Moctesuma Esparza ’71, M.F.A. ’73

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Known for the highly-acclaimed The Milagro Beanfield War which he co-produced with Robert Redford, Moctesuma Esparza is one of a small group of Hispanic investor/producers who are making their mark in the motion picture industry.

Esparza began his rise to prominence through the production of such award-winning documentaries as Agueda Martinez and for the commercial Drunk Drivers Get Carried Away. He received an Emmy for his UCLA film master's thesis Cinco Vidas. Following completion of his M.F.A., Esparza was a producer and writer for the documentary unit of the National Broadcasting Company, Los Angeles.

Since 1984, Esparza has served as president of the Education and Media Institute, National Hispanic Arts. He also served as chair of the advisory committee of the Sundance Institute of Salt Lake City since 1986 and was a member of the Los Angeles Bicentennial Commission. In 1979, he was a presidential appointee to the United States Scholars Commission. He also serves on the board of directors for Los Angeles Theater Center.

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez , a critically acclaimed film produced by Esparza, was developed for American Playhouse on the Public Broadcasting System and later distributed in theatrical and video markets. Other productions by Esparza include Radioactive Dreams, The Telephone and Train to Heaven. The achievements of Moxtesuma Esparza in the highly-competitive world of film clearly identify him as one who is a leader in the area of crossover films which succeed handsomely with the mainstream.