New York, Aug 18 (IANS/EFE): Andy Garcia feels it is his duty to support the young generation of Latino actors who are getting started in the film industry, a commitment that led him to produce the independent film "Magic City Memoirs".

The film will be shown this week at the New York International Latino Film Festival (Nyilff).

"For me, it's a duty and a privilege to transmit to the young generation the wisdom of someone who got it butting heads over the years and that relationship fills me with pride and stimulates me," the Cuban-American said in an interview with EFE in New York.

The actor, who Thursday will be honoured at the Nyilff event, decided to collaborate on the low-budget film that tells the story of three teenage friends who lead frenetic lives in Miami after visiting his daughter, actress Dominik Garcia-Lorido, on the set.

"I saw that they had captured a generation in a really real and honest way, besides the important message of what can happen when you live an irresponsible life," said Garcia.

The film is directed by Aaron J. Salgado, the son of Peruvian immigrants who, like Garcia, grew up in Miami, where he filmed the story of the three high school buddies, Mikey, Angel and Stok, who live life to the maximum.

"Independent film is extremely important because it's an original voice that is always born from the passion of a story. Making a film outside the system that finds distribution is a great success for the kids," said Garcia.