Latinx Producers Call on Hollywood to Invest in Diverse Talent, Stars: ‘We Are Part of the Mainstream’

Posted by on October 03, 2018

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NALIP will also be celebrating the stellar work by some of 2018’s best storytellers during their Latino Media Fest Awards. They will be presenting Best Latinx Film Award to Blindspotting to be received by director, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Best Latinx Filmmaker Awardto director Eva Vives for her recent work, All About Nina, Best Latin American Filmmaker Award to Alonso Ruizpalacios for his film Museo, and Best Latinx TV Show Award will be presented to Vida. All in all, the lineup promises to be invaluable for anyone looking to break into the industry and hoping to get some solid advice — not to mention plenty of inspiration and motivation.

With a slew of panels and mixers, the Fest also hopes to continue building its sprawling network of US-based Latino filmmakers. The various panels through the Latino Media Fest feature professionals working at Walt Disney Pictures, Final Draft, Starz, and CBS Studiosamong others, promising some great insights from people actually working the field., ending with NALIP's signature “Emerging Content Creators Workshop” that’s all about helping recent graduates transition into the industry as the talk of inclusion grows stronger in Hollywood.

With the support of this year's Presenting Sponsor, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemuno, along with 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion, Univision Contigo, El Rey Network, MPSLabo, DCA, CAA, Final Draft, XR Tales, and venue sponsor AMC Independent, the Latino Media Fest will showcase the best U.S. based Latinx filmmakers and celebrate Latinx excellence in media and entertainment. In partnership with the Time Warner Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and WORLD Channel, NALIP gave 10 Latinx filmmakers the opportunity to create their own short films through the NALIP Latino Lens Incubator Program, screening at the Latino Media Fest.

Passes and information: HERE

Photo Courtesy of Randy Shropshire

One of the reasons Latinx producers and stars have trouble breaking through to the mainstream is the lack of a mechanism “to identify those superstars and turn them into brands,” says veteran TV executive Rick Rodriguez.

“We have a responsibility as a community to single out those people who are doing exceptional work,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, who currently serves as chief operating officer and head of content for the Spanish-language subscription service Pongalo, appeared on a panel on Latinx entertainment at TheWrap’s annual tech and media conference TheGrill on Tuesday, held at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Moderated by Fundacion Acevedo president Beatriz Acevedo, the panel also featured BESE co-founder and president Daniel Batista and Campanario Entertainment president Jaime Davila.

Read more at TheWrap.com