CRIS ABREGO

Cris Abrego is the show creator and executive producer of today’s hottest reality television shows including “Strange Love,” “Rock of Love,” “My Fair Brady,” and “I Love New York.” He is most sought after for his proven blockbuster combination of creative ideas and brave production techniques in reality TV. He formed his production company 51 Productions in 2004 and he collaborated on various hits with producing partners such as Joel Silver. Cris Abrego’s clients and colleagues recognize him as someone who can create, develop and most importantly execute reality programming. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and American Association of Producers.

FÉLIX ENRÍQUEZ ALCALÁ

Félix Enríquez Alcalá is a director for television and film. His recent episodic experience includes “Cane,” “K-Ville,” “Criminal Minds, “Battlestar Gallactica” and “House.” He won a DGA nomination for direction on the Emmy-winning NBC drama "ER." He was also co-producer of WALKOUT and co-Executive Producer of the series “Raines,” and ”Brimstone.” Alcala won an A.S.C. nomination for his cinematography on the Amblin/NBC pilot "Earth II."

BOB ALEXANDER

Bob Alexander is the President of Indiepix Films, an online distributor with a diverse catalog of nearly 3,000 celebrated titles includes award-winning art house, foreign, and documentary films. Mr. Alexander worked with McKinsey & Company, Inc., in their public sector practice in New York City and helped originate the entertainment practice. When he left, he founded Alexander & Associates, Inc. which provides market analysis and forecasting services to the home entertainment divisions of a number of Hollywood studios.  

ADRIAN ALONSO

Adrian Alonso plays "Carlitos" in Patricia Riggen's LA MISMA LUNA. In the film, Adrian plays a young Mexican boy who travels to the U.S. during a treacherous journey to find his mother after his grandmother passes away. This young actor has played diverse roles in various movies working alongside notable filmmakers. He's worked alongside Antonio Banderas in THE LEGEND OF ZORRO, he played "Prisciliano" in Gustavo Loza's AL OTRO LADO. Other notable work includes the award winning film, INNOCENT VOICES by acclaimed director Luis Mandoki. He has worked on various episodes of Mexico's longest running serial drama, "Mujer, Casos de La Vida Real." He is represented by Featured Artists and managed by Dannie Festa.

BERNIE ANCHETA

Bernie Ancheta is a staff writer for “Mad TV” on FOX. Most recently he was a writer-producer for “Beyond The Break,” a teen drama series for the cable network The N. He also worked as a “challenge consultant,” conceiving reward and immunity challenges for the hit CBS reality show, “Survivor.” Mr. Ancheta really liked working at “Survivor” because it meant he could avoid actually having to write stuff. He has developed television shows and movies for Disney Animation, the Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon. He started his career at FOX, then he went on to write for several Nickelodeon shows and produced NBC teen sitcoms. 

SERGIO ARAU

Sergio Arau is a cultural icon in the art-music-film scene in Mexico, and also well known in US Latino culture. Best known as the director/ co-writer/ producer of the film A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN, Arau is now finishing PLAN B: THE REAL STORY OF BOTELLITA DE JEREZ (more or less based on the real facts) a mockumentary based on this rock group considered the precursor of "Rock-en' Espanol" movement. Arau is also co-directing (with Yareli Arizmendi) the documentary based on Juan Gonzalez' book HARVEST OF EMPIRE, exploring the relationship of the US to Latin America during the 19th and 20th centuries and linking it to the immigration reality in the US today. On the visual and installation art front, Arau is collaborating with the new Conga Room at the Staples Center creating/executing the visual concept for the nightclub. Sergio received his MFA in Film Studies at the National School of Film in Mexico City (CUEC). (www.SergioArau.com)  

LEONARDO ARANGUIBEL

Leonardo Aranguibel is a TV Director, Producer, and Writer. He graduated in Journalism at Universidad Central de Venezuela -UCV- with studies in Direction and Script-writing at London International Film School, England. Current Senior Production Manager of Disney-ABC Television International. From 1995 to 2001 served as Vice-president of Original Production and Manager for HBO Latin America Group. Professor at the Cinematography Department of Fine Arts School, UCV, from 1993 to 1998. He has produced, written, and directed productions and projects for television as well as theatre, cinema, radio, advertising, and stage shows. His works have received several awards, including Silver World Medal at the 2001 New York Festivals TV & Film/Video Awards; Gold and Bronze World Medal and two Finalist Awards at the 2000 edition of the same festival; Bronze World Medal in 1999; and one Finalist Award at the 1998 edition. He was Jury member of the 2003 International Emmy Awards.  

YANCEY ARIAS

Yancey Arias is in production with two films. He will star in FIRE BAY and HOTEL CALIFORNIA. He recently completed the film STREET DREAMS for Scissor Farm Entertainment. In the summer of 2007, he played opposite Bruce Willis in LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD. Mr. Arias’s television roles have been diverse. He played a mob lord on NBC’s miniseries “Kingpin,” and a student activist in HBO’s WALKOUT. He has guest starred in numerous television shows including “CSI,” “The Shield,” “Numb3rs,” and “Charmed.” 

YARELI ARIZMENDI

As an actress, Yareli is best known for her roles as "Rosaura" in LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and "Lila Rodriguez" in A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN which she also co-wrote. In 2007 she finished work on the films DON'T LET ME DROWN (Cruz Angeles, dir.) shot and set in New York a month after 9/11; PLAN B: THE REAL STORY OF BOTELLITA DE JEREZ (more or less based on the real facts) shot in Mexico City (Sergio Arau, dir.); and DAVID & FATIMA -- a Romeo & Juliet set on the Gaza strip (Alain Zaloum, dir.). At present she is co-directing (with Sergio Arau) the documentary based on Juan Gonzalez' book HARVEST OF EMPIRE, exploring the relationship of the US to Latin America during the 19th and 20th centuries and linking it to the immigration reality in the US today. She also continues to write her book: American with an X: Journey to my AmeXican Heart she trusts will be done by 2009. Yareli received her BA in Political Science and her MFA in Theatre at University of California, San Diego.

VANESSA ARTEAGA

Vanessa Arteaga is a ten-year film industry veteran who has always worked in the world of content development and distribution. She is currently the Executive Producer of Latin America for Jaman - an online film community for people passionate about world cinema - where she is charged with online audience development, content integration, marketing and community outreach. Prior to Jaman, Ms. Arteaga served as a senior development executive with Wellspring Media, a leading theatrical film, television and video distribution company with an acclaimed independent film library which was sold to the The Weinstein Co. in early 2006. This allowed Arteaga to become a consultant for LIME Media, A Revolution Co., in an acquisitions and development capacity until signing on with Jaman in Fall of 2006. 

RUBEN ARVIZU

Rubén Arvizu is a professional voice actor, as well as a well-known international dubbing director with more than 30 years of film dubbing/directing experience worldwide. His roster of clients includes Warner Bros, Paramount, Columbia and Universal among others. As journalist his articles and essays have been published in numerous newspapers and magazines throughout the Americas. Presently, Arvizu is in pre-production on a 3-D animated series focusing on the conservation of our planet. He just finished his book, WHOSE VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING TO?: The How, Who and When of Dubbing in Mexico and the World.  

MARILYN ATLAS

Marilyn R. Atlas is an award-winning producer and personal manager, equally at home in the worlds of film, television, and live theater. She is a founding member of Women in Film's Luminas Committee and co-founded ADT, A Director's Theatre. Ms. Atlas is a member of NALIP, has spoken at numerous retreats/symposia/colleges and served as the professional-in-residence (in theater and film) at Ball State University. Ms. Atlas is working on a development slate that includes numerous film, television and stage projects: MACARTHUR PARK (TV), UNTITLED POSSE PROJECT (sold to ABC Family), and a musical adaptation of REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES. 

NORBERTO BARBA

Norberto Barba is one of the most sought after directors working in television today. Born and raised in the South Bronx to Cuban immigrants, Norberto started his career writing and directing CHAVEZ RAVINE, the award-winning short film about a Mexican-American family that is forcibly evicted from their home in the late 1950s to make room for Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium. Norberto followed CHAVEZ with his first feature, the stylish film-noir thriller BLUE TIGER, starring Virginia Madsen and Harry Dean Stanton. Variety remarked that Norberto "was a director to keep an eye on," comparing him to the likes of John Woo and Abel Ferrara. Next came the science-fiction fantasy, SOLO, starring Mario Van Peebles and Adrien Brody. The critically acclaimed APOLLO 11 was Norberto's first television movie. Sporting an all-star cast, it recounted the story of man's first walk on the moon from the perspective of the wives and families of the astronauts. After two more television movies, Norberto ventured into the episodic world - he has directed episodes of "CSI: NY; "CSI: Miami"; "Numbers"; "Law and Order": "SVU"; "Conviction"; "Law and Order: Criminal Intent"; "American Dreams"; "Kojak"; "Medical Investigation"; "Blade"; "Threshold"; "Vanishing Son"; "New York Undercover"; "Resurrection Blvd" and "Level 9." Norberto has won a NISSAN FOCUS AWARD, a HUGO at the Chicago Film Festival, two ALMA AWARD nominations, and twice has been selected as winner of the Universal Television Hispanic Project. His films have been invited to the London Film Festival, Chicago Film Festival, the Festival of New Latin American Film in Havana, the Guanajuato Film Festival, and the San Sebastian Film Festival. After graduating from the prestigious Regis High School in Manhattan, Norberto studied Comparative Literature at Columbia University for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California's School of Cinema, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Film Production. After serving in a Psychological Operations unit of the US Army's Special Forces, Norberto completed his studies as a Director Fellow at the American Film Institute. Norberto is presently the Executive Producer/Director of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent."  

LUIS BARRETO

Luis Barreto began his television broadcast career directing newscasts in Hawaii and later segued to the creative services department at Telemundo’s LA flagship station, Canal 52. This led to general market gigs with KCAL & KABC's creative services departments. A transition back to production came when Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP) called looking for a Spanish-speaking field producer to travel through Latin America for MTV's unscripted show "Road Rules." More opportunities from BMP followed, including; directing, casting, and postproduction management. Luis made the jump to executive producer on ABC's "The Mole-2: The Next Betrayal", and stayed on for both Celebrity Mole editions. Luis has produced and directed programs for PBS, TLC, MTV, Fox, UPN, and NBC and was nominated for an Emmy for his work on ABC's "Extreme Makeover-Home Edition." In 2000, Luis established an independent production company, On The Fly Entertainment Inc., specializing in documentaries, specials and educational content. The short film, "Arabs, Muslims and Islam" received a special Telly award. In 2005, his "Dia De Los Muertos" doc. scored a regional Emmy. Other titles include; "Cinco de Mayo 2006" and "La Quinceañera." Luis is currently working as co executive producer on a pilot for CMT, as well as consulting for various production companies. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.  

BOB BERNEY

Bob Berney is the President of the independent distribution company Picturehouse. Through his vision for finding value in unique creative projects, and in partnership with his marketting team, Mr. Berney has acquired and released some of the most successful and provocative independent pictures of the decade. This year alone he released PAN’S LABYRINTH and the Spanish film THE ORPHANAGE, produced by Academy Award winning director Guillermo Del Toro, while Picturehouse’s LA VIE EN ROSE is up for four Academy Awards. His connection to pan-Latino product is long: last year he also distributed EL CANTANTE, and was responsible for the marketing of AMORES PERROS (México) and CITY OF GOD (Brazil). 

ROBERTO BLATT

Roberto Blatt is Director of Programming and Content Development for MULTICANAL Spain. He directed the design and launch of documentary channel Canal Odisea-redesigned the Hollywood Channel, plus launched Sol Música and Canal de Historia with A&E (USA). He is a veteran commissioning editor, active in numberous European forums for documentaries. His credits include: SRI LANKA: A PARADISE AT WAR, DARFUR II: CALLING THE CONSCIENCE, MEXICO IN THE MIRROR, RACING BLUES and GILBERTO GIL. 

FRANCENE J. BLYTHE

Francene J. Blythe is an advocate for cultural storytellers around the globe. She has twenty years experience in theater and film. She’s played roles in both television and major motion pictures. Ms. Blythe has received awards recognizing her work and contributions to the accurate portrayals of Native people on stage and in film. She won the YWCA’s Tribute to Women award for producing cultural theater in Nebraska. She’s served as a panel reviewer for Film and Video Fellowships from ReNew Media; Native American Public Telecommunications; and Sundance Institute’s Native Initiative. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and an alumnus of the American Indian Ambassadors for Opportunity. She managed programming for the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in the First Americans Festival while at the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and then moved on to programming theater at the same museum. Currently, she serves as Director of the National Geographic All Roads Film Project in Washington, D.C where she produces an international indigenous film festival and funds indigenous and underrepresented minority-culture filmmakers world-wide. 

PATRICIA BOERO

Patricia is the Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB). LPB supports the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural television that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to the public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. By acting as minority consortium, LPB provides a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the United States. Born in Peru, Patricia is a Cuban-Uruguayan journalist and filmmaker who studied film and law at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She directed documentary films for Australian public television and Film Australia, and worked as a producer for CNN and TV Latina in Cuba. She was a correspondent for the BBC World Service before moving to the United States in 1990. Patricia has over fifteen years experience as a grant maker in the U.S., including work at the Rockefeller, MacArthur and Levi Strauss foundations, and Hispanics in Philanthropy, an Affinity group of the Council on Foundations. She was Director of International Programs at the Sundance Institute and Director of International Corporate Social Responsibility at the Starbucks Coffee Company. She has served on the Boards of INPUT- International Public Television, and American Documentary, Inc.  

SEAN BUCK

Sean Buck is VP of Jargon Entertainment, an upstart production company that has done national campaigns for Xbox to stop motion animation for NBC and “My Name is Earl” with 24 frame playback and graphics for some of the top televison and feature films like “Jericho,” “Eli Stone,” OCTOBER RED, and TRANSFORMERS. Mr. Buck is cutting the first feature film to use the RED camera and edit on Avid. 

GARY CALAMAR

Born in the shadows of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx NY, Gary first found his passions lit when his parents took him to see "West Side Story". By the time "A Hard Days Night" and "Goldfinger" came out he was hooked on the explosive combination of Movies and Music. He traveled west in the early 80's landing in Los Angeles. In need of a job that would ensure him a steady flow of promotional records and free concert tickets, Gary stepped behind a cash register and worked retail. He was managing a Licorice Pizza Record store as 12 inch vinyl records turned into 5 inch digital discs and later moved on to Rhino Records mixing with the customers and building up his music collection. In the mid 90's Gary started as a volunteer at National Public Radio's influential powerhouse KCRW. After (literally) getting down on his knees and begging music director Chris Douridas for a radio show he was given a shot. Gary's unique brand of "adventurous pop music both timely and timeless" proved to be a hit. His show "The Open Road" currently airs Sunday nights from 9-Midnight. Through the years Gary has hosted live performances and interviews with musical greats ranging from Brian Wilson and Elmer Bernstein to Wilco and The Flaming Lips. In 1998 Gary broke into the Music Supervision game and tackled the movie "Varsity Blues", resulting in a #1 box office hit and a soundtrack album certified gold. At the turn of the century Gary, along with friend and fellow music supervisor Thomas Golubic' oversaw the music for the HBO original series "Six Feet Under" and were nominated for Grammy Awards for producing both volumes of the 'Six Feet Under' soundtracks. Never one to keep his feet on the ground, you can also hear Gary while flying the musical skies of Delta Airlines where he hosts a show for Delta Radio. He lives in a lovely home in Los Angeles with his lovely wife and their amazing daughter.

MARIA AGUI CARTER

Maria Agui Carter is an independent filmmaker and writer. Founder of Iguana Films, she specializes in films about culture, politics, and history with a special focus on race, civil and human rights. She is a graduate of Harvard University, a former staff producer for WGBH Boston, and currently a Brandeis Visiting Scholar. Ms. Agui Carter has been an Associate Fellow at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard, a Warren Fellow at Harvard's History Dept. and a Rockefeller Fellow at Tulane University's Stone Center for Latin American Studies. Over a dozen of Ms. Agui Carter's documentaries have been commissioned for local and national Public Television, from a film on folk healers in the Latino community (THE OTHER DOCTORS, 1989, WGBH) and a film on the resurgence of modern tango dancing (TANGO: DUEL AND DANCE 2001, WGBH), to a historical documentary on censorship of early jazz and rap (THE DEVIL'S MUSIC, 2000, WGBH), and a series on access to higher education for underprivileged kids (COLLEGE TRACK, PBS, 2004). She has created a number of short film series on Latin American culture for educational publishers (Heinle & Heinle, Harcourt Brace), and she is now completing REBEL, a historical documentary based on the 19th Century memoir of a Cuban woman soldier of the American Civil War (PBS). Ms. Agui Carter writes articles, proposals and documentary film scripts. Her articles appear in magazines, (Currents, Release Print), on-line and in print (ABC-CLIO, Oxford University Press). Her most recent scriptwriting credit is for a documentary on the image of Che Guevara for Red Envelope Entertainment. She is President of the Filmmaker's Collaborative, a member of the Writer's Guild, and founder of the Boston Chapter of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.  

ALMUDENA CARRACEDO

Almudena Carracedo is director, producer, cinematographer, co-editor and co-writer of the documentary MADE IN L.A. The film received a strong critical response and was called "An excellent documentary… about basic human dignity” by The New York Times. It has screened at numerous festivals including the Los Angeles Film Festival, Silverdocs, Morelia International Film Festival and La Havana International Film Festival, winning a Special Mention of the Jury at the Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain, the Henry Hampton Award for Excellence in Film and Digital Media (Council on Foundations), and a nomination for the International Documentary Association’s annual Pare Lorentz Award. MADE IN L.A. was funded by ITVS, POV and the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund and had its U.S. broadcast premiere on PBS’ POV series in a special Labor Day broadcast.

Trained in film production in Madrid and Paris, Almudena worked as a television director in Spain, directing programs for broadcast on Canal Plus and on the first edition of “Gran Hermano” (Spain’s “Big Brother”). In 2000, she came to the U.S. as an international scholar to work on her doctoral dissertation on U.S./Mexico border documentaries at UCLA’s Film School. Her documentary on Tijuana as a border town WELCOME, A DOCU-JOURNEY OF IMPRESSIONS RECEIVED the Sterling Award for Best Short Documentary at Silverdocs Documentary Festival and screened in numerous national and international festivals.

Almudena is a member of the WGA’s Non-Fiction Writers Caucus and both a fellow and a mentor of NALIP’s Latino Producers Academy.

LESLIE COHEN

Leslie Cohen is Director of Film Programming at HBO where she is responsible for the acquisition of films from the major film studios for both HBO and Cinemax. She also acquires Spanish language films and series for HBO Latino as well as independent films for HBO Video, HBO Enterprises and HBO Program Distribution. Previously at HBO, Cohen worked on the launch of HBO’s international ventures in Asia and Central Europe and performed financial forecasting and deal analysis for programming and cable revenue areas in HBO’s strategic planning group. 

LUCIA COTTONE

Lucia Cottone was named Vice President, Series Development and Current Programming for Lifetime Television in April 2006. She currently oversees the development slate as well as the hit drama series “Army Wives,” from producer Mark Gordon, starring Kim Delaney and Catherine Bell. Prior to Lifetime, she served as Director of Cable Programming for NBC Universal Television Studio (NUTS), and as Vice President of Development at Telemundo plus worked for Grupo Prisa. Cottone began her career in entertainment at Rysher Entertainment where she worked on HBO’s “Oz” and CBS’s “Nash Bridges.”

LAWRENCE DARESSA

Lawrence Daressa has been one of the Co-Directors of California Newsreel since 1974. Newsreel, now celebrating its 40th anniversary year, is the oldest non-profit film distribution company in the nation; it focuses exclusively on films for social change, including MAQUILAPOLIS and MADE IN L.A. He is at present on the board of the San Francisco Cinematheque. He is currently active in independent producers' efforts to divide digital rights and revenues with public broadcasting entities in the face of digital convergence. He is a member of the Docuseek consortium of independent distributors which has surveyed and maintains an active dialogue on digital rights issues with educational media librarians.  

ROXANN DAWSON

Roxann Dawson is a member of Circle Repertory Company and producer/director on “Cold Case.” She has directed for “Crossing Jordan,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” and “Enterprise” as well other episodic television series including “Charmed,” “Close to Home,” “Medical Investigation,” “Lost” and “Heroes.” She has directed more than 35 hours of primetime. Roxann began her career as an actor in New York, performing on and off Broadway and in regional theatres. 

HERNAN DE BECKY

His successful full-time career as a Voice Performer in Los Ángeles, started quite by accident in 1985.  While working as a Junior Copywriter at a local L.A. TV station, he was asked to record a Public Service Announcement pro bono.  

Ever since then, Hernán de Béky hasn’t stopped recording, becoming one of the Premier Spanish Voice Artists in the USA. Today, his voice is heard daily on Commercials, Promos and Movie Trailers nationwide.  Hernán has received a variety of notable distinctions, including a Clio Award, two Don Belding Awards and three Emmy® Awards.

YOUSSEF DELARA

Youssef Delara, a native of Los Angeles, began his education in the art of film at Loyola Marymount Film School where he focused on directing while pursuing additional coursework in photography at Art Center College of Art and Design. After college he applied his acute visual sense to his first job in the entertainment industry, working as a Visual Effects Coordinator on the highly successful Paramount Television series, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." There he moved up the ranks, eventually becoming Visual Effects Supervisor, before going on to produce visual effects for "Star Trek: Voyager" as well as sequences for the popular "Star Trek" feature films "Generations" and "Insurrection." After a stint working on another visual effects heavy television series, Universal Studio's "Burning Zone," Delara took his sharp creative eye and practical production skills to work as an in house producer for Creative Visual Effects on effects heavy features Baby Genius's 2 and Unleashed. Curious for another challenge Delara burst into the world of advertising as the Creative Director for Cima Productions, a full-service advertising agency catering to the burgeoning Latin American market in Southern California. In addition to launching countless radio and print advertising campaigns at Cima, Delara has written, produced, directed, and edited nearly a dozen recurring commercials which have aired on major Spanish language television networks. In 2003, after helping to build Cima into a multi-million dollar company, Delara turned his focus back to entertainment and began writing his feature screenplay, "English as a Second Language," a story based on his experiences living in Los Angeles. ESL is set for wide release on DVD and air on Showtime first quarter 2008. Delara is currently writing a romantic comedy "Losing Jackie Perez" and set to direct his next feature film, SPITBROWNBUCK! an Urban Latino themed project which centers around the struggles of a young Latino slam poet and his dream to break through the lucrative and insidious world of rap and hip hop music.  

NONY DE LA PENA

Nonny de la Peña wrote, directed, and produced with Robert Greenwald, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, a documentary that investigates the ways in which the civil liberties of American citizens and immigrants have been rolled back since the September 11 and the Patriot Act. Her latest project, GONE GITMO, is a virtual representation of Guantanamo Bay prison. She has also directed and produced four feature length documentary films exploring human rights issues, which have aired on national television and screened in theatres around the world. The Los Angeles Times wrote that, de la Peña expertly personalizes the stories of individuals whose rights have been violated.  

IVAN DE PAZ

Iván de Paz is the President/CEO of de Paz Management. Mr. De Paz was the Executive Vice President of Talent Management at Arenas Entertainment where he was responsible for the development and representation of the company's actors and literary clients for all film, television and theater projects. In 1993, joined The Gage Group, one of the entertainment industry's most prestigious talent agencies where he established himself as one of the few truly bilingual and bicultural talent agents in Hollywood. 

RICARDO DEL RIO

Ricardo Del Rio has co-produced/line produced 8 U.S. feature films since 2000, including THE MEXICAN for Dreamworks. THE MATADOR for the Stratus company, and most recently, NACHO LIBRE for Paramount Pictures, and has also supervised the Mexico units of films such as KILL BILL and THE CABE through this company Art in Motion-Mexico. Although specialized in American features shot in Mexico, he has also written and produced over 10 Mexican Feature Films. A co-founder of the National Film Commission- Mexico and the Puerto Vallarta Film Commission, Ricardo Del Rio has worked closely with the Mexican union and government institutions to help develop a reliable film industry in Mexico. He finished producing SOUTH OF THE BORDER for The Walt Disney Company.

KELLY DEVINE

Currently consulting with Renew Media on its new web-based initiative Reframe, to digitize, preserve and make available for purchase content from independent distributors, public media organizations, archives and self-distributing filmmakers. Renew Media is one of the foremost non-profits in the United States supporting media makers and connecting audiences to independent work and Reframe continues nearly 20 years of supporting the field through innovation. Kelly DeVine also works with clients ranging from distributors to cable nets to filmmakers (Esther Robinson, "A Walk into the Sea: Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory"). She is enjoying her second year as the Artistic Director of the Global Peace film Festival, now in its fifth year. As a former member of the acquisitions team for the Independent Film Channel (IFC), she brought films to IFC from filmmakers such as Craig Brewer, Jay Rosenblatt, Nicole Kassel, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden. She negotiated the copyright purchase for Lou Pepe and Keith Fulton's critically acclaimed documentary LOST IN LA MANCHA at the rough-cut stage, along with the copyright purchase of the acclaimed documentary BROTHER'S KEEPER, among others. She continues to serve on numerous panels and juries for film conferences and festivals.  

CHRIS ESKA

Chris Eska studied sociology and art at Rice University before attending UCLA's MFA film directing program. His short films have screened on PBS, at the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker's Competition, the Texas Filmmaker's Showcase, and at film festivals worldwide. DOKI-DOKI, his UCLA master's thesis film, premiered on the national PBS series "Independent Lens" with an introduction by Susan Sarandon. AUGUST EVENING is his first feature and has been nominated for two 2008 Spirit Awards.

MOCTESUMA ESPARZA (BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

Moctesuma Esparza, an award-winning filmmaker, producer, entertainment executive and entrepreneur, is well known for his contributions to the movie industry and commitment to creating opportunities for Latinos in entertainment.  As a partner in the highly successful Esparza-Katz Productions with Robert Katz, he has worked with stars such as Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Andy Garcia, Jimmy Smits, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and Halle Berry. Esparza most recently founded Maya Entertainment Group, a vertically integrated production, acquisition and distribution company comprising of Maya Pictures, Maya Releasing and Maya Digital. It is the only Latino owned and managed production/distribution/exhibition entity in the United States, dedicated to the growing U.S. Latino market.

Esparza’s latest film “Walkout” for HBO, tells the true story of the Chicano student uprising in East Los Angeles in 1968, where dramatic walkouts were staged at high schools to protest academic prejudice and dire school conditions. Other films produced by Esparza include:“Price of Glory” (2000), “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”(1999), “Selma, Lord, Selma” (1998), “Selena” (1997),  “The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca” (1997) and “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1994) and "The Milagro Beanfield War" (1988), among others. In addition to producing films, he has established a chain of movie theatre mega-complexes -- Maya Cinemas, which offers first-run Hollywood movies in underserved urban and rural areas.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Esparza received a B.A. and MFA in Theatre Arts, Motion Pictures and Television, from UCLA and from the onset of his career dedicated himself to empowering and transforming the images of Latinos in Hollywood.

Mr. Esparza founded the Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise Charter School, is Co-Founder of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, Co-Founder of the Smithsonian Latino Center, and founding Member of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. 

Mr. Esparza currently serves on various Boards including the National Hispanic Cultural Center Advisory Board, Latino Coalition Against Aids Advisory Board, National Hispanic Media Coalition Advisory Board, Minority Media Telecommunications Council Board of Advisors, American Film Institute Board of Trustees, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Dean’s Executive Board, Claremont University Consortium Board of Overseers, Wal-Mart External Advisory Council, Chair of the Latino Theater Company, Board Member and former Chair of New America Alliance, and co-Chair of The Marathon Club.  Mr. Esparza was also appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as Commissioner to the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System.

Mr. Esparza has served on the Corporate Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Television Fund, Board of Directors of the Museum of Latin American Art, Trustee of the California State University System, and Board of Directors of the Smithsonian Latino Center.

Mr. Esparza has received numerous awards and honors including an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, an Emmy award, a Clio award, Alma Award and a Cine Golden Eagle award.

DANNIE FESTA

Dannie Festa represents novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, filmmakers, and actors internationally through her management and production company, Festa Entertainment. She and her clients have sold to companies such as Tribeca, Universal, Intermedia, Paramount, The Weinstein Company, Walden Media, Disney, ScottRudin Productions, and Practical Pictures. She started her production career on Chilean soap operas and commercials and later worked for Hollywood production companies including Zucker/Netter (SCARY MOVIE, BEST FRIENDS WEDDING), Mojo Films (RUNAWAY JURY, IMPOSTER) and Michael London Productions (SIDEWAYS, THIRTEEN) as an executive. 

ANNETTE FRADERA

Annette Fradera was born in San Antonio, Texas, but now lives and works in Mexico City. She is a Music Producer and Consultant, Music Supervisor for film and TV, and is currently developing the legal education project titled ¡Música en Corto! for film students and musicians. Her latest projects include RUDY Y CURSI directed by Carlos Cuaron and THE BURNING PLAIN by Guillermo Arriaga. Her credits include LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, CRONICAS, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA and SEXO, PUDOR Y LAGRIMAS.  

RICARDO J. GALE

Ricardo J. Gale is one of the premiere directors of photography in Hollywood with over 50 feature films on his resume. He has worked with some of the most highly respected directors such as John Schlesinger, Nicholas Roeg, Julian Temple and Joseph Sargent, and has shot films worldwide, as well as multiple commercials. In 1990 he helmed and produced his first feature film, EYES OF THE SERPENT, followed in 1992 with, ALIEN INTRUDER, premiering on HBO. His first video, the now famous RICO SUAVE was a #1 video and garnered 3 MTV nominations.  

RODRIGO GARCIA

Rodrigo García is Executive Producer of the upcoming HBO series, “In Treatment.” His most recent feature film project, PASSENGERS, will be released in 2008.His credits as Director of Photography include LOLA AND DANZON, MI VIDA LOCA, and GIA. His first film as writer/director, THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER, opened “Un Certain Regard” at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 and won the award for best film in that category. He has also directed for the series “Six Feet Under” and “The Sopranos”. His pilot credits include “Carnivale,” “Big Love,” and “Six Degrees.” 

JACQUELINE GLOVER

Jacqueline Glover is Vice President, Documentary Programming for HBO, where she is responsible for overseeing the development and production of documentaries for HBO and Cinemax. During her tenure at HBO, she has been the supervising producer on such projects as Spike Lee’s Emmy® Award winning, WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS and the Emmy® Award winning documentaries LIFE OF CRIME TWO. Glover also served as the supervising producer for the Academy Award winning animated short film THE MOON AND THE SON: AN IMAGINED CONVERSATION and the Academy Award winning, CHERNOBYL HEART. 

LYN GOLDFARB

Lyn Goldfarb is an Academy-Award nominated filmmaker, specializing in historical and social issue documentaries, with 16 feature documentaries broadcast nationally on PBS. She has produced numerous short documentaries for a variety of clients, including: Getty Museum, Stanford University, labor organizations, national cable and local PBS. Her award winning television credits include: THE NEW LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AND THE AMERICAN DREAM, JAPAN: MEMOIRS OF A SECRET EMPIRE, THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE FIRST CENTURY,THE GREAT WAR, THE GREAT DEPRESSION, PEOPLE IN MOTION and DANGER: KIDS AT WORK. She produced WITH BABIES AND BANNERS and A TASTE OF FREEDOM.  

EVANGELINE GRIEGO (BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

Evangeline Griego is a long time independent filmmaker and media activist who produced, SIR! NO SIR! with David Zeiger which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. It went on to win the Hamptons International Film Festival, Jury Award for Best Documentary, the Vermont International Film Festival, Jury Award Best Film on War and Peace and was recently nominated for the Independent Spirit Award.  Currently, Griego’s company About Time Productions, in association with Red Envelope Entertainment (Netflix) is producing the documentary CHE, EVOLUTION ( working title)  about the iconic image of Che Guevara. As Director she completed the “Breathless in LA” segment of the seven part environmental series, “Sierra Club Chronicles”with Executive Producer Robert Greenwald it aired nationally in 2006.
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With Griego in the Director’s chair, her company, About Time Productions, is currently is in post production on the feature documentary, GOD WILLING  for which she was recently awarded PBS/Lincs finishing funds. Previously completed works include the award winning PAO ARTE: IMAGES FROM INSIDE and the bilingual documentary, BORDER VISIONS/VISIONES FRONTERIZOS funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  BothPAO ARTE: IMAGES FROM INSIDEandBORDER VISONS/VISIONES FRONTERIZOSwere broadcast on PBS.

Griego’s other documentary credits include, Producer, for CALAVERA HIGHWAY, (Renee Tajima-Pea), Segment Co-Producer, scheduled to air on POV/PBS in fall 08. THE NEW AMERICANS(Kartemquin Films/PBS) (Winner of the 2004 IDA Limited Series Award, a HUGO Award, and Christopher Award) Line Producer, MY JOURNEY HOME (WETA-PBS), Winner of the 2004 Cine Golden Eagle Award) and Supervising Producer, ART WORKS, ( J. Paul Getty Trust).

Ms. Griego is a founder of the Silver Lake Film Festival in Los Angeles and is a member of the board of directors of NALIP, National Association of Latino Independent Producers.

MIKE GOMEZ

MIKE's recent acting credits include guest starring roles on FOX-TV 's “Bones” and ABC's “General Hospital.” Among his many TV credits are “Desperate Housewives,”  “Locusts” with Lucy Lawless,  “The Reading Room” with James Earl Jones, and the series regular role of 'Capt. Gallardo' in the NBC series, “Hunter,” among many others.  His extensive credits include the Broadway and L.A. productions of Zoot Suit, co-starring roles in such films as Clint Eastwood's HEARTBREAK RIDGE, Robert Redford's MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR, Jack Nicolson's THE BORDER, Gregory Nava's EL NORTE, ZOOT SUIT, BORN IN EAST L.A., and the Cohen Bros’ THE BIG LEBOWSKI, to name a few.   
    
As a director, MIKE'S credits include numerous plays, actors' showcases for the CBS Network, the ABC Network, Ricardo Montalban's Nosotros and Macho Men & the Women Who Love Them.  MIKE also recently produced the 36th Annual Nosotros Golden Eagle Awards at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre (2006) for Nosotros. 

MICHELLE HALSELL

Michelle Halsell is the CEO and a Co-Founder of Missing Pixel. A producer and a filmmaker, Michelle brings over 14 years of experience in building teams and leading projects in exploring new technologies and interactive story telling. Ms. Halsell received an Insight Award for Excellence in film and digital media arts for the FaceofMS.org. Ms. Halsell is an Adjunct Professor in Interactive Documentary production and Technology and Social Activism at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in addition to leading classes at Hunter and Medgar Evers College.  

JULIE HEBERT

JULIE HEBERT is a writer/director who started in San Francisco with the Eureka Theater, the Magic Theater and Intersection for the Arts, then went on to work throughout the country with the Los Angeles Theater Center, San Diego Rep, Steppenwolf, Provincetown Playhouse, Circle Rep, La MaMa and many others. She was an early member of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival and a long-time member of the Padua Hills Playwrights Festival. She also served as Artistic Director of Theater at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans for four years, and is a proud member of Alternate ROOTS and a recent alumna of New Dramatists in New York. Her plays include: Tree, Abe Lincoln's Dog, The Knee Desires the Dirt, Almost Asleep, True Beauties, St. Joan and the Dancing Sickness, and Ruby's Bucket of Blood, which she also adapted into a film for Showtime, starring Angela Bassett. She wrote the screenplays for Female Perversions (October Films), All-American Girl: The Mary Kay LeTourneau Story (USA), and for the upcoming film Lying Awake, which was adapted from the novel by Mark Salzman. Since 2000, Julie has worked in television, first for John Wells Productions as a writer on Third Watch and ER, and a director for both those shows as well as The West Wing. For the last three seasons she has written, directed and produced for Numb3rs with Scott Free Productions for CBS. In 2002, Julie received a Peabody Award for In Their Own Words, a Third Watch documentary of interviews with survivors of the 9/11 attacks in New York. She has also received a PRISM Award and an Environmental Media Award (2007) for her television episodic scripts. She has received grants from the NEA, TCG, and the Rockefeller Foundation for writing, directing, and inter-disciplinary arts. Playwriting honors include the Pen Award for Drama, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, first runner-up, the Bay Area Critics Circle Best Play and several Drama-Logues. Her plays are published by Dramatic Publishing, Plays in Process, and in the Best Of The West anthology. Currently, she is working on a commission for Cornerstone Theater's Justice Cycle.  

KATHRYN JOOSTEN

Kathryn Joosten’s credits are impressive for any actor, let alone one that only began the craft at age 42. Joosten has created dozens of characters, and is best known for her portrayal of “Mrs. Landingham,” secretary to the President, on the critically acclaimed drama, “The West Wing.” In 2004, Joosten became one of the neighbors on “Desperate Housewives,” as “Karen McCloskey.” She received an Emmy in 2005 for work on the critically acclaimed comedy. Joosten also guest starred on many hit television series such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scrubs,” “Everwood,” “Yes Dear,” “Will & Grace,” and over twenty other prime time shows. Joosten is represented by Thomas De Lorenzo. 

MICHAEL KRULIK

Michael Krulik is Senior Applications Editor at AVID Technology. He has been working with non-linear technology since its inception. Having worked with multiple manufactures and dealers, he has experience editing on systems from Avid, Media 100, Panasonic and Editing Machines Corporation. At Avid Technology, he has had the pleasure to work with and demo new technologies to industry editors, producers and directors at the studios, networks, facilities and schools throughout the LA area and across the country. Mr. Krulik’s professional editing experience includes PSAs, documentaries for The Discovery Channel and the DNC, and award-winning underground films.  

DENISE LEBRE

Denise Lèbre is a voiceover artist in Hollywood and Creative Director for D.L. Productions. She does hundreds of Spanish TV commercials as well as dub some of the most talented major film actresses including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta Jones. She is currently dubbing for “Gray’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Ugly Betty,” and “CSI: Miami.” Ms. Lèbre was recognized along with some of the best voice over talent in the US as part of the SAG tribute, “The Actors you hear but never see.” 

LUISA LESCHIN

Luisa Leschin is one of the busiest voice-over artists in Hollywood and the co-writer of Latins Anonymous, which to date has received over thirty-five national productions. As a feature writer, she wrote TROPICO for Universal and co-wrote THE NATIONAL GUARD for Showtime. She was Co-Executive Producer on the acclaimed Nickelodeon show “Brothers Garcia,” and enjoyed five seasons as a Co-Executive Producer on the “George Lopez Show.” Currently, Leschin has a one-hour pilot at CBS called “Lorenzo’s Wife” and is working on a Broadway-bound play with Kenny Ortega. 

DIANE LESMEZ

Diana Lesmez has vast and diverse experience in most areas of the entertainment industry from production to legal affairs. She is currently producing the feature film, FLIGHTS OF FANCY. Diana has been teaching screenwriting and producing to private clients, industry organizations and academic institutions. Ms. Lesmez is producer of the feature-length concert film CULTURE CLASH IN AMERICCA. She has been a high-ranking production and development executive at a number of production companies and holds a BA in Professional Writing from Wheeling Jesuit University and MA in Theater, Film, and Television from UCLA. 

WENDY LEVY

Wendy Levy is Director of Creative Programming at BAVC/SF where she directs new and ongoing content initiatives. She is the Director of the Producers Institute for New Media Technologies and served as the Festival Director for the Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema in San Francisco. An accomplished filmmaker, Ms. Levy’s films have received numerous awards and have screened at Sundance, Lincoln Center, and at festivals around the world. She teaches film and new media courses at City College of San Francisco.  

KATHRYN LO

Kathryn Lo is Director of Program Development at Independent Film and PBS Plus. She is responsible for program evaluation, development, and acquisitions. She curates PBS’ “Independent Lens,” the weekly Emmy Award-winning anthology showcase for independent film, working with Independent Television Service (ITVS). She also oversees PBS Plus, a syndicated programming service of specials, limited series and continuing series in a variety of genres. Ms. Lo supports PBS member stations and the film and documentary community as they navigate the broadcast standards for public television and submit content proposals for consideration. Her previous experience includes working as the program director for a public radio station in Los Angeles. 

SEITH MANN

Seith Mann completed the prestigious ABC/DGA Television Directing Fellowship Program, where he shadowed on television shows including “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Alias.” Mr. Mann has since directed episodes of HBO’s “The Wire,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lincoln Heights, “Cold Case, “Jericho,” “Entourage, “Friday Night Lights” and “The Riches. He is a Morehouse College alumnus and recent graduate of the Graduate Film Program at NYU. His previous films include THE APOLOGY and TOO CLOSE TO THE DARKSIDE. His award winning films are FIVE DEEP BREATHS and COME SUNDAY.  

LUIS MANDOKI

Luis Mandoki is a multi-talented screenwriter, producer, and director whose credits include WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, ANGEL EYES, and the award winning film VOCES INOCENTES (INNOCENT VOICES). For this film, Mr. Mandoki won the Glass Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and went on to win several Silver Ariels. His most recent film is FRAUD: MÉXICO 2006, which chronicles the fraud in the 2006 Presidential Elections in Mexico. Mr. Mandoki is developing THE WINGED BOY and he is in negotiations to direct BEYOND THE SUN. 

PANCHO MANSFIELD

Pancho Mansfield is Senior VP of Programming at Fox TV Studios. Before joining FTVS, he served as Spike TV’s Head of Original Programming as they launched their largest original programming initiative in the channel’s history. While at Spike TV, Mr. Mansfield also launched numerous successful reality fare including the ratings hit “Pros Vs. Joes,” “Bullrun,” and MANswers.” Prior to Spike TV, Mr. Mansfield spent twelve years developing and overseeing cornerstone movies and series for Showtime Networks, including the cultural-lightning rod “Queer as Folk,” the “Stargate SG-1” franchise, the provocative “Red Show Diaries,” and the latest Showtime hit, “The Tudors.” His programming has garnered numerous Emmy, Humanitas and Gemini awards.  

SAM MARTIN

Sam Martin is Vice President for HBO Films. She is responsible for overseeing the development and production of original movies. Ms. Martin’s recent projects include Emmy winner “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” from executive producer Dick Wolf and “Lackawanna Blues.” Martin was involved in acclaimed projects as Golden Globe winners “Iron Jawed Angels,” and “The Gathering Storm.” She was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Women in Film and in 2006 was featured in Essence Magazine’s profile of forty women under forty who are making their mark on the world. Martin holds an AB in English and Comparative Literature/German from Columbia University. 

LUCINDA MARTINEZ-DESIR

Lucinda Martínez-Desir is VP, Market Development, for HBO where she is responsible for overseeing all direct marketing subscriber acquisition efforts, market development activities, including retail marketing for the company’s wireless entertainment services, HBO Mobile and HBO Family, segment marketing/promotions for the African American, Latino and Gay/Lesbian markets. Prior to her current position, Ms. Martínez-Desir was Director, Strategic Partnerships and Emerging Markets, where she developed and collaborated on marketing and promotional plans in support of HBO’s new media platforms as well as segment marketing. 

BENITO MARTINEZ

Benito Martinez is most widely recognized as “David Aceveda,” the character he portrays on the long running hit drama “The Shield,” work for which he won the 2007 ALMA Award for best supporting actor. The National Council de La Raza and Nosotros have also recognized him. Martinez’s film credits include MILLION DOLLAR BABY, SAW, NEW SUIT, KILL YOUR DARLINGS and MI FAMILIA. Benito received his theatrical training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art’s (LAMDA) prestigious three-year program after attending Hollywood High Performing Arts Magnet in Los Angeles. He is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  

JOSE MARTINEZ JR.

José Martinez, Jr. is an entertainment and corporate real estate attorney based in New York and Los Angeles. Recently, Martinez joined Moctesuma Esparza’s Maya Entertainment Group as a partner and general counsel. Martinez is also general counsel to Maya Cinemas North America, Inc.. He is the co-founder of Arthouse Films, a joint venture with Palm Pictures.  

LIZZIE CURRY MARTINEZ

Lizzie Curry Martinez is a Casting Director based in Austin, Texas. Her work includes a number of collaborations with John Sayles including CASA DE LOS BABYS, MEN WITH GUNS and LONE STAR. She also cast WAKING LIFE and SUBURBIA for Richard Linklater. She is also an actress. 

BIENVENIDA MATIAS (BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

Bienvenida (Beni) Matías is Chair of the NALIP Board of Directors, and a pioneering Puerto Rican filmmaker. Her 1979 film HEART OF OISAIDA was recognized by the New York Public Library as part of their major film preservation initiative, “Twentieth Century Mirrors: America Through the Eyes of Independent Filmmakers.”  She is a founding member of NALIP, was the Executive Director for the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF) and of the Center for Arts Criticism, a Minneapolis-based non-profit. Before coming to CAC, Matías was Director of Production at the Independent Television Services and Executive-in-Charge of Production at WNYC-TV. She has received funds from ITVS LiNCS Program, Jerome Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts for her documentary work, and received a Leadership Initiative in Neighborhood grant, from the St. Paul Company, Minnesota, to explore connections between arts criticism, media, leadership, and community activism. She is producing with Frances Negrón-Muntaner FOR THE RECORD:  WORLD WAR II IN GUAM about the Japanese occupation of Guam from 1941 to 1944, an American territory in the Pacific, during World War II when a foreign power has occupied U.S. territory. She mentors many emerging documentary filmmakers and has taught at Hunter College, Film and Media Studies Department.  She has a Production Management degree from La Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía, Madrid, and Spain.

NESTOR MIRANDA

Nestor Miranda is the writer and director of THE STARTUP, that is being released this Summer by Maya Releasing. His debut film, DESTINATION UNKNOWN, won the Grand Jury Prize at the HIFF. Miranda has directed commercials and music videos for alternative rock bands such as The Canibals as well as established artists such as Nas and Rob Base. He also produced the action film BLAZIN’, starring rappers Angie Martinez, Cuban Link and Fat Joe. He is in pre-production on DRY MANHATTAN, written by Antonio Skarmeta, author of the book based on the Academy Award winning film IL POSTINO. 

ROSALINDA MORALES

Rosalinda Morales is a native of Los Angeles, California and attended the University of Southern California, where she achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater.  Rosalinda began her career in the entertainment industry, over twenty-five years ago, as a Casting Associate moving on to become a Talent Agent where she developed up and coming talent in the areas of television, film, theater and commercials.  After a ten-year stint, representing talent, Rosalinda returned to casting and production, working with such notable industry professionals as, veteran television producer, Stu Segall “Reyes y Rey” and “Angeles” – Telemundo Network/Sony and indie filmmaker, Ken Loach “Bread and Roses.”  Rosalinda has worked throughout the U.S. and internationally on U.S./Mexico - Mexico/U.S. film, television and theatre projects in the areas of Production and Casting, from which she has gained extensive knowledge and contact with top Latino and International stars and celebrities.  Rosalinda’s recent notable feature casting credits are LA MISMA LUNA (U.S. Casting), LADRÓN QUE ROBA A LADRÓN and POR VIDA (FOR LIFE) an cautionary urban story with a diverse cast starring Danny Glover, Elizabeth Peña, Snoop Dogg and Kate del Castillo.

LOUIS E. PEREGO MORENO

An Interactive Content Producer for the past 26 years, Louis is the President of SKYLINE FEATURES, an English and Spanish-language multimedia production and educational company focusing on trans-cultural, multicultural and youth edutainment projects, which feature Latinos, Blacks, Urban Youth, Women, Gay & Lesbian Youth and Children with Disabilities. Louis custom tailors his content to a variety of media: television, Internet, Podcasting, print, radio and public venues. In 1993 Louis founded SKYLINE COMMUNITY; a non-profit organization devoted to the issues of Latino and Black Youth and Women. Over the course of ten years he trained 1,500 youth in the metro New York area to produce 70 social documentary shorts, many that won awards at international film festivals. NINE premiered on HBO Family, and additional ones aired on PBS and other networks. As TIO LOUIE, he has addressed through speaking engagements and workshops over 50,000 college, secondary and junior high school students nationally. Previously, Louis was the Executive Producer and host of International Music Video, a national cable television series that aired for four years featuring foreign music & travel. He has produced for WPIX-TV (WB11-NY) a 30-minute documentary on incarcerated adolescents in Rikers Island featuring Edward James Olmos addressing his documentary, LIVES IN HAZARD. Pilots produced have included a Spanish-language one for television in Spain on the U.S. stock market entitled, WALL STREET; STREET BEAT USA, celebrating Black culture & music; and "Body Talk" a youth talk show featuring an African-American OB/GYN. In the area of education, he produced a Spanish-language documentary on the New Math, Science & Technology Standards for the State of N.J. and for the NYC Dept. of Education he was the Director/Producer of a documentary on the vocational school system. At the 2003 Sundance Film Festival he served HBO as the Bilingual Promotions Producer for BALSEROS, the Academy-award nominated Spanish film about Cuban boat people. Louis has also been the Casting Producer at HBO for 15, Jennifer Lopez’s first documentary; "What Not to Wear" for its 2nd season premiere episode on The Learning Channel (TLC); "Bridesmaids on The Learning Channel" (TLC); and "Moms Go on Strike" for A&E, as well as its Field Producer and a DP. Diverse projects currently in development are: "Latina Confessions," a documentary and television series on "what it means to be Latina in the U.S;" TIO LOUIE, a talk show on culture, identity and sex; "The Flamingo Sisters," a dramedy on five Latina sisters; REEL AMERICAN YOUTH, a behind-the-scenes documentary feature about newcomer immigrant youth-producers creating a documentary short on U.S. immigration; SHAFTED: Women & Gays in the Military, a documentary; and "Cocodrila Petronila," a children’s television series. Fluently bilingual and bicultural, Louis was born and raised in the South Bronx of Cuban-Argentine parentage and raised within the Puerto Rican community. He is a member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and International Documentary Association (IDA). He serves on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Latino Arts & Culture at Rutgers University. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of Northern Lights Alternatives (HIV/AIDS-infected children and their families), Women in Cable & Telecommunications, National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications and was one of the founders of Young Professional Latinos for Community Empowerment. Louis was selected as one of five Latino documentary filmmakers nationally and is a graduate of NALIP & UCLA's "Latino Producers Academy" with Latina Confessions. Skyline's work has been featured at and received awards from: The National Association of Black Journalists, World Population Film Festival Global Vision Award, Pinch Award for Hispanic Community Service and the National Education Media Network Gold and Silver Awards, to name a few. Skyline has been featured on NPR, CBS, NBC, Fox TV, Univision, PBS, and other national radio and television stations.  

LORENZA MUÑOZ

Lorenza Muñoz was a staff writer with the Los Angeles Times for 14 years, then left the paper this year to finish her first novel, a contemporary story about three women set in México and the United States. Ms. Muñoz had been covering the Latino film scene for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar section since the 1990s where she spotted the emerging “Latin Wave” of filmmakers from México. Long before they were nominated for Oscars, Lorenza was writing about such directors as Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu and such actors as Salma Hayek, Pénelope Cruz and Gael García Bernal. 

PETER MURIETA

Peter Murietta is the Executive Producer and creator of Walt Disney’s “Wizzards of Waverly Place.” Mr. Murietta is a Tucson native, and he is again infusing personal experience into TV with the Hispanic and Anglo family of the show. Mr. Murietta’s extensive’s television career includes “Hope and Faith,” “All About the Andersons,” “Greetings From Tucson,” and “Jesse.” He runs L.A.'s bang. Improv Theatre and he teaches classes there. He was one of mentors for the first Latino Producers Academy™.

KIMBERLY MYERS

Kimberly Myers is Director of Diversity at the WGA. She served as Vice President of Program Development at Turner Network Television and Vice President of Movies and Mini Series at Fox Television Studios. She was the producer of television films for NBC, CBS, Lifetime and TNT and headed development for feature films, series and television movies for Moctesuma Esparza at Maya Pictures.  

RICK NAJERA

Rick Najera is the VP of Development at LATV. He is often referred to as a 'Latino' Tyler Perry, Najera is an award-winning writer-actor-director and producer with credits in film, television, theatre and Broadway. Najera, honored twice by Hispanic Magazine as one of the '100 Most Influential Latinos in America and most notably, his writing credits include groundbreaking television comedies such as MAD TV and In Living Color, his live stage comedy LATINOLOGUES™ which went on to Broadway, and his newest comedic stage play SWEET 15 -Quinceanerera. For the third consecutive year Najera will be directing the CBS Multicultural Sketch Comedy Showcase Jan 2008. 2007-08 Rick Najera has developed Homies Hip Hop Show, Cesar and Chuy and Mas Comedy for LATV.  

MIREYA NAVARRO

Mireya Navarro is a staff writer for the New York Times and holds an MA in Journalism from Columbia University. In 2001, Ms. Navarro’s “How Race was Lived in America” won the Pulitzer for national reporting and in 2002, “Portraits of Grief,” the biographical sketches of 9/11 victims, won the Pulitzer for public service. She does beat reporting on the mainstreaming of Latino culture as Latinos become the country's largest minority and is a correspondent in Los Angeles for the Style section, covering lifestyle and culture stories related to Hollywood and California.  

FRANCES NEGRON-MUNTANER

Frances Negrón-Muntaner is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and scholar. She is the recipient of Ford, Truman, Scripps Howard, Rockefeller, and Pew fellowships. She holds Masters in Visual Anthropology and Fine Arts from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Rutgers University. Ms. Negrón-Muntaner is the editor of four books, including Puerto Rican Jam: Rethinking Nationalism and Colonialism, and None of the Above: Puerto Ricans in the Global Era (2007), and the author of Boricua Pop: Puerto Ricans and the Latinization of American Culture (2004). Her last book is Sovereign Acts (2007). Her films have been screened throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Latin America, as well as broadcast on many public television stations. Among her award-winning films are AIDS IN THE BARRIO and BRINCANDO EL CHARCO: PORTRAIT OF A PUERTO RICAN. She is currently completing two documentaries, TANO Y CHAMORRO (LAND OF THE CHAMORROS) and REGARDING VIEQUES. She is also the founder of Miami Light Project's Filmmakers Workshop, and currently teaches at Columbia University in New York City.

MICHAEL NIEVES

Michael Nieves is the owner/President of Sugaroo! (www.Sugaroo.com), a music licensing, marketing and management company that represents independent record labels, artists and publishers for visual media licensing (film, TV, advertising, theatrical trailers, video games, etc.).  Michael also is the personal manager to Mark Olson (formerly of The Jayhawks), Victoria Williams and Megan Hickey & The Last Town Chorus. 
Founded by Michael in January of 1999, Sugaroo! was one of the first independent licensing companies of its kind to exist in the USA, and continues to be one of the most trusted and respected music licensing companies in the visual media licensing communities.   Sugaroo! represents a wide variety of music in virtually every significant genre, from rock (alternative, hard, indie, etc.) to hip hop to country to electronica to singer/songwriters to Latin to trip hop to soul/funk/R&B to punk rock to pop and so on.  Artists in the Sugaroo family include Ani DiFranco, Chris Robinson (of the Black Crowes), Loreena McKennitt and many others; and record labels such as Ubiquity Recordings, Cooking Vinyl, Nacional and Dualtone, to name just a few.

Michael got his start in the music business, after a five year stint on Wall Street, at MCA Music Publishing in New York in 1992, where he worked in business affairs and licensing.  Starting in early 1996, he ran the licensing and music publishing departments for Rhino Records in Los Angeles during its last few years as an independent label before it was fully absorbed into the Warner Music Group.

ALEX NOGALES 

Alex Nogales is President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, where he spearheads numerous campaigns to open doors for Latino professionals in all media areas. He also had a thirteen-year tenure at KCBS, where he was heavily involved with public affairs programming, children’s shows, and entertainment specials. He earned three Emmy Awards and received over thirty commendations for excellence in television production.

JOSH NOREK

Josh Norek has licensed and placed music from Nacional Records artists (including Nortec Collective, Manu Chao, and Aterciopelados) in films such as LA MUJER DE MI HERMANO, BABEL, and HEARTBREAK KID and on TV shows like “Ugly Betty,” “The OC,” HBO “Entourage” and “CSI: Miami.”  Norek is also co-founder of the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) and has overseen U.S. publicity for acts such as Jaguares, Pitbull, and Julieta Venegas.  Norek also does double-duty as the MC/frontman for Latino-Jewish urban collective Hip Hop Hoodíos, whose music has been featured in a national Volkswagen ad campaign and several independent films.  Norek is a graduate of Cornell University and Southwestern Law School.

FERN ORENSTEIN

Fern Orenstein was named Vice President, Casting, in 1999. She reports to Peter Golden, Executive Vice President, Talent and Casting, CBS. In her position, Orenstein is responsible for casting CBS's "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movies, reality series including the upcoming "Celebrity Password" and "Secret Talents of the Stars" and CBS's original mobile content. Additionally, Orenstein has cast talent for CBS.com’s broadband channel. Orenstein has spearheaded more than 75 actor showcases and workshops as part of CBS's Diversity Institute program designed to give minorities opportunities in front of and behind the camera. Previously, Orenstein was partnered in Glicksman-Orenstein Casting, where, with partner Susan Glicksman was involved in the casting of more than 100 movies including "Too Young to Die," which featured Brad Pitt in his first starring role, "West Side Waltz" with Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates and Liza Minelli, "Billy The Kid" with Val Kilmer and "The Truth About Jane" with Stockard Channing for Lifetime Television. She also spent 11 years casting "Baywatch." In 1999, Orenstein, Glicksman and Deidre Bowen were all nominated for an Emmy Award for their work on the CBS mini-series "Joan of Arc." Orenstein is also the recipient of two Media Access Awards for her diversity work. Orenstein graduated New York University with a bachelor of fine arts degree.  

RICK RAMIREZ

Rick Ramirez serves as Vice President, Emerging Markets for Fox Entertainment Group.  In this capacity, he is instrumental in positioning Fox as an entertainment leader in the Hispanic, African American and Asian American consumer markets, as well as other markets that will have a positive economic impact in the next 5 to 10 years.  Mr. Ramirez participates in the development of business initiatives and strategies and his work engages him in the full scope of the entertainment enterprise, including marketing, promotions, publicity, research, content development, business development, strategic planning, government affairs and diversity development.

From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Ramirez was Vice President of Phil Roman Entertainment, where he managed development, production and business affairs for animated and live-action television series, specials and motion picture projects. In addition, he oversaw all aspects of deal structuring, financing and distribution. While the company targeted a mainstream audience, Mr. Ramirez also shepherded Latino-themed feature projects. Prior to joining Phil Roman Entertainment, he served as a producer for the Galavisión cable network.

Mr. Ramirez began his professional career in Dallas, TX, as an attorney practicing corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, public and private offerings and business start-ups. He later entered the field of real estate development with the Trammel Crow Company.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Ramirez serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), the board of directors of the Los Angeles Urban League, the advisory board of Real Medicine Foundation and the advisory board of ICAN.

RAQUEL RAMIREZ

Raquel Ramírez is the Owner/Managing Director of Tono Studios, Inc.. Prior to Tono Studios, she served as a Production Coordinator at the production company Lexicon in Los Angeles, as Producer at AZ Productions in Hollywood and General Manager at Latté Mix Studios in Santa Monica. Ms. Ramírez has established a unique in-house Casting Department that has become an integral part of the business - holding auditions not only for Spanish speakers but for various other languages as well. She has developed an impressive client base which includes Conill Advertising, cruz/kravetz IDEAS, La Agencia de Orci, Castells & Asociados Advertising, Anita Santiago Advertising and The Bravo Group, San Francisco, among others.

HARRISON REINER

Staff Story Analyst (I.A.T.S.E.), CBS-Paramount Television; Instructor of Screenwriting, UCLA School of Film and Televison; Instructor of Story Analysis and Screenplay Development, UCLA Extension; Producer and Co-Writer, LA TICLA (shooting in Mexico, March 2007); Mentor, Latino Writers Lab  (sponsored by NALIP and the Writers Guild of America East); formerly Production Executive, Sovereign Pictures (co-distributors of the Academy Award-winning motion pictures MY LEFT FOOT and CINEMA PARADISO; Story Editor, RKO Pictures (during the filming of John Sayles' EIGHT  MEN OUT); Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing for Short Film, UCLA  M.F.A. Directing Program; Program Evaluator, Documentary Film, Corporation for  Public Broadcasting; Co-founded the Desi Arnaz Memorial Writing Workshop and  Scholarship, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival; served as story  analyst for Sherry Lansing Productions in association with Paramount Pictures,  Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers Feature Animation, and Turner Network  Television.  Has lectured on the art of screenwriting and screenplay development for the Producers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, the Organization of Black Screenwriters, the Hollywood Black Film Festival, and the Scottish Film Academy at Napier University (Edinburgh, Scotland).  B.F.A. New York University Tisch School of the Arts, M.F.A. Columbia University School of the Arts.  

ANGEL RIVERA

Angel Rivera has recently become the Executive Director of Administration and Sponsor Relations of the Latino International Film Institute which hosts the annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. He will work with Co-founders Edward James Olmos and Marlene Dermer as well as the Board of Directors on strategic initiatives as well as direct the day-to-day management and fundraising activities of the Institute and Film Festival. Mr. Rivera has 25 years professional employment history in public service, non-profit organizations, educational institution and the private sector. After graduating from Fordham University in New York City, Mr. Rivera entered a Management Training Program at Consolidated Edison Company. After completing the training program, he decided to instead teach history at St. Agnes High School. After teaching, Mr. Rivera joined a career counseling center in East Harlem to serve the local community. In 1986, Rivera answered the call to public service and joined the New York City Mayor’s Office under Edward Koch as an Audit Analyst. After a change in administration, Rivera began to serve Mayor David Dinkins as a Labor/Management Facilitator and later as a Project Planner. In 1991, Rivera joined the faculty of the City University of New York to administer a grant to create a diversity initiative for the New York City Police Department. At the conclusion of the grant, Mr. Rivera became a Program Director at the Edwin Gould Foundation for Children’s Sponsor for Educational Opportunities (SEO) program which prepared inner-city students for college and career opportunities. In 1995, Rivera returned to public service as a Special Assistant to the Fire Commissioner and Director of Employment Initiatives at the New York City Fire Department. Most recently, Angel Rivera managed the Los Angeles and New York staff of the Screen Actors Guild’s Diversity Department as their National Director of the Department of Affirmative Action. In the five years that Mr. Rivera directed the department, the Guild reported the highest annual percentage shares of roles for minority performers on record, instituted a nationally recognized diversity film screening series, dramatically increased the number of network/studio talent showcases, computerized the Department’s Diversity, Special Skills and Talent Bank, instituted a stage script reading program with the Writers Guild of America for women and a cold reading program for seniors, established the Guild’s first the President’s National Task Force on Spanish Language Media, National Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Actors Committee and President’s National Task Force for American Indians and successfully secured and administrated outside-grants totaling over $400,000 which, among other things, commissioned the first study of performers with disabilities. Before the Screen Actors Guild, Mr. Rivera was the Director of Corporate Global Diversity at the global advertising, public relations and marketing communication holding company, Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG), which purchased True North Communication Inc. when Rivera was the Manager of Diversity at True North. He was responsible for incorporating diversity initiatives into the strategic business plan of the corporation’s operating units - FCB Worldwide (now DraftFCB), McCann Erickson Worldwide, Lowe Worldwide, TN Media (now Initiative) and Webber Shandwick and Octagon Rivera has also organized and been asked to speak on numerous panels, workshops and conferences. He is on the Board of Directors of the Imagen Foundation and Board of Advisors of the TORCH program for inner-city NYC high school students interested in the entertainment and the media industry. Rivera is a member of the NAACP Image Awards Nomination Committee, the National Organization of La Raza’s Blue Ribbon Panel for the ALMA Awards, Women in Film, and the Media Access Award Blue Ribbon Commission which promotes access for performers with disabilities. He has served as Chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Diversity Committee and Chairman of the Ad Club of New York's Changing Face of Advertising Committee. Mr. Rivera also served on the California Arts Advisory Council of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration and as a member of the American Advertising Federation's Multicultural Business Practice Leadership Council. Mr. Rivera resides in Beverly Hills, CA and New York, NY and has two children (Kaelin 12 and Sean 11).

MAGGIE RIVAS-RODRIGUEZ PH.D

Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez is an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. In 1999, Rivas-Rodriguez founded the U.S. Latino & Latina World War II Oral History Project, which has videotaped interviews with over 560 men and women across the country. The interviews and related material, including thousands of high-resolution photographs are being transferred to the Nettie Lee Latin American Collection at the UT campus. The project has produced A Legacy Greater than Words, a book that summarizes 425 of the interviews, edited volumes of academic manuscripts, including Mexican Americans & WWII, a play, Voices of Valor and educational materials. She has more than 17 years of daily news experience in major market news outlets including newspapers, television and wire services.

ALEX RIVERA

Alex Rivera is a New York based digital media artist and filmmaker. His first feature film, SLEEP DEALER, premiered at Sundance 2008 and won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and the Alfred P. Sloan Award. Mr. Rivera is a Sundance Fellow and a Rockefeller Fellow. His work, which addresses concerns of the Latino community through a language of humor, satire, and metaphor, has been screened at The Guggenheim, Lincoln Center, PBS, Telluride, The New York Expo, on European cable Planete and other international venues.

JOSE RIVERA

José Rivera is the screenwriter of TRADE and recipient of two OBIE Awards for Marisol and References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot. His screenplay THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, a BAFTA Award, and a Writers Guild Award. His play Boleros for the Disenchanted will have its world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in the spring of 2008. In the works is a screen adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Mr. Rivera will make his film directing debut with CELESTINA based on his play Cloud Tectonics.

JAMES RODAY

James Roday can be seen in the USA network show, “Psych.” He began his career studying theatre at NYU'S Experimental Theater Wing. Movie audiences may know him best for his winning turn as 'Billy Prickett' in the WB comedy DUKES OF HAZARD. Films include BEERFEST, DON'T COME KNOCKING and ROLLING KANSAS. Mr. Roday, with writing partners Todd Harthan and James DeMonaco, wrote the screenplay SKINWALKERS. He is in pre-production with the film GRAVY, as director and writer.

CARLINA RODRIGUEZ

Carlina Rodríguez is the Director, Organizing Spanish Language for the Screen Actors Guild. Her primary responsibilities are to act as staff liaison to the National Spanish language Media Task Force and provide membership services on a national level to all performers who work in Spanish language media. The emphasis of her work is on organizing new employers, new members, and contracts enforcement in Spanish language media. She has also served as 2nd Vice-President of Film Florida.

PHILLIP RODRIGUEZ

Phillip Rodriguez most recent project, BROWN IS THE NEW GREEN: GEORGE LOPEZ AND THE AMERICAN DREAM, is the first-hour of a four-hour PBS documentary series, LATINOS: HERE AND NOW. He also produced and directed LOS ANGELES NOW in 2004. He is the founder of City Projects and a Senior Fellow for Documentary Filmmaking at the Institute for Justice and Journalism at the USC Annenberg School for Communication. City Projects conducted “My City Now,” an interactive media literacy program.  

ELAINE ROMERO (CONFERENCE 9 CO-CHAIR)

Elaine Romero is an acclaimed playwright (Walk into the Sea, Barrio Hollywood, Secret Things). She participated in NBC's Writers on the Verge, CBS's Diversity Mentorship Program, and is a current finalist for Disney/ABC's Writing Fellowship.  She is an alumni of NALIP's Latino Writers Lab, the Latino Producers Academy, and attended Los Angeles Film School.  On commission, she recently completed Xochi: Jaguar Princess for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and Undocumented, her contribution to a binational project with Mexican playwright Berta Hirart.  Her theatre work has been produced nationwide and is frequently published.  Elaine has taught playwriting and screenwriting at Linfield College and the University of Arizona.  She is a Core Member of the Playwrights' Center and a member of the Dramatists Guild.  She is honored to Co-Chair this year's national conference in Dana Point, close to where she grew up.

FERNANDA ROSSI

Story consultant Fernanda Rossi has doctored over 150 documentaries, fiction scripts and fundraising trailers including the 2007 Academy Award® nominated RECYCLED LIFE by Leslie Iwerks. In addition to private consultations, lectures and her signature workshops on story structure and trailers, she has served as a festival juror and grant panelist. Ms. Rossi also writes the bimonthly column Ask the Doc Doctor published by Film Arts magazine (formerly Release Print) and is the author of the book Trailer Mechanics: A Guide to Making your Documentary Fundraising Trailer. More info at www.documentarydoctor.com  

ANDRE ROYO

For a fifth season, Andre Royo will portray series regular, “Bubbles”, on HBO’s critically acclaimed, “The Wire”. His television credits include such diverse shows as Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine”, “CSI: Miami”, “Cuts’ and “Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit”. From small to big screen, Royo first appeared in John Singleton’s SHAFT, followed by independent feature, G, with Blair Underwood. He will next appear opposite Josh Hartnett and Naomi Harris in Austin Chick’s AUGUST. On the film festival circuit, Royo’s work received praise at the 2001 American Black Film Festival for BIG BANK TAKE LITTLE BANK, and in 2004, at the Pan African Film Festival for his writing and acting in ANDRE ROYO’S BIG SCENE.

CARLOS RUIZ RUIZ

Carlos Ruíz Ruíz is the director of MALDEAMORES, which will be released by MAYA Releasing this summer. The film was nominated at the Huelva Latin American Film Festival and it won best screenplay at the “Scene Slam” in Puerto Rico. Ruíz Ruíz’s dynamic aesthetic and ability to show a story has positioned him as one of most sought- after directors from Puerto Rico. He won the Silver Award at the Ojo de Iberoamérica Film Festival in 2004. He studied photography at the University of Puerto Rico and received his BFA in direction from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he won numerous accolades.

RICHARD SAIZ

Richard Saiz has over 30 years experience as a television journalist, producer, director and writer in both public and commercial broadcasting. He joined the ITVS staff in 1999 as the program manager for Open Call. In that capacity, he improved the initiative by implementing changes including the requirement of works-in-progress and a more rigorous departmental first cut of all proposals as part of the review process. These changes have improved the overall quality of Open Call proposals. Recently, he has led an effort to improve the number and quality of drama projects funded by ITVS. In 2006, Richard was promoted to director of programming and has been concentrating on organizational development of the programming department as well as inter-departmental communications and efficiencies. Richard first worked with ITVS as a consultant in 1995 when he was hired as coordinating producer for the series Making Peace. He also served three times as a panelist for Open Call. A long-time producer, his credits include 18 documentaries produced for Westinghouse and national syndication. He has won numerous awards including the duPont-Columbia Silver Baton and "Best TV Documentary" from the San Francisco International Film Festival.  

OLIVIA SMASHUM

Olivia Smashum has been Executive Vice President, Affiliate Marketing for Home Box Office since January 2004. She is responsible for directing HBO and Cinemax subscriber marketing efforts in support of cable, satellite, and hotel distributors. She joined HBO As associate manager in marketing, responsible for managing preview campaigns. Prior to joining HBO, Smashum was a copywriter. She was honored by Time Warner with a Chairman’s Award for Diversity, she was inducted into the YWCA’s Academy of Women Achievers and she is the recipient of the Black Achievers in Industry Award, and currently serves on the board of the Essence Communications Partnering.

RENEE TAJIMA-PENA

RAHDI TAYLOR

Rahdi Taylor is an award-winning filmmaker and Associate Director of the Sundance Documentary Film Program. Prior to Sundance, Taylor was Director of Marketing and Communications for California Newsreel, where she headed distribution campaigns for new releases and was responsible for strategic marketing and branding initiatives. She served as Director of Production Assistance at Women Make Movies, where she shepherded 20 documentaries annually from script to screen and administered a Fiscal Sponsorship Program. She holds a MFA and was Adjunct Faculty at New College of California.

ESTEBAN TORRES

Esteban Torres is the Chair for the National Latino Media Council. In 1999, he was appointed by California Governor Gray Davis to serve on the California Transportation Commission, which is charged with overseeing the funding of California’s transportation projects. In March 1998, Mr. Torres announced his retirement after a distinguished 16-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his service as a Congressman, Mr. Torres has been an active and distinguished leader. Mr. Torres is a nationally recognized environmental leader, former Ambassador to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Mr. Torres has been a Director of Entravision Communications Corporation since November 2000.

PATRICIA TORRES

Patricia Torres-Burd - Executive V.P. of Programming & Branding for LatinAmerica Broadcasting Inc. Her 20 years of success in programming, promotions and station launch projects in the US (English and, Spanish media) as well as in other countries have taught her the difficulties in "marrying the best of bought product with the needs and importance of local production and effective marketing." 

Patricia has traveled the globe setting up television stations, buying and producing programming to maximize the impact of each program and project. She will guide us in understanding how to get that idea from the brain to the screen.

FRIDA TORRESBLANCO (CONFERENCE 9 CO-CHAIR)

Frida studied Film and Literature in Madrid.  At Lolafilms for 5 years she was responsible for all international productions, including THE DANCER UPSTAIRS, directed by John Malkovich; she also produced Susan Seidelman's GAUDI AFTERNOON starring Marcia Gay Harden.  In 2001, Frida moved to New York to head filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón's newly established production company. She served as Executive Producer and creative on-set Producer for the films THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON, directed by Niels Mueller and starring Sean Penn and CRONICAS, directed by Sebastián Cordero and starring John Leguizamo.

In 2005, as Head of Esperanto, she produced PAN’S LABYRINTH, directed by Guillermo del Toro, which won three Oscars at the 79th Academy Awards.  In December 2006, Frida completed production on a documentary directed by Alfonso Cuarón entitled THE POSSIBILITY OF HOPE which includes interviews with Naomi Klein, James Lovelock, Tzvetan Todorov, and Slavoj Zizek, among others.  She recently completed work on Jonás Cuarón’s AÑO UÑA, which is currently making the rounds in the festival circuit.

Frida is proud to participate as a Producer on Carlos Cuarón’s original opera prima, RUDO Y CURSI.

JOSEPH TOVARES

Joseph Tovares is an Executive Producer at WGBH Boston, where he oversees a variety of cross-platform productions. He serves as the Executive Producer of La Plaza, the Emmy award-winning Latino unit that produces public affairs, arts, culture, history and science content including "Maria Hinojosa: One-On-One" and its Spanish language companion series, "Conversaciones con María Hinojosa." Until 2000 Tovares was the Series Editor for The American Experience. Tovares also served as the Director of New Media for Television Stations at WGBH. Mr. Tovares is a veteran documentary television. He is the producer/director/writer of "Zoot Suit Riots," a one-hour film for The American Experience. The film is about Mexican American youth in 1942 Los Angeles who dared to challenge the unwritten social codes of wartime LA—and paid a heavy price. Tovares is the producer/director/writer of "Remember the Alamo," a movie about the Mexican families who were living in Texas in the years leading up to the famous battle. He is the executive producer of Emmy award winning "Luis Tiant, A Baseball Story" and "Getting to Fenway." In his current position, Tovares oversees the development of content broadcast, Web, and downloadable media— and supervises distribution, budgets, contracts, promotion, and personnel. In addition, Tovares handles the development of specials. He supervises the preparation of proposals for foundations, corporations, and individuals and is currently in development with three cross-platform media projects: "Latinos and Jews in the American Southwest," "The Battle After the War," and the Latino Diabetes Education Initiative. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Tovares has worked for a number of media companies and has served as a consultant for a variety of organizations including The National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalist and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Tovares is a graduate of Boston University (Broadcasting and Film) and earned a Masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin (Radio-Television-Film.)

JESUS SALVADOR TREVIÑO

Jesús Salvador Treviño is a writer/director whose television directing credits include: “Law & Order Criminal Intent,” “Prison Break,” “Bones,” “ER,” “Third Watch,” “NYPD Blue,” “Crossing Jordan,” “The Practice,” “The O.C.,” “Dawson’s Creek” and many others. Mr. Treviño has made several PBS documentaries about Latinos and the Chicano struggle, was Co-Executive Producer of the four-part PBS documentary series, CHICANO! HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. He also wrote and directed the Mexican feature film RAICES DE SANGRE (ROOTS OF BLOOD) and SEGUIN. More recently, he served as Co-Executive Producer of the SHOWTIME drama series, “Resurrection Blvd.”

JOHN VALADEZ

John has directed award winning, nationally broadcast documentaries for fourteen years. His films include: the fourth coming documentary series "Latin Music USA" (WGBH/PBS/BBC); THE HEAD OF JOAQUIN MURRIETA (PBS/LPB-IN PRODUCTION); THE LAST CONQUISTADOR (PBS/POV); HIGH STAKES TESTING (CNN); BEYOND BROWN (PBS); VISIONES (PBS); MATTERS OF RACE (PBS); MAKING PEACE (PBS); PASSING IT ON (PBS/POV). John has twice been a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow; he is a Rockefeller Fellow, a PBS/CPB Producers Academy Fellow, sits on the Board of Trustees of the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar, and he is a graduate of the film program at New York University.

JEFF VALDEZ

Jeff Valdez is Founder of Si TV, and Co-Chairman of Maya Entertainment. He is also Co-Chairman of Sandbox Entertainment and Chairman of Que Pasa.com. Born in the housing projects of Pueblo, Colorado, the youngest of nine children, Jeff Valdez first tried his hand at stand-up comedy before spending eleven years running his own comedy club in Colorado Springs. He produced a show called "Almost Live" that was the launch pad for comics Sinbad and Roseanne Barr. One of the first to recognize that Latinos wanted to see themselves in English-language TV programs beyond the traditional Spanish-speaking stations, Valdez created and produced the hit Los Angeles TV series "Comedy Compadres" hosted by Carlos Mencia. "Comedy Compadres" was the first TV appearance for Mencia, Greg Geraldo, Bobby Lee, and Pablo Francisco, to name a few. He also wrote, produced and directed a myriad of other projects, leading the Los Angeles Times to dub him "the Ed Sullivan of Latino talent." In 1996 Valdez joined forces with venture capitalist Bruce Barshop and started the San Antonio-based Latino Laugh Festival, a star-studded multi-day event that was soon picked up by Showtime. In 1997, following an executive post at Tri-Star Television where he created and co-executive produced four network pilots, Valdez co-founded Sí TV Productions, which would soon become the leading producer of Latino-themed, English-language programming. Its output initially included the talk show "Cafe Olé with Giselle Fernandez," the stand-up showcase "Funny is Funny!" also hosted by Carlos Mencia and "The Brothers Garcia," a Nickelodeon hit series of which Valdez co-created, directed and executive produced forty-eight episodes. The show was also carried in 26 countries. On February 25, 2003 Valdez made history when he launched the Si TV channel, Americas first English Language Latino themed cable channel. Si TV is currently in over 17 million households and boasts a lineup of award winning original programming, much of it created by Valdez. Sixty-five major advertisers from Fortune 500 companies are among Si TV's client list. Valdez continues to serve on the board of Si TV. In 2007 Valdez was named as Co-Chairman of Maya Entertainment, along with industry veteran Moctesuma Esparza (SELENA, MILAGRO BEAN FIELD WAR, GODS AND GENERALS). Maya Entertainment is a film releasing company focusing on the 12-24 Latino youth market. They are releasing a series of Spanish and English language films in theatres as well as home video. Also in 2007 Valdez joined forces with legendary filmmaker David Zucker of Zucker Brothers (AIRPLANE, A WALK IN THE CLOUDS, NAKED GUN, SCARY MOVIE) and started Sandbox Entertainment. Sandbox is in the process of producing a series of G and PG Latino themed family movies. Among his many honors and awards, CNN named Jeff Valdez Top 50 People Who Matter, Valdez was also named by Advertising Age, as one of the Top 50 Marketers in America, as well as receiving three Imagen Awards, two Nosotros Golden Eagles, The Racial Harmony Award by the Center For Ethnic Understanding, Top 50 Minorities In Cable by Multichannel News, Top 10 Players in the U.S. Hispanic media Market by Ad Age, NALIP awarded Valdez with the Outstanding Achievement Award for his 2004 founding of Sí TV. As well, NAMIC selected Valdez to receive the Quasar Award at the 11th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards for his pioneering efforts in creating Sí TV. Notably, Valdez was appointed by President Clinton to the Advisory Committee on the Arts of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He is also on the boards of The Museum of the Moving Image, NALIP and The LA School For The Performing Arts.

JACOB VARGAS

Jacob Vargas plays “Rudy” in Alex Rivera’s feature, SLEEP DEALER. Ever since he starred alongside Edward James Olmos and Jennifer Lopez in SELENA, Mr. Vargas has played diverse roles across various genres on the big screen. He had a role in Emilio Estevez’s BOBBY, he played a soldier in JARHEAD, and he contributed his voice as an animal in DR. DOOLITTLE. The range of Mr. Vargas is apparent and it makes him a rising star in film.

JUDITH VECCHIONE

Judith Vecchione works at WGBH, Boston's public television station and has contributed to many major documentary series, including "American Experience," "Frontline," "Vietnam: A Television History," and "Eyes on the Prize." Her projects have won an Emmy, a Peabody, three Christopher Awards, four CINE Golden Eagles, and many other honors. She was Executive Producer for numerous award-winning PBS projects, including "Americas," "The Blues," and "Eleanor Roosevelt." Her next film, CHINA: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, will air on "Frontline” in Spring 2008. Vecchione is also Executive Director for the CPB/PBS Producers Workshops. Applications for the June 2008 session are due by April 4 (www.pbs.org).  

ISABEL VEGA

Isabel Vega is the co-producer, co-director, and co-cinematographer on LA CORONA with Amanda Micheli. She has been an editor, assistant director and associate producer on documentary projects for HBO, Lifetime, Bravo and FX, as well as numerous national commercials. In 2005, Vega’s directorial debut, FIRST KISS, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. She co-produced the second-season premiere episode of Morgan Spurlock series, “30 Days,” and was an associate producer on HBO’s THIN and TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE. Most recently Vega was the Director of Photography on the documentary, OFF THE GRID: LIFE ON THE MESA. She is currently developing a documentary about gang girls who reside and work in East LA.

CHRISTINA VENEGAS

Cristina Venegas focuses her research on international media with an emphasis on "Latin" America, Spanish-language film and television in the U.S., and digital technologies. She has written about film and political culture, revolutionary imagination in the Americas, telenovelas, contemporary Latin American cinema, co-productions and is at work on Digital Dilemmas: Cuban Media in an Imperfect World. She has curated numerous film programs on Latin American and Indigenous film in the US and Canada, and is Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Latino CineMedia Film Festival in Santa Barbara, now co-presented with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
 
LIGIAH VILLALOBOS

After several years as a studio executive, Writer/Producer/Director Ligiah Villalobos made a transition into the independent film community with the film, DANCING IN SEPTEMBER, which she co-produced in 2000. The film was an Official Selection to the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO in February, 2001. 

Born and raised in Mexico, Villalobos moved to the U.S. at the age of 11.  She attended Brigham Young University, majoring in Cultural Geography and Dance.

Since arriving in Los Angeles, Villalobos has held several positions at studios including Director, Programming for Buena Vista Productions where she oversaw all television production in Latin America, including eight #1 rated Disney Club Shows in six countries.  She also developed the CD Navidad en las Americas for Disney Records, which landed at #8 on Billboard’s Latin Chart, and two Prime Time TV Specials which aired in 18 countries.  She was later hired by Touchstone Television to oversee Walt Disney’s prestigious Writers Fellowship Program and Director’s Training Program. 

After leaving Disney, Villalobos served as Director, Current Programming for the WB Network where she oversaw six prime time series – four sitcoms and two dramas.

She made a transition into film production when she became VP, Creative Affairs at Esparza/Katz Productions.  There she was involved in two HBO Films, INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE and WALKOUT and a movie for Newline Cinema,PRICE OF GLORY. 

Since becoming an independent, Villalobos has been a staff writer on the NBC show, “ED,” and sold TV projects to NBC, Showtime and F/X.  Her documentary ONE WORLD screened at the L.A. International Latino Film Festival and the Texas Film Festival.

Most recently, Villalobos was the Head Writer on the Nick Jr. series, “Go, Diego!  Go!”  And is the Writer/Executive Producer on the feature film, UNDER THE SAME MOON (LA MISMA LUNA, which was an official selection at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.  After a five studio bidding war, the film was acquired by Fox Searchlight and The Weinstein Company for worldwide distribution.  It will premiere in theatres on March 21, 2008.

Currently, Villalobos is writing, Diego Ascending, an adaptation of the Israeli film “BONJOUR, MONSIEUR SHLOMI, for Salma Hayek’s production company, Ventanazul.  She is also writing a biopic and has sold a one-hour drama, “Eastside/Westside” to ABC/Family, with Sander/Moses and Eva Langoria’s production company, “UnbeliEVAble.”

SHOSHANA VOGEL

Shoshana Vogel is the new Senior Manager for the Affirmative Action & Diversity Department at the SAG. Prior to this position, Shoshana served as the Cultural Affairs Specialist for the Service Employees International Union where she created programming that united members across cultural, economic and social boundaries. As a facilitator with the Leadership Development in Inter-Ethnic Relations (LDIR) program, Shoshana works in a multicultural collaborative that strives to create strategies for social change. Shoshana brings with her many years of valuable experience of incorporating the arts in education and activism, and she maintains the passionate conviction that art is liberation and a crucial component of sustainable change.

MARCO WILLIAMS

GRACE WU

Grace Wu is the Senior Vice President in casting for NBC Entertainment. Wu is responsible for supervising the day-to-day casting on the NBC current series as well as serving as the network casting executive for USA and SCI FI projects. Earlier, she also was Director of Casting, NBC Entertainment, beginning in October 2000. While at NBC, Wu supervised the casting of such network series as “Friends,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Just Shoot Me,” “NewsRadio,” “Ed,” and “Freaks & Geeks.” Wu began her career in entertainment casting as an assistant on the feature film “In & Out.”

RAQUEL YEPES

Raquel Yepes is a pioneer in the development of Latino TV in the US, Latin America and Europe. A veteran of the top international TV markets; MIPCOM, NATPE, Forum Brazil, Realscreen and LA Screenings, she has an impressive rooster of contacts in the industry and is known for her drive and high quality productions. Raquel has become, in over 20 years of TV production experience, a consummate Executive Producer of top quality Hispanic television. A graduate of the University of Florida with a B.A. in Sociology and Broadcasting, Raquel began her broadcasting career in radio in her native Venezuela and in 1996, she moved to Miami and begun working with Gems Television, the first Spanish-language cable network for women. 

In 1998, she established the distribution division of DigiPost.  For the next three years, Raquel traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe and the US broadening her experience in these varied television markets supervising international sales and spearheading distribution efforts for NBP, Portugal’s leading Production Company, whose catalogue includes dramatic films, documentaries and soap operas. Raquel also has vast experience producing for the advertising industry, for Anglo and Hispanic clients. Her excellent work led her to a long and successful stint at Telemundo, where she worked as production coordinator for “Todo Bebe,” a half-hour pioneer series on baby care broadcast weekly nationwide. Her biggest accomplishment at Telemundo was working on their successful primetime special for People en Español magazine, “50 Most Beautiful People,” which she still produces to this day via her current position.

For the past 2 and half years, Raquel has been in charge of International Sales and Business Development for Plural Entertainment. Plural Entertainment is the production arm of media conglomerate Grupo Prisa, Spain’s leading communications, education, cultural and entertainment group whose holdings include Spain’s leading newspaper El Pais, cable channels as well as television and radio stations in Spain and Latin America.

From Plural’s Miami office, Raquel oversees all marketing and sales efforts in the continuous growth of the company, working closely with her counterparts in Spain. She has successfully increased Plural’s business by 60% annually and has materialized exciting projects for the US Hispanic Television as well as expanded the company’s production to Latin America’s largest TV market, Brazil.

A strong branded marketing proponent, Raquel has successfully integrated into production projects significant corporate clients such as, Buena Vista International, People en Español Magazine and AOL Latino among others. Her Network clients include Univision, Telemundo, Discovery Networks, LAT TV, Mega TV, A&E Networks, and many others.  Raquel is also quite active in non-for-profit work, being a vocal defendant of the GLBT community.

Raquel has a proven track record of success in the business and is always seeking passionately to produce the next great TV project.

DENISE ZMEKHOL

Denise Zmekhol is the director and producer of CHILDREN OF THE AMAZON, which is a tribute to a people struggling to save their forest home. She hopes to offer insight to a distant and remote land while simultaneously drawing connections to our own lives. She works on social issue documentaries as well as in commercial arenas. Zmekhol combines a public affairs sensibility with a commercial director’s visual acumen. A Sao Paulo native, Zmekhol assisted on numerous documentaries filmed in the Amazon. In addition to her film work, she has worked as a freelance producer creating marketing and public relations projects for various companies.