FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Focus on the Family gave Bella an appreciation award for its beautiful and honest portrayal of the power of the family and the beauty of Adoption."It is a powerful movie that reveals the beauty of sacrificial love." 
-Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family

"By means of an extremely creative and compelling story, Bella reminds all of us how valuable is a single human life, and how noble are those who sacrifice to rescue a child who's unable to speak up for him/herself."
-Bob Waliszewski, Focus on the Family movie critic, Plugged In magazine & website

FAMILY LIFE

Bella masterfully and powerfully captures the best things of life:  family, the value of unborn life, unconditional love and redemption.  Bella is a 10!  You must see this movie!
Dr. Dennis Rainey, President of Family Life

ABC NEWS
A romantic drama….Mexican director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde's Bella tells the story of two people whose lives converge and turn upside down on a single day in New York. It has won the People's Choice Award, which is often an indicator of future Academy Award nominations.

RUETERS:
TORONTO (Reuters) - "Bella," a romantic drama by Mexican director Alejandro Monteverde, was the surprise winner of the top award at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday….. The prize is often an indicator of future Academy Award nominations, with past recipients including best picture winners "American Beauty" and "Chariots of Fire."Last year's winner, "Tsotsi," won an Oscar for best foreign-language film. "I really hope that this is not a dream and that I don't wake up at film school," a visibly surprised Monteverde said at an awards ceremony. "This festival is my first festival, it's my first film. It’s my first everything."

NEW YORK TIMES WEBSITE:
A man whose life is about to be changed forever discovers that sometimes it takes losing it all to finally appreciate the things that truly matter in director Alejandro Monteverde's emotional tale of self discovery. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide Click link below to view actual article
You can get NY Times article by going to this link:
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=348546

FOX NEWS
I am very pleased that the Toronto Film Festival chose "Bella" to win their top audience award over the weekend…. It's incredibly charming, with terrific performances by Tammy Blanchard and Mexican star Eduardo Verástegui and Manny Perez. It's directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde. It's too easy to say this is the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" of this season, because "Bella" is far more complex and sophisticated while losing none of the humor. Whoever decides to release "Bella" will have a nice little hit on their hands. The freshness and lack of affectation in "Bella" must have appealed to audiences who had to endure a number of big-name films that seemed contrived, stale or calculated. You can get read the article by going to this link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214255,00.html

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: “Bella” Wins
TORONTO -- A trio of Mexicans triumphed at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday when their U.S. independent drama "Bella" captured the People's Choice Award, voted on by festival audiences…. "These Mexican guys go to America and beat the American independents at their game -- it's impressive," Toronto festival co-director Noah Cowan said after an awards luncheon. You can get Hollywood Reporter logo and authors name for the article by going to this link: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003123305

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: The Story Behind “Bella”
Winning in Toronto can be the first step on the road to Oscar and Golden Globes success. "Bella" could wind up following in the footsteps of such past Toronto winners as: "American Beauty," which won five Oscars in 2000, including best picture and director, and three Globes, including best picture and director; "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which won four Oscars in 2001, including best foreign language film, was a best picture Oscar nominee and won two Globes, including best director for Ang Lee. Read the article at this link:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003221195

VARIETY
"This movie depicts the culture but also transcends it," said Pilar O'Leary, exec director of the Smithsonian Institute's Latino Center. "It has universal appeal."Which is why the Latino Center is presenting Verastegui and helmer Alejandro Monteverde with its award for emerging talent. Pic doesn't see release until August, but because of the increasing buzz, the Mexican Embassy wanted to sponsor a private screening as part of its Cinco de Mayo bash. -William Triplett, Variety.com To read entire article visit this link: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964437.html?categoryid=38&cs=1&query=bella   

MOVIE GUIDE
It is a movie for all ages...Lot’s of heart, family and joy. Please go see it and bring your friends, You will love it. -Ted Baehr, MovieGuide.com
To view the review click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj9JLKExoI4

AFI (American Film Institute) Movie Review - Dallas
Life is really, really hard; thank god it's so beautiful - it's one of those rare films that catches you by the emotional short hairs and refuses to let go. By the time the final reel plays, you're going to be weeping tears of commingled sadness and joy - unless you happen to have blocked tear ducts. (And, if you do, you might consider a viewing of this movie as a possible cure.) Bella is really not so much a love story (in the sense of two people falling head over heels) as it is a story about love and how it can heal psychic wounds and enrich our lives. -John P. Meyer, AFI Dallas. To read article visit this link: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/mar/28/afi-dallas-movie-review-ibellai/

InCONTENTION.com
"Bella" marks the debut feature of Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, a truly humble man in awe of the fact that he's actually made it here. It's better to know as little as possible about this film before going into it but let me tell you that it feels both sincere and loving. It's great to see a film that legitimately moves the viewer without being drowned in sap. And it does this in just 90 minutes. If it comes your way, see it. You won't regret it. You can read the article by going to this link: http://www.incontention.com/toronto/2006/09/beautiful_indeed.html

CNN - Ana Maria Montero
“Powerful and moving... a true inspiration.”

NBC, MIAMI
"Bella is a romantic drama full of heart, soul and beautiful messages. It's a film that will stay with you forever! Powerful, passionate and unpredictable, Bella is a rare gem, a true surprise. A movie that can transform your life and keep you thinking. Bella is a cinematic jewel. One of the best films I've seen in a long time".Watch out for its extraordinary cast, especially Mexican leading man Eduardo Verastegui, truly the “Brad Pitt of Latin America”. -- Maria Salas, NBC-Miami

The last film with Bella’s momentum was the Passion of the Christ.”

–Steve McEveety
Executive Producer of Braveheart and a producer of The Passion of Christ