Moctesuma Esparza

Moctesuma Esparza (born March 12, 1949) is a Mexican-American producer, entertainment executive, entrepreneur and community activist. He is the chief executive officer of Maya Cinemas, a theater chain servicing to the United States Latino audience. He is also a partner with Carolyn Caldera in the company Esparza/Caldera Entertainment.

Esparza is a promoter of Latino films, and many of his films focus on Chicano themes. He has produced over twenty films, several of them for television, and has won over 200 awards.

A participant in the 1960s-era movement for the civil rights and equality of Mexican Americans, Esparza continues to work with educational, cultural, and professional organizations, especially those that aim to educate Latinos in the business of media production.

He attended the School of Theater, Film and Television at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received his B.A. in 1971 and M.F.A. in the same field in 1973. During his sophomore year at UCLA, Moctesuma created an ethno-communications program at the film school. He wrote a proposal, made the curriculum, and created (and was a student in) the first multicultural film program in the United States. He was a producer and writer for the documentary unit of NBC in Los Angeles.

Following the success of Villa Alegre, Esparza became an independent producer of documentaries. He also filmed a production of the Chicano comedy troupe Culture Clash, A Bowl of Beings. His big break into Hollywood cinema was the feature film The Milagro Beanfield War as a partner at Esparza-Katz Productions, where some of his other production credits include Selena and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

Awards Moctezuma has won over 200 honors and awards, He received the 1994 Professional Achievement Award from the UCLA Alumni Association. In 2008, Moctesuma was selected as one of the 50 "Most Powerful and Influential Latinos" by The Imagen Foundation.