By Aaron Glickman
SocialMiami.com

Eduardo Verastegui (actor), Tony Bennett (15 Grammys), Alejandro Sanz, (17 Grammys, most of any Spanish musician) and Sean Wolfington (financier + producer) gathered at Bella’s NY party to celebrate Bella becoming the #1 Rated Film of 2007 by RottenTomatoes, the biggest film review site in the world. Bella was also #1 rated movie by Yahoo, Fandango and the New York Times Readers’ Poll while in theaters. Alejandro Sanz made a song for the film and Tony Bennett presented the “Tony Bennett Media Excellence Award” to the filmmakers.

Miami is the “Gateway to Latin America,” so it is not surprising that the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) has grown into a premier event for Latin-inspired works. One such film that is sure to make a splash at this year’s festival is Bella, a heartwarming story about life, relationships and our capacity for love in the face of the unexpected.

Bella, which was financed and produced by Key Biscayne’s Sean Wolfington, marks the directorial debut of Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde, and has already won the Toronto International Film Festival. MIFF marks the film’s East Coast premiere.

SocialMiami had lunch with Wolfington at the Ritz on Key Biscayne and later joined him at his home where we were met by the film’s leading actor, Mexican superstar Eduardo Verastegui.

Bella is Wolfington’s entrée into the film business, and the fast start echoes previous business success. By age 34 Wolfington had started two companies from scratch and sold them for more than $300 million. He was recognized by Ernst & Young as a top four finalist in their annual ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award, which was won by Wayne Huizenga the previous year. Now at age 35 Wolfington intends to use his technology background to participate in opportunities the internet is generating in film and television. He is creating two media companies – The One Media and Metanoia Films. But for now, Wolfington’s attention is on MIFF.

Producer of Today Show Hoda Kobb, Eduardo Verastegui , Kathie Lee Gifford, Tony Bennett, Susan Bennett and Sean Wolfington

“Following our success at Toronto,” said Wolfington, “we already have three offers on the table. So landing a distribution deal is not our goal at MIFF. Rather, we want to expose Bella to Miami’s Latin community. It’s a romantic drama about a relationship between an American girl and a Mexican guy that goes much deeper than romance. But what Latinos appreciate the most is how we portray the Latin male. We work against the negative stereotypes – drug dealer, criminal, Don Juan, etc – and show an everyday hero, an honest, hard working man who is willing to give his life for family and friends. We’re also taken into his family and see the Latin culture with all its warmth, family values and rich flavor. Latino leaders are promoting the film because it reveals a beautiful side of the Hispanic culture that is not typically seen in films.

Dennis Hopper (Academy Award-Winning Actor), Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at the Cannes Film Festival in France

Another fascinating aspect contributing to the buzz around Bella is the praise received from the President of the United States. “The Director of Immigration gave the ‘American by Choice’ award to our director Alejandro Monteverde at the White House along with Mayor Diaz from Miami,” said Wolfington. “The award is given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to immigrants who become citizens and have a positive impact on the country. In addition, Alejandro was invited as a guest of first lady Laura Bush to the State of the Union address. In all honesty, attention like this is humbling and the entire team is honored by the praise.”

After lunch and a quick golf cart ride, we arrived at Wolfington’s ocean front estate. The three-story modern residence was once the home of rock-icon Cher and now home to Wolfington, his wife and four children, and the occasional in vogue visitor like Bella’s lead actor, Eduardo Verastegui. Also visiting was fellow Key Biscayne resident, John Devaney.

Verastegui has a great fondness for Miami. Not only is Miami the city that gave him his professional start in the States – Verastegui recorded a solo music album in Miami after a successful career in Mexican telenovelas – but it’s a city that has a complete mix of all Latin culture. “Miami is the capital of Latin American,” he said. “There are around 19 countries where Spanish is the native language, and they are all represented in Miami. In Mexico, all of my friends are Mexican, but here I have friends from Guatemala, Cuba, Argentina. In no other city is this possible.”

But Verastegui is quick to point out that Bella should not be categorized simply as a Latin film. “Bella transcends culture,” he explained, “which is why it won in Toronto where there are few, if any, Latinos. It is Latin-inspired, but the message is universal. Yet Latinos will like the film because of the positive way in which we portray our culture. Latinos are hungry to see Spanish people portrayed in a positive light, and that’s what we have done with Bella.”

Bella Actors and Tony Bennett – (starting clockwise from bottom) Sophie Nyweide, Manny Perez, Eduardo Verastegui, Tony Bennett (Music Legend), Alejandro Monteverde, Aly Landry, Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer of Bella), Ana Wolfington, and Ewa Da Cruz

Ana Wolfington, Sean Wolfington, Kathie Lee Gifford, Eduardo Verastegui and Manny Perez

Kathie Lee Gifford, Alejandro Monteverde, Eduardo Verastegui, Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto

Tony Bennett gives Bella team Award (Ali Landry, Alejandro Monteverde, Eduardo Verastegui, Tony Bennett, Susan Benedetto, Sean Wolfington, and Ana Wolfington

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) and Tony Bennett (Music Legend)

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Paulina Rubio (Singer and Actor), Alejandro Sanz (Grammy Award-Winning Musician and Producer), Angelica Vale (Actor, Singer and Comedienne), Angelica Maria (Actor and Grammy Award-Winning Singer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at Sanz’s home

The Bella Team: Ana Wolfington, Eustace Wolfington, Leo Serevino, Eduardo Verastegui, Alejandro Monteverde, and Sean Wolfington

Alejandro Sanz and Bella Team at the Wolfington Home

Bella at the White House with Officials

Bella Screening at Smithsonian

Bella Team at the New York Film Festival

Bella Team gets the Movie Guide Award

Bella Team is honored at the White House by the Director of Immigration

Bella Team receives award at the Regent with Kathie Lee Gifford

Bella Team at Regent University

Bella Team with Governor Jeb Bush at the Wolfington Home

Bella Team with Kathie Lee Gifford

Bella Team with LL Cool J at the Tribeca Premiere in New York City

Bella Team with Rosie Perez (Actor)

Bella Team on the field at Super Bowl XXXIX

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at the premiere of Bella

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Ted Baher and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer)

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) in the Red Room of the White House

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Frank Gifford (NFL Legend and Commentator) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) on the field at Super Bowl XLII

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Paulina Rubio (Singer and Actor), Alejandro Sanz (Grammy Award-Winning Musician and Producer), Angelica Vale (Actor, Singer and Comedienne), Angelica Maria (Actor and Grammy Award-Winning Singer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at Sanz’s home

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) with Susan Sarandon (Academy Award-Winning Actor) and Emile Hirsch (Actor)

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) with Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at the Eden Rock Restaurant during the Cannes Film Festival

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) with Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at the White House standing beside a painting of George Washington

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Emilio Estefan (Grammy Award-Winning Musucian and Producer), Alejandro Monteverde (Director and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) stand inside the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC

Film Producer Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at the Chopard Party at the Cannes Film Festival

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) enjoy Cannes, France by boat

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Frank Gifford (NFL Legend and Commentator), his wife Kathie Lee Giffors (Former Talk Show Host, Actor, Entertainer, Playwright, and Author) and Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer)

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Texas Governor Rick Perry, Alejandro Monteverde (Director and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer)

Florida Govenor Jeb Bush, his family and the Bella Team

Marshall Bush, Eduardo Verastegui and Sean Wolfington

Art Smith (World-renown chef who has worked for former Florida Governors Bob Graham and Jeb Bush and until 2007 was personal chef to Oprah Winfrey) with Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer)

The Bella Team at Super Bowl XXIX seated at the End Zone

Paul Walker (Actor), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer)Paul Walker (Actor), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer)

Manny Perez (Actor), Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Alejandro Monteverde (Director and Producer) at Regent University Awards

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) speaking at the White House

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Laura Bush (First Lady)

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), and Alejandro Monteverde (Director and Producer) on the White House lawn

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer) with President George H. W. Bush, Barbara Bush (First Lady) and Governor Jeb Bush

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Art Smith (World-renown chef), Alejandro Sanz (Grammy-Winning Musician and Producer) and Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) at the Wolfington Home

Sean Wolfington Financier and Producer) and his wife Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer) at the Bella premiere at the Tribecca Film Festival

Dennis Hopper (Academy Award-Winning Actor), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Eduardo Verastegui (Financier and Producer) at the Cannes Film Festival in France

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) speaking at the premiere of the film Bella which he helped produce

Tony Bennett (Music Legend) and Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer)

Ali Landry (Actor), husband Alejandro Monteverde (Director and Producer), Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Tony Bennett (Music Legend), wife Susan Benedetto, Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and wife Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer) receive an award from Tony Bennett for excellence in the arts

Tony Bennett (Music Legend and also an accomplished painter) paints a portrait for his good friend Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer)

Michael McCarty (Restaurateur), Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Tony Bennett (Music Legend), Frank Gifford (NFL Legend and Sports Commentator), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Susan Benedetto, Herb Siegal (Producer), and Steve Millington (General Manager of Michael’s)

Susan Benedetto, Tony Bennett (Music Legend), Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer)

Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer) listens as Tony Bennett (Music Legend) praises Bella after world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival

Tony Bennett (Music Legend), Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and husband Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer)

Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Eduardo Verastegui (Actor and Producer), Colate Vallejo-Najera. Bella was the #1 Rated Film in the US in 2007 and was the top grossing Hispanic themed film of the year.

Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer), Ana Wolfington (Financier and Producer) and Manny Diaz (Mayor of Miami)

Robin Williams (Academy Award-Winning Actor) with Ana Wolfington (Fianncier and Producer) and Sean Wolfington (Financier and Producer

To Learn More about Bella visit: www.BellaMovieNews.com