Latino cinema's success means trouble for Latino film fest

The recent popularity of Latino films in Hollywood has made it harder for the L.A. Latino International Film Festival to keep its pipeline filled.

Marlene Dermer, founder and executive director of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, tries not to show the stress of her job as she gamely greets a visitor this week at her cramped Hollywood offices, busy as a boiler room operation. She really shouldn't be taking time for lunch, with four days left before the premiere of the week-long cinema celebration, now in its 11th year. As she enters the elevator, she passes a delivery boy wheeling in buckets of takeout for her staff, a smile masking her guilt for leaving her post even briefly.