East of Hope Street is a 1998 award-winning film drama directed and produced by Nate Thomas. It was executive produced by Tim Russ (best known for his role as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok on the Star Trek: Voyager television series) who also stars in the film. East of Hope Street had a limited release in theaters beginning on November 5, 1999 by The Cinema Guild. It had a home video street date on September 21, 2004. The gritty, urban, fact-based story is loosely based on director Nate Thomas's 10 years of experience working as a counselor in a group home for pregnant teens in Los Angeles. Russ plays a role autobiographical of Thomas. The film has been called "timely and provocative" by the Los Angeles Daily News, "an emotional and powerful film" by KCOP-TV, "stark and unflinching" by Backstage, and "a testament to the human spirit" by The Austin Chronicle.

East of Hope Street
Directed byNate Thomas
Written byTim Russ
Nate Thomas
Produced byTim Russ
Nate Thomas
StarringJude Herrera
Tim Russ
Roxanne Coyne
Magda Rivera
CinematographyMark Woods
Edited byRobert Davenport II
Music byJonathan Merrill
Production
company
Nate Thomas & Associates
Distributed byThe Cinema Guild
Release date
  • November 5, 1999 (1999-11-05)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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East of Hope Street tells the real-life coming of age story of Alicia Montalvo, a teenage Salvadoran refugee caught up in the labyrinthine Los Angeles child protection system. Alicia struggles to survive the abuses of home, the inner city, and an overburdened social system in a Los Angeles most people never see.

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  • Jude Herrera (as Jade Herrera).... Alicia
  • Tim Russ.... Casey
  • Magda Rivera.... Rosa
  • Eve Rivera....Carmen
  • Greer Bohanon.... Tameeka
  • Asanio Lara.... Carlos
  • Roxanne Coyne.... Bianca
  • Fabiana Medici....
  • Ranjani Brow.... Missy
  • Pete Panos.... Luis
  • Susanne McKenrick.... Mrs. Robertson
  • Daniel Chace.... Mr. Robertson
  • Joyce Rae.... Louise Carrington
  • Sebastian Cetina.... Mario
  • Barbara Jones.... Judge Francis Albee
  • Rafael H Robledo....Mr. Valez

Awards and nominations

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  • Best Feature Film (New Orleans Urban Film Festival 1998)
  • Best Actor Award (Jude Herrera) (New Orleans Urban Film Festival 1998)
  • Best Urban Drama (New York International Independent Film Festival 1998)
  • 1st Place Cross Cultural (Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Festival 1998)
  • Jury Award (Hollywood Black Film Festival 1999)
  • Best Feature Film nomination (Imagen Foundation 2000)
  • Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Film (Jude Herrera) (FAITA Awards 2000)
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