator of Love Thy Nature, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tom Hall for Generosity of Eye and European heavyweight Roland Joffee for The Lovers starring Josh Hartnett.

South Texas Gentle Men of Steel is a tribute to the last two Spanish Dominican friars—Father Benito Retortillo, OP, and Father Epifanio “Epi” Rodriguez, OP. They left San Diego, and returned to their homes in Spain last year, ending an 82-year presence of Spanish Dominican friars in central south Texas. The film is not only a tribute to the last two friars to minister in San Diego and surrounding area, but is also about the great impact Dominican friars had on the lives of many Mexican Americans in south Texas, who struggled against poverty and discrimination, Father Ibáñez said.

“The film represents a chapter of the ongoing universal story of people grappling to understand and accept each other as equals,” said Ibáñez, who is Director and Assistant Professor of Radio-Television-Film (RTF) at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “It is a chapter that traces its roots to the Spanish Conquista—a wrestling match of greed and brutality against equality and Salvation. It is part of the universal story that began with Cain slaying his brother Abel.”

Award-winning editor and special effects and animator Todd Schmidt is the documentary’s co-producer, Neil de la Peña, Director of Photography, Alan Jouet, audio engineer, and Emmy Award nominee, Joe O. Barrera, music composer and supervisor. The Hollywood Reporter named Barrera, a San Diego native, as a film music composer to watch. He has won numerous prestigious honors for his music.

“ The IndieFEST is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent," Rick Prickett, who chairs The IndieFEST Film Awards, said about the latest winners. "The IndieFEST helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of The IndieFEST Film Awards is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.”