LALIFF: Pepe Serna ‘Life is Art’ Documentary

A Look at The Career of an Iconic Mexican American Character Actor

In a career that spans almost a half-century, Pepe Serna has appeared in over 100 films and TV shows often co-starring with many actors, directors and writers who have been memorialized on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Pepe Serna may not be a household name to the casual moviegoer but if you’ve been to the movies in the last fifty years or been watching TV you have undoubtedly seen him in blockbuster and TV shows right alongside the biggest stars playing every conceivable character role with the passion and commitment that has endeared him to so many in the entertainment industry, but especially in Latino Hollywood.

Serna’s life is a Hollywood ‘against all odds” story told in the Life is Art documentary that will be screening at the 2022 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on June 4, 2022. Serna also stars in the short film Abuelo which will screen before his documentary. It is called Abuelo and it is directed by Kevin Derek and stars Izabella Alvarez as his granddaughter.

Serna’s Life is Art documentary could easily have been subtitled, A Lust for Life. Author (“Hispanics in Hollywood”) and first-time director Luis Reyes’ helms this wonderful portrait of Serna, a man who has gobbled up life with gusto and whose boundless kinetic energy and endurance would leave the Ever Ready Energizer bunny winded.

Reyes, weaves Serna’s life story of an often-overlooked actor who has overcome formidable odds to reach his goals and live life to the fullest while giving back to his community. It is told through an affectionate bouquet of testimonials by Latino friends and associates like; Luis Valdez (Zoot Suit, La Bamba), Edward James Olmos (Mayans MC, American Me), Eva Longoria-Bastón (Searching for Mexico, Grand Hotel), Cheech Marin (The War WIth Grandpa, Tin Cup), Gloria Calderón-Kellett, Showrunner One Day At A Time, With Love) and Robert Beltrán ( Star Trek Voyager).

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