“Flamin’ Hot” director Eva Longoria and actors Annie Gonzalez & Jesse Garcia at the Palm Springs International Film Festival   

A "Flamin' Hot" screening is on the agenda to be screened at Mary Pickford in Cathedral City. The director, Eva Longoria, and actors Annie Gonzalez & Jesse Garcia are making their debut at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The story tells an account of Richard Montañez's life. In the film, Montañez is played by Jesse Garcia, who, as a Frito-Lay janitor, disrupted the food industry by channeling his Mexican-American heritage to turn Flamin' Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon. 

There has been controversy over the validity of the story over the years. Nonetheless, critics call the film inspiring. "If people want to see the true story, they should watch this film," says Eva Longoria. "This is Richard's truth. This is really our truth as a community. I always tell Frito Lay you may make Flaming Hot Cheetos, but the Latino community owns them."

Longoria talks about wanting people to be inspired by Montañez's story. "To see Richard's life and to say, like, Wow, that guy did that," says Longoria. "Imagine what I can do. But yeah, I mean, there's no shame in telling the story of a janitor or the story of the maid or the story of a farm worker; we have stories to tell. I'm really proud to have told a janitor story because he, in this film, is the moral compass."

A Q&A was held at Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City following the film's showing.

The address: 36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA 92234