Phillip Rodriguez

Centro Hispano of Dane County has announced that it will be presenting an exclusive screening of the Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo, a film by Phillip Rodriguez, for its 3rd Annual Evening of Dreaming – Acción on June 22nd at 6 p.m. The event is presented in collaboration with Wisconsin Public Television.

Rodriguez is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His last four films for public television, broadcast in primetime, have received wide acclaim. In 2002, Rodriguez founded City Projects, a production company whose films and educational programs challenge ideas about race and diversity in America. Rodriguez’ documentary films bring to light the complexities of Latino culture, history, and identity at a time when our nation’s demographics reflect unprecedented growth in the Latino community and the concomitant demand for relevant storytelling.

The Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo presents the life of radical Chicano lawyer, author, and counterculture icon, Oscar Zeta Acosta (also known as the 300 pound Samoan sidekick in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). Acosta played a central role within the Chicano movement and was one of the most active voices challenging white supremacy at the time.

The screening of the film will be followed by an intimate and candid conversation with the director, Phillip Rodriguez, and Centro Hispano Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller. The evening will also feature Latin American wines and tapas prepared by Chef Oscar Villarreal from Fuegos restaurant.

The Evening of Dreaming is a fundraiser for Centro that aims to showcase the diversity of Latino cultures in surprising, thought-provoking and whimsical ways. Last year’s event, an art and food pop-up, brought over 300 people through the agency for an interactive art and food dinner featuring Latino artists and chefs. The event helped raise $13,500 for Centro’s programs.

The event is free but registration is required and opens on May 31st online here. Early registration is strongly encouraged as spaces are extremely limited. A suggested donation of $50 is appreciated and will help fund Centro’s programs for the community.