Jonathan Jakubowicz, Secuestro Express

For someone making his feature film debut, writer/director Jonathan Jakubowicz is proving that talent - along with disturbingly explicit violence - can make waves. The Spanish-language Secuestro Express (Kidnap Express) addresses a disturbing social problem plaguing Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela: rampant, daily kidnappings. But Jakubowicz's style is hardly simpatico with social studies. Like a mini-Tarantino, this 27-year-old propels the audience with a percussive, progressive in-your-face editing style. The film follows a trio of thugs and the unfortunate couple - a glamorous, drug-sniffing, engaged duo - they scoop up outside a disco. This is the first Venezuelan film ever sold internationally and Jakubowicz - whose Ships of Hope documentary debut was on HBO Latinoamerica two years ago - is now set to film this fall in London - in English.

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