The first annual Coachella Valley Latino International Film Festival will be held on December 4-6, 2009 at the Indio Performing Arts Center in Indio, California  as a fundraiser to benefit the Non-Profit organization. International Latino films, Special Events with Latino filmmakers and entertainers will be a part of the first year’s 3-day event, with a Special Guest presenting the Audience Favorite Award on Sunday evening, the close of the film festival. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack is the widow of legendary musician Sonny Bono who served the Coachella Valley as both a mayor and congressman. Sonny Bono was responsible for founding the Palm Springs Film Festival which has celebrated international film for 20 years.

Gerald A Vukas of The National Hispanic American Educational Fund established the Fund over a decade ago along with Liz Torres, Henry Cisneros, Dolores Huerta, Esai Morales, Bedemar Velasquez, Lupe Ontiveros, Maria Hinojosa, and Wilmer Valderrama,  to provide financial grants to assist Hispanic high school seniors going to colleges. The Fund’s awards will be given out as a part of this year’s Closing Night event (December 6, 2009). Previous Fund sponsors include: AOL Time Warner, comedienne George Lopez and his wife Ann, Sodexho, and the Arizona State University.