“City of Dreams,” an upcoming drama about a young Mexican boy who gets smuggled across the border, is lining up some heavy-hitting producers as Roadside Attractions looks to debut the film over Labor Day.
Sean Wolfington, the executive producer of “Sound of Freedom” and most recently “Cabrini”; Luis Fonsi, a five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and producer; and songwriter Linda Perry have joined the producing team for the film. It’s a group that also includes Oscar-nominated “Roma” star Yalitza Aparicio. In addition, Fonsi will record an original song for the film, which will be written by Perry. “City of Dreams,” which marks Mohit Ramchandani’s feature directorial debut, will open in theaters nationwide on Aug. 30.
The film looks at how the young man’s dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he’s smuggled into the U.S. and sold to a sweatshop in downtown Los Angeles. The film, which wants to spotlight the issue of enslaved child labor in the U.S., stars Alfredo Castro (“Karnawal”), Paulina Gaitan (“Narcos”), Diego Calva (“Babylon”), Renata Vaca (“Saw X”) and newcomer Ari Lopez in the breakout lead performance.
Wolfington remarked, “Mo Ramchandani, as a first-time director, has created nothing short of a masterpiece. Beautifully shot, acted, edited, and scored, it keeps you emotionally engaged and on the edge of your seat until the last frame. I am incredibly grateful to join Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff to build on strategies that propelled ‘Sound of Freedom’ to over $260 million at the box office and to create a movement that will end child labor in America.”
Fonsi, best known for his record-breaking smash hit “Despacito,” commented: “’City of Dreams’ is not just an exceptional film; it makes you feel things that compel you to act. It’s a rallying cry for justice and compassion for the children in our country. I’m honored to sing this powerful and beautifully written song by the amazing Linda Perry. I hope this film and this song inspires people as it has inspired me.”
Perry added, “‘City of Dreams’ is a beautiful and emotionally provoking film about a boy who overcomes an unimaginable betrayal. It left me asking, how is it possible that this type of cruelty exists in the very city I call home? I was so moved that I wrote this song literally minutes after watching the film. I am humbled to be a part of something this powerful. We can no longer turn our heads to avoid the unthinkable acts that are happening all around us.”
“We are excited to reunite with Sean, with whom we did ‘Bella’ 18 years ago, and are honored that Perry and Fonsi have created such a soul-stirring track for the film” said Cohen and d’Arbeloff.
Ramchandani wrote “City of Dreams” and produced it with Wolfington, Rufus Parker, Jon Graham, and Matt Diezel. Aparicio, Fonsi, Perry and Luis Mandoki serve as Executive Producers. The music was composed by Lisa Gerrard (“Gladiator”) and cinematography by Alejandro Chávez (“Roma”).