Which Way, L.A.?

Will Latin American Film Continue its Hollywood Sweep?

Argentina-s economy is on the rocks, but its movie business is booming. Investors in Brazilian films get tax breaks that have boosted the industry there, and Mexican cinema hasn-t been so hot since the Golden Age of the 40-s and 50-s. The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival is in its 7th year at Hollywood-s Egyptian Theatre, and recently Hollywood has been getting competition from films like City of God, and Oscar nominees Y Tu Mam- Tambi-n and El Crimen del Padre Amaro. Is a new wave sweeping northward? Will the Latin American film renaissance last? We hear from Variety film critic Robert Koehler and Brazilian director Aluizio Abranches. Making News: Environmentalists Angry about Air Quality Plan This is LA-s worst smog season in seven years, and tomorrow is the last chance for the public to get a word in at the Air Quality Management District. That's when the AQMD is set to vote on a plan that environmentalists say will do only 20 percent of the clean-up required by federal law. Dave Danelski, who reports on air pollution and transportation for the Riverside Press-Enterprise, says that there's as much finger-pointing as fixing. Reporter-s Notebook: A Crowded Ballot It takes only 65 valid signatures and $3500 to run for Governor in California's October recall election. More than 160 would-be candidates have taken out papers and shown an -interest.- No one knows how many actually will end up on the ballot, but the mailboxes of political reporters tell an interesting story. The San Francisco Chronicle-s Carla Marinucci has more on the candidates, pending lawsuits and other curious constitutional issues.