Los Angeles-based Maya Entertainment has signed a partnership deal with home entertainment giant Blockbuster to present groundbreaking Latin cinema from acclaimed filmmakers and star talent in major U.S. markets. The series launches on July 17 and runs through  September 10; Maya Entertainment and Blockbuster will provide eight-city theatrical releases for a curated slate of eight Latino-themed films. “This alliance is the perfect extension of Maya’s mission,” said Moctesuma Esparza, founder of Maya Entertainment. “With Blockbuster as a partner in this venture, we will extend the reach of this program tenfold, and provide the national film-going audience with consistent, high-quality cinema from top Latino filmmakers and talent.”

The series, programmed by Maya’s acquisitions executives, Jose Martinez, Jr. and Tonantzin Esparza, kicks off mid-month with The Line, a Tijuana crime story centered around a veteran assassin as he tracks down the elusive head of the Salazar Crime Cartel; Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Armand Assante, Esai Morales and Danny Trejo all star. Other films include Vicious Circle, Bajo La Sal, Sultanes del Sur (Southern Sultans), Once Upon a Time in Rio, Crónicas Chilangas (Chilangas Chronicles), Bad Guys and Máncora. Featured actors in the movies include Paul Rodriguez, Quinceañera‘s Emily Rios, Robert Zepeda, Jordi Molla, Irene Azuela (who won an Ariel Award, Mexico’s Oscar equivalent, for her performance), Elsa Pataky and Danny Strong. Following the theatrical tour, the films will all be available exclusively for rental at Blockbuster stores, pegged to Hispanic Heritage Month in September. For more information, click here.