On Wednesday, July 20, 2005, the DGA Latino Committee presented An Evening with Luis Mandoki, the director of Trapped, When a Man Loves A Woman, Angel Eyes and Message in a Bottle. Following opening remarks and an introduction by LC Co-Chair Jay Torres, the evening featured a special event screening of Mandoki’s returns to his Spanish language roots, Voces inocentes (Innocent Voices), a moving portrayal of El Salvador’s in civil war as seen through the eyes of a brave 11 year-old boy. The film is based on the true life experience of screenwriter Oscar Torres.

Immediately following the screening there was a discussion about the film with Mandoki, Producer Lawrence Bender, and Editor Aleshka Ferrero, moderated by DGA Director Member Michael Chavez who joined the DGA in 2003, when Mandoki hired him as a 2nd Unit Director.

Mr. Mandoki is currently in pre-production on his next Spanish-language production, Amapola (Poppies), an expose of the drug trade. He joined the Directors Guild in 1989.