Join NALIP on Friday, January 24th for Take it to the Bank + Mixer Presented by WarnerMedia 150, where five contestants get the opportunity to pitch their project in development to a panel of industry executives.

The contestants will give a short pitch and receive feedback, as well as the chance to win a prize, plus a meeting with WarnerMedia 150 executive. 

Event Details

Join NALIP on Friday, January 24th for Inclusion in Action panel, where inclusion experts will engage in a conversation surrounding the state of the industry. 

As the dialogue surrounding inclusion continues to evolve, collaboration and innovation are key. NALIP will host a panel and mixer featuring conversations between industry leaders in the inclusion space and beyond, providing insights into how proactive approaches to inclusion are proven to work.

Speakers

Nikkole Denson-Randolph (VP, Content Strategy & Inclusive Programming | AMC Theatres)

Carla Renata (Film Critic, African-American Film Critics Association)

Emma Ramos (Actress, Comedian, and Sketch Comedy Artist)

Moderated by: Laarni Dacanay (PR Consultant | Comcast NBCUniversal)

Special Thanks to Our Partners for their Support

Event Details

 Cine Sony and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers are teaming again to launch the second annual Voces Nuevas, their short film contest for aspiring filmmakers throughout the U.S.

Eligible filmmakers ages 18 and up who reside in the U.S. can submit short films ranging from from two to 20 minutes in length from now through March 8. Projects can be submitted to https://filmfreeway.com/cinesonyvocesnuevas

“Last year, Voces Nuevas had over 300 filmmakers submit everything from comedies to thrillers to dramas, confirming our belief that there is so much deserving talent out there,” said Jeff Meier, SVP and General Manager, U.S. Networks, at Sony Pictures Television. “We are excited to join forces with NALIP and once again provide a platform to show audiences the talent and creativity of emerging filmmakers.”

Voces Nuevas aims to discover and celebrate emerging film talent while providing a new resource for content development. Entrants will compete for the chance to win $10,000 plus airfare and accommodations for up to five nights in Los Angeles for the opportunity to meet with Sony Pictures Television executives and have their short films air on Cine Sony, the premier movie channel for the bicultural U.S. Latinx audience. The winner also will be awarded a scholarship to the 2020 NALIP Media Summit, and the winning film will screen at the Summit’s short film showcase as well as on the Sony Lot.

Judges reviewing submissions include actor, producer and activist Wilmer Valderrama; actor-producer Nicholas Gonzalez; writer-director Catalina Aguilar Mastretta; producer Lalo Alcaraz; director Jorge Gutierrez; and senior creative executives from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“NALIP is ecstatic to once again partner up with Cine Sony for the second annual Voces Nuevas short film competition, and we look forward to expanding the impact of this partnership to benefit the development of Latinx creatives,” said NALIP Executive Director, Ben Lopez. “We are confident that this joint effort to elevate Latinx narratives will bring us closer to a more inclusive industry.”

Read more at Deadline

Every year during NALIP's Season Of Giving, we strive to support the advancement of LatinX and underrepresented communities through various programs throughout the year. Those programs include Latino Lens, Diverse Women In Media Initiative, NALIP Media Summit, and Latino Media Fest. 

Within our programs, we connect, promote and provide mentorship for content creators and executive professionals  to advance their careers. Together we provide resources to the next generation in the entertainment industry.

In 2019, we dedicated Season of Giving to the Diverse Women In Media Initiative. We highlighted powerful influential women and emerging professional women from NALIP internships. 

How to Help Puerto Rico

Our Puerto Rican family was hit with one of the most devastating earthquakes on January 7th, by a 6.4 magnitude quake followed by a 6.0 magnitude aftershock. Having been recently affected by Hurricane María in 2017, recovery efforts are still ongoing and proven more vital than ever. 

According to CNN, over a third of the island's utility customers had no water service following the quake, and much of the island temporarily lost power. Much of the power outages and damage is concentrated around Puerto Rico's southern coast, which was the epicenter of the quake. Mayita Meléndez, the mayor of Ponce on the island's southern coast, said that eight people had been reported injured and one 77-year-old man had been killed in the intense tremors, CBS reported. The 6.4 magnitude quake followed smaller seismic events that had been felt on the island since the last week of December.

Puerto Rico needs your support during this time of recovery.

How You Can Support Puerto Rico

Foundation for Puerto Rico

Foundation for Puerto Rico, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2011, creates opportunities that drive social and economic development in Puerto Rico, with a focus on the visitor economy and transforming the island into a global destination.

Read more and donate here

RS Events for Life

RS Events for Life is a non-profit 501(c)(3) accredited organization that helps kids in need be for health issues, education or living conditions. RS Events for Life is also invested in helping control the overpopulation of stray dogs in the Island of Puerto Rico. Founded by Roselyn Sanchez - the Foundation produces yearly events identifying children's hospitals in need, communities in need and dog shelters in need.

Read more and donate here

Donate To The Hispanic Federation: Unidos

In the aftermath of Hurricane María, the Hispanic Federation launched its Unidos program, which partnered with local grassroots organizations, foundations, businesses, and individuals to ensure that emergency relief was able to have long-term positive impacts on Puerto Rico. Donations help fund both first responders and sustainable contributions to local community organizations.

Read more & donate here

Donate To Americares

The medical aid organization Americares played an important role in helping Puerto Ricans recover from the trauma of Hurricane María, according to ABC News. In 2018, the organization expanded its programming on the island through the Americares Puerto Rico Mental Health Services, and they are currently accepting emergency donations as they prepare to aid in earthquake relief efforts.

Read more & donate here

Donate To World Central Kitchen

The World Central Kitchen, dedicated to providing food-based first response services, is already preparing to assist in the aftermath of the most recent quakes. According to founder chef José Andrés writing on Twitter, generators and solar power are already being put to use to bring emergency food aid to people across Puerto Rico. The organization is accepting donations for emergency relief.

Read more & donate here

Donate To Puerto Ricans In Action

A fiscally sponsored 501c(3), PRiA's mission is to ensure the vibrant future of the Puerto Rican people by strengthening Puerto Rican identity, communities, and connection with Puerto Rico. Our goals are to be the central organizer for the Puerto Rican community in Los Angeles and to ensure everyone on the island has access to clean drinking water.

Read more & donate here

How NALIP is Supporting Puerto Rico

The NALIP community is working to raise awareness and funds for Puerto Rico - read all about how they're working towards disaster relief efforts:

NALIPster Nino Alicea

As a part of NALIP’s Latino Lens™ Workshop Series, the second workshop of 2019 took place March 2nd, "Last Looks with Nino Alicea." Participants had the chance to learn about the art of production design as well as help with a great cause as proceeds benefited Nino’s Puerto Rico Relief Fund.

"I would like to manifest of a day when we ALL put our “granito de arena”. That would be a glorious day!" - Nino Alicea

NALIPster Angel Manuel Soto

Angel Manuel Soto is an L.A. based Puerto Rican who is a longtime NALIP supporter and showcased his first film, "La Granja" as at NALIP's Latino Lens Showcase. He is an award-winning filmmaker and the director of “Charm City Kings,” to premiere at Sundance on Monday, January 27th. 

"NALIP is a unifying org and force in the industry and hopes the strength of our community can come together and support Puerto Rico at this vital time." -Angel

NALIPster Rebecca Murga

Rebecca Murga is an award-winning filmmaker who works in Los Angeles as a writer and director. She is currently working on a documentary, "CAT5," about Puerto Rico, post Hurricane María and the resilience Puerto Ricans have exhibited in the face of adversity.  Rebecca was also the recipient of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) grant announced at Sundance 2015.  

Check out "CAT5" here

NALIPster Veronica Falcon

For our upcoming workshop this Sunday with Queen of the South's very own Veronica Falcón, NALIP will be donating a portion of the proceeds to Puerto Rico relief efforts.

Join us - purchase your pass here!

Guillermo Del Toro amongst others were featured in a recent Quibi keynote intro Wednesday morning at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  This was the first time that Quibi has shown their innovative platform to an audience — and the audience at CES was enjoying it. 

Accompanying Del Toro in this intro video was Steven Spielberg, Antoine Fuqua, Peter Farrelly, Catherine Hardwicke and Reese Witherspoon. 

Check out the video above and read more about the keynote and what Quibi's Katzenberg and Whitman had to say, here. 

Image Courtesy of THR

Parasite, one of the most acclaimed movies of 2019, is heading to HBO as a limited series.

Bong Joon Ho, who wrote and directed the Palm d’or winner and Oscar hopeful, is teaming with Adam McKay, whose recent work The Big Short and Vice has earned him multiple awards nominations.

Deals are not done but talks are underway with HBO, which came out on top of a bidding war with Netflix for the rights.

Parasite followed the poor but cunning Kim family as they ingratiated themselves into the lives of their wealthy employers, the Park family. The relationship between the two clans went through several twists and ultimately ended up having deadly consequences.

It is unclear if the limited series will be some sort of follow-up to the movie or an English-language remake.

Read more at The Hollywood Reporter

As NALIP celebrates its 20th anniversary, we invite you to join us in taking a look at how we have used this year to honor the past and build the future of this organization. 

READ OUR YEAR IN REVIEW REPORT HERE!

Here is a little sneak peak of what to expect! 

NALIP AT FESTIVALS 

NALIP MEDIA SUMMIT

Last Call Rate: $285

Be the first to secure your spot for the 2019 Diverse Women in Media Forum at our Last Call Rate! 

Your pass gives you access to the incredible sessions that #DWIMF19 has to offer, including our networking mixer at the end of the night. 

Passes do not include access to mentorship sessions. A purchased pass is required to be eligible for mentorship sessions.

Non-members who purchase their pass at the member rate will be required to pay the difference in rates prior to the forum or on-site in order to be admitted.

Image Courtesy of Deadline

Vida star Chelsea Rendon is set to join Shameless in a recurring role as Anne, the charismatic — and dangerously fun — new coworker of Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) at Captain Bob’s. Early on, the two have contentious relationship but then she shows Carl a different perspective on being poor on the South Side.

The tenth season of the William H. Macy-fronted series from Warner Bros. TV picks up six months after last season’s finale with Frank (Macy) using his leg injury to collect as many prescription drugs as possible and his exploits leading him to an old friend. Meanwhile, Debbie (Emma Kenney), emboldened by the $50,000 left to her by Fiona, has stepped in as the new matriarch, ruling over the Gallagher household with an iron fist. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) navigates his relationship with a newly affectionate Tami (Kate Miner). Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) has to decide what to do with his life as he finishes military school and heads back to the South side. Liam (Isaiah) is committed to learning more about black history and culture under the tutelage of V (Shanola Hampton) as Kev (Steve Howey) faces an identity crisis. Gallavich returns this season as Ian (Monaghan) and Mickey (Noel Fisher) rekindle their romance in prison as both cellmates and lovers.

Shameless returns for its tenth season Sunday, November 3 on Showtime.

Read more: Deadline

Photo Courtesy of Deadline. 

Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to the critically acclaimed immigration feature The Infiltrators. Directed by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, the film made its world premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival where it went on to won the Audience Award: NEXT and the NEXT Innovator Prize. Oscilloscope is set to release the feature in theaters before streaming on digital platforms.

“Many films have focused on the suffering of immigrants in America, but we wanted to tell a different story—one not of victims, but of visionaries,” said Rivera and Ibarra. The film is produced by Ibarra and Rivera along with Darren Dean and Daniel J. Chalfen.

Read more about the film here: deadline.com

Photo Courtesy Of Marvel Studios

Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie looks to be breaking ground for Marvel Studios as its first out LBGTQ hero.

In the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, Valkyrie assumed the role of ruler of New Asgard, the town populated by refugee Asgardians. “As new king [of Asgard], she needs to find her queen. That will be the first order of business," said Thompson during Marvel Studio's Hall H Panel at Comic Con.

Read more at HollywoodReporter.com

As a leading organization in the advancement of Latinx creators across many media platforms, NALIP has been a constant support in assisting content creators like writers, directors, producers and other industry professionals to find their passion and get their step in the industry. With the help of NALIP, many people have the ability to find their voice and voice their opinions.

The roundtable conversation will be conducted across the United States of many types of content creators that came from a variety of different types of background. They have became the inspiration all over the world in the media and other entertainment platforms. We hope you are inspired by these content creators’ stories as much as they have inspired us!

For 20 years, NALIP has acknowledged the work of the individuals who represent talent both in front of and behind the camera. We have continuously looked at how we look to support agents and managers who are actively working towards a more inclusive industry. As active proponents of inclusion on various levels of entertainment, this roundtable discussion will lock in on the importance of meaningful representation in mainstream media and share their experiences in identifying emerging talent. These agents and managers will also discuss their experience being a part of the NALIP community, what their journeys into the industry were like, and what they believe the future will bring.

Watch the Agents & Managers Roundtable!

NALIP’s mission to serve the Latinx community encompasses the understanding that having a space to connect and share ideas is an essential element to generating an accurate representation of our community within the industry. It is through our NALIP programs that we are making the effort to create, promote, and distribute diverse and inclusive content. With our programs, NALIP looks to build on previous residential instruction programs and growing incubation efforts by supporting filmmakers with direct content production in order to address the need for diverse content and creators in the industry.

Watch the NALIP Program Fellows Roundtable!

From its inception, NALIP has worked towards making the entertainment industry a more diverse and inclusive industry that acknowledges and understands content made by and for underrepresented communities. In recent years, the dialogue surrounding the homogenous makeup of the film critic community has led to criticism of the field itself, begging the question: Where is the disconnect? According to a study done by Dr. Stacy L. Smith at USC, white male reviewers write about 62% more reviews than women of color. In this roundtable discussion, prominent figures in the film critic community will take a look at the current state of the industry and share how the NALIP community is creating a new industry standard.

Watch the Film Critics Roundtable!

From its conception, NALIP has been motivated by the way in which content creators in public media play a vital role in society in that they help audiences engage in a broader and more nuanced view of the world. Throughout our 19 years at NALIP, we have honored filmmakers in public media through a variety of core programming such as our Public Media/Documentary Labs which dates back from our Santa Fe days to our more current initiatives such as the Beyond Graduate Digital Incubator. This round table discussion will explore the different ways in which NALIP has strived to create a community within the unscripted space in the past,  ways in which NALIP is engaging with the speakers in present day, and what those who work in non-fiction landscape hope to see within the coming years as they develop new content in a changing industry

Pamela A. Aguilar is Senior Director of Programming and Development for PBS. She identifies, develops and oversees the production of original Primetime content in arts, culture, nature, science, history and independent film. She works closely with Latino Public Broadcasting, to develop the nationally broadcast documentary series, VOCES and with co-producing partners like VOX Media, the BBC, and with producing member stations like WGBH, WNET and TPT. Her latest project, No Passport Required with Chef Marcus Samuelsson (VOX), is a multi-platform docu-series that celebrates America’s diverse cultural mosaic. Other credits include, Big Pacific, narrated by Daniel Dae Kim (NHNZ), The Wonders of Mexico, narrated by Anthony Mendez, 9 Months That Made You (BBC), and the Emmy nominated In Defense of Food. Pamela a member of NALIP’s Diverse Women in Media Advisory Committee, a graduate of The New School University in New York City and hails from the Golden State of California.

Lorena Manríquez is an award-winning independent filmmaker based in Los Angeles. While living in Jackson, Mississippi, Lorena volunteered to serve as president of the board of the Crossroads Film Society in the early 2000s, and became inspired to make films herself.  She began working on her first feature documentary, Ulises’ Odyssey, and was the recipient of a number of film industry fellowships, including the NALIP Producers Academy, the CPB/PBS Producers Academy, the IFP Rough Cut Lab, and Firelight Documentary Lab. Ulises’ Odyssey screened at international festivals, and had its broadcast premiere on PBS in 2015 on WTTW Chicago.  Ms. Manríquez’ film Siqueiros: Walls of Passion was awarded two California Documentary Project grants by Cal Humanities, ITVS Diversity Development Fund, ITVS Open Call funding, Latino Public Broadcasting Public Media funding, and Firelight Media Next Step funding. She has directed and produced two short documentaries for Field of Vision: Hopewell (2016), featured in The New Yorker magazine website, and Here I’ll Stay (2017) for the ‘Our 100 Days’ documentary series in partnership with Firelight Media.

In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Ms. Manríquez is a Senior Professional Engineer at Shannon and Wilson Inc. in Los Angeles.  She is a native of Santiago, Chile, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics and Physics Engineering from Washington and Lee University, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Alan Dominguez (founding partner, Loco Lane Filmworks) recently wrapped production on a documentary short for the Beyond Graduation series in conjunction with NALIP, World Channel, and Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He also directed a short doc, Clever (2016) - about the journey of a former MS13 member and his current work with youth. The film has been shown throughout the US as well as the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico and was executive produced by Oscar winning documentary filmmaker, Daniel Junge. Domínguez also finished a short doc, Borderball (2016), about the difficult journey of Mexican-born baseball players to the Major Leagues in the USA. He also directed and edited Photos of Angie (2011), an hour-long documentary about the murder of Angie Zapata, a transgender teenager whose murder was the first successful prosecution of the murder of a transperson as a hate crime. He is also a film educator and founder of Loco Lane Filmworks, which produces content for non-profits, educational institutions, and political candidates.

As a reporter and documentary filmmaker, Chelo has worked for over two decades exposing stories of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Born in Spain, she worked in Japan in documentaries for NHK Enterprises and became Tokyo’s and then Los Angeles’ correspondent for Spain’s El Mundo daily. In 1995, she moved to California and in 2002, Canal+ Spain turned her first reportage on child trafficking in the Himalayas into the documentary film Tin Girls. She created several short documentaries, producing/directing Sol in America: A Modern-Day Tale of Sex Slavery, and producing Through the Wall, a short documentary about a family divided by the US/Mexico border, official selection at Doc NYC and winner of the 2106 Imagen Awards. As an impact producer, Chelo has presented the award-winning Sands of Silence: Waves of Courage documentary on sexual violence and trafficking she produced/directed at the United Nations, the European Parliament, colleges from Oxford to Yale, deported moms and refugees in Mexico, and prisons in Spain and California, to both survivors and perpetrators. Chelo is pre-production of a documentary on sexual violence offenders serving time. Her work has been published, among others, by Geo, El Mundo, El País, The Malibu Times, The Huffington Post, Documentary magazine, and The Guardian.

Iliana is a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas and Mexico City. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas by Mexican immigrant parents. A former Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, she holds an MFA in film production and directing from UCLA. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Steven Bochco Fellowship, the Hollywood Foreign Press Award, the Edie and Lew Wasserman Fellowship and the National Hispanic Foundation of the Arts Scholarship, among others. Her MFA thesis film, Child of the Desert, won Best Short Film and the Texas Award at the Oscar qualifying 2012 USA Film Festival. She was a 2013 Film Independent Project Involve Directing Fellow and was selected for the 2013 TransAtlantic Talent Lab in Reykjavik, Iceland. In 2014, she was selected for the Sundance-sponsored Latino Screenwriting Project with her script, Paper Birds Learn to Fly. Iliana has directed short documentaries, fiction shorts and a narrative fiction feature, Detained in the Desert, which had its world premiere at the 2012 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. In 2017, Firelight Media awarded her an Impact Producer Fellowship. In 2018, she was selected as a Berlinale Talent and most recently co-directed a short documentary, An Uncertain Future, with Chelsea Hernandez. The short has screened at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival and won a Jury Award for Best Texas Short. It has also screened at the 2018 Aspen ShortsFest where it won the Youth Jury Award. Iliana is currently in early production of her first feature documentary, Julian.

Not only are Latinx producers prominent, loyal and important in today’s industry, but they have become one of the largest demographics in the society. They’re ability to tell a story and connect to their audience are unteachable. The stories that they created like Coco and Jane the Virgin are so relatable that it creates a deep impact on the audience and outside the Hispanic culture as well.

NALIP has been helping the Latinx producers by constantly building and promoting their content all across the media platforms. For over 18 years, NALIP continues to provide professor development, community building and mentoring to help start many content creators.

Telemundo is creating a new bilingual digital production studio called Fluency Plus. Fluency Plus’s vision is to create a mixture of Spanish and English content to tap into what marketers called the “200-percenters”, which are 100 percent Latino and 100 percent American. 

Fluency Plus will produce content such as web and social-first series, miniseries, alternative, comedy and 360-degree virtual reality experiences. Fluency Plus will create two dramas called Love Clicks and Quinceañera. They will include a telenovela called Much Ado About Nada. For the foodies, they will produce Secret Salsa and Today’s Special. For those that enjoy the latest gossip and keeping up with celebrities, they will create a daily celebrity show MVTO. Lastly, for those that want to stay up-to-date with the latest in tech and innovation, Fluency Plus will produce a show that will focus on Hispanic inventors called No Inventes.

To read more about Fluency Plus, click HERE.

 Taken at the 2017 Latino Media Fest

If you attended the 2017 Latino Media Fest, hosted by NALIP, this past September, you probably got a chance to experience ‘Son of Jaguar’ in VR. If you weren't able to attend, here's your chance to experience Jorge Gutierrez’s ‘Son of Jaguar’. It was released for the HTC Vive VR headset this past Monday. You can now experience this in the comfort of your our home, on a flight, or where ever you choose to use your VR headset.

‘Son of Jaguar’ is the longest Spotlight Story piece to date, lasting between 8 and 10 minutes. Its dialogue features Jorge Gutierrez as the voiceover for the main character, and his own wife Sandra Equihua does the voiceover for the wrestler’s wife. ‘Son of Jaguar’ is about an aging Mexican wrestler who comes back from previous defeat, while losing his leg in a match, to support his family in need facing financial struggle.

If you don’t already own a VR headset, go get the HTC Vive to see and experience ‘Son of Jaguar’ for yourself. Read more HERE, for more details on ‘Son of Jaguar’.

AFI FEST 2017 presented by Audi will be held on November 9th-16th, 2017 at the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre, Mark Goodson Screening Room, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today’s Hollywood, an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world. AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®.

 NALIP will be presenting the following two films:

APRIL'S DAUGHTER (LAS HIJAS DE ABRIL)

Director: Michel Franco
Screenwriter: Michel Franco
Producer: Michel Franco, Lorenzo Vigas, Moises Zonana
Executive Producer: Tim Roth, Rodolfo Cova, David Zonana, Gabriel Ripstein
Director of Photography: Yves Cape
Editor: Jorge Weisz, Michel Franco
Cast: Emma Suárez, Ana Valeria Becerril, Enrique Arrizon, Joanna Larequi, Hernán Mendoza

Mexico, 2017
103 min.
Feature
World Cinema Section

In AFI FEST alum Michel Franco's latest feature, a domineering mother suddenly arrives to assist with her teenage daughter's pregnancy. But her true motives will soon emerge.

Seventeen-year-old Valeria is pregnant and lives with her sister Clara. She wants to keep her pregnancy a secret from her absent and domineering mother April. When Clara tells April about her sister’s condition, their mother suddenly arrives, full of loving support and promises to help Valeria through this life-changing event. But once the baby is born, April’s true intentions are revealed and it becomes clear why Valeria wanted to keep her mother away. Anchored by fantastic performances from acclaimed Spanish actress Emma Suárez (JULIETA, AFI FEST 2016) and newcomer Ana Valeria Becerril, AFI FEST alum Michel Franco crafts a tense drama that explores how the complexities of family dynamics can lead to chaos. – Jenn Murphy

More Info: http://afifest.afi.com/2017/sections/aprils-daughter



SUMMER 1993

Director: Carla Simón
Screenwriter: Carla Simón
Producer: Valérie Delpierre
Executive Producer: Maria Zamora, Valérie Delpierre
Director of Photography: Santiago Racaj
Editor: Didac Palou, Ana Pfaff
Production Designer: Mireia Graell
Music: Pau Boïgues, Ernest Pipó
Cast: Laia Artigas, Paula Robles, Bruna Cusí, David Veraguer, Fermi Reixacha

Spain, 2017
96 min.
Feature
New Auteurs Section

In this unforgettable and autobiographical debut, a six-year-old girl goes to live with her extended family in the Catalan countryside following her mother's death from an AIDS-related illness.

When her mother dies of an AIDS-related illness, six-year-old Frida has to leave her home in Barcelona to live with her uncle, aunt and four-year-old cousin in the Catalan countryside. Though surrounded by loving and understanding family members, with visits from her religious grandmother, the adjustment is hard for everyone. Amid the film’s striking lack of sentimentality and sun-kissed imagery that belie the heartbreak under the surface, Frida and her new family deal with the complex and contradictory emotions of an orphaned child that unpredictably arise every day. Written and directed by Carla Simón, and based on her own life story, SUMMER 1993 is an unforgettable reminder that the only certainty in life is not only death, but that life itself continues. – Sudeep Sharma

More Info: http://afifest.afi.com/2017/sections/summer-1993

Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST, twitter.com/AFIFEST (@AFIFEST),instagram.com/americanfilminstitute(@americanfilminstitute) and youtube.com/AFI.

Photo courtesy of FICG in LA

Congratulations to our NALIPsters who will be screening their films this Saturday at the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) in Los Angeles, taking place in the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood.

Photo courtesy of FICG in LA

Elisa Lleras (co-producer) and Pau Brunet (producer) will be screening "Nobody's Watching" (Nadie Nos Mira).

Elisa Lleras has extensive experience both as a creative and line producer in scripted content. Having graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Producing, Elisa has line produced features such as Frankenstein, , Camino, and the upcoming We Are Boats. Elisa has produced for La Panda Productions and Spectrevision / Company X. 

Pau Brunet is the co-founder of LA-based La Panda Productions, and a producer with over 10 years of experience in development, international sales and production. Pau is executive producer on the films "Open Windows", "10,000KM" and "People You May Know". Pau doubles his work as a producer with the box office, marketing and development analyst in Spain and States. 

The film "Nobody's Watching" tells the story of an actor in Buenos Aires who moves to New York City for a promised role and a new start. When the project stalls he chooses menial work rather than give up on his acting dreams, a decision that puts him on the level of any other struggling undocumented immigrants, despite his whiteness and connections to the privileged. When he loses the trust of a generous friend, his life unravels, ultimately leading him to reconcile his imperfect situation back home with the harsh reality of an uncertain future in the U.S. "Nobody's Watching" will be playing on Friday, November 3, at 6:45pm. You can get tickets here. 

Photo courtesy of FICG in LA

Yelyna De Leon (writer) and Luis Iga (director) will be screening their film "Murder in the Woods", a film starring Danny Trejo. 

Yelyna De Leon is an award winning Writer, Producer and Actress. As an actress she can be seen in several television series such as Shameless, Bones, Ray Donovan, A Better Life and East Side Story. Behind the scenes Yelyna is committed and her work focuses on non-stereotypical characters for Latinos and strong female characters. Yelyna is a 16/17 NALIP, Univision writing fellow where her one hour drama, Las Fresas de East L.A. is a finalist in contention for an 85 episode order. She is also a 2015 NHMC, ABC/NBC writing fellow. You can read more about her in our #WeAreInclusion profiles here. 

Luis Iga is an award winning filmmaker born in Saltillo Mexico. Mr. Iga received an MFA in Film and Television Production from the renowned School of Cinematic Arts at USC. Mr. Iga founded the production company REZINATE Entertainment where he holds many projects in TV and Film and is in talks with productions companies and studios to make them a reality.

"Murder in the Woods" tells the story of a murder that occurred on a dark, cold night in 2006, in a cabin in the woods. The Police called it a murder suicide. The case was closed but the dark secrets surrounding this horrible incident are still very much alive in the haunted cabin to this day. Nine years later, a group of teens plan a weekend, birthday trip to the very same cabin where the murder happened. Creepy omens start to arise as soon as they leave for their trip. "Murder in the Woods", will be playing on Saturday, November 4 at 2:15pm. You can get tickets here. 

Photo courtesy of FICG in LA

Laura Plancarte (director) will be screening "Siblings" (Hermanos).

Laura Plancarte has worked in a diverse range of mediums including; film, performance and video installation creating interdisciplinary live projects displayed in Museums and cultural spaces in Mexico City, Barcelona, Florence and London. In 2006 and 2007 she was awarded a grant from BNP Paribas and she has also been sponsored by the Mexican cultural institutions: La Colección Jumex, La Fundación del Centro Histórico, UNAM and Secretaría de Cultura del Estado de Jalisco. Today her main working medium is film.

The film tells in parallel narrative the story of two Mexican brothers that want to return to the US after being deported and the story of an American woman who lost her house due to the worldwide economical crisis and believes she can get it back through Trump’s promises. Both journeys lead them to their past and relatives who they believe can help them achieve their american dream. Immigration has been shown in many ways, but it has never been presented through the lives of Mexicans and Americans who live similar situations due to poverty and lack of family structure. "Siblings" will be playing on Saturday, November 4, at 2pm. You can get tickets here. 

Photo courtesy of Fondazione Prada

Mexican director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's virtual reality installation, “Carne y Arena (Virtually Present, Physically Invisible)” will be receiving a special oscar from the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences at the 9th annual Governor's Awards on November 11. 

Iñárritu is best known for his recent Oscar wins in 2015 for "Birdman" and in 2016 for "Revenant". The Academy doesn't often give special oscars, with the last being given to Pixar's "Toy Story" over 20 years ago. Many of the special awards are given to visual effects artists throughout the years who have introduced technological innovations that change the way filmmaking can be done and experienced. 

The 6-minute installation can be viewed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) until January 15, 2018. The installation is based on true accounts, and puts audiences in the experience of being a refugee crossing the US-Mexico border. 

You can read more at Variety. 

Mariah Carrillo for NALIP

Dozens of Hollywood’s leading Latino figures, from independent film producers to trailblazing actors, gathered Saturday night to celebrate the milestones achieved within the industry over the past year. The first of its kind since the presidential election, the ceremony not-so-subtly teemed with political references and inspiring communal support.

“I’m going to use this to smash all the walls they build around us,” said The Book of Life director Jorge Gutierrez, referring to his award for Tech Arts Innovator. Gutierrez, among others, praised the recent yet incremental wave of Latino visibility in the media, which he attributes to a stronger generational desire to be represented onscreen.

One of the main honorees, Zoe Saldana, who received the Outstanding Achievement in Film award for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar and Star Trek, among others, gave an emotional speech that silenced an otherwise animated atmosphere, stressing the importance of surpassing race and ethnicity when it comes to talent.

“For any person of color that looks in a TV and doesn’t see a positive reflection of who they are, I want them to feel like they don’t have to be singled out because they're exotic or ethnic, but because they're powerful,” she said.

Along similar lines were remarks made by Kate Del Castillo, who won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Television, as she called out the business for limiting Latina roles to stereotyped or sexualized characters. Castillo’s public decrial of the Mexican government, as well as her controversial correspondence with kingpin El Chapo, notably brokering an interview with Sean Penn in October 2015, placed her under high scrutiny and surveillance, ultimately preventing her from returning to the country.

Despite the outcome, Castillo’s candor and appreciable conviction left no doubt regarding her intentions to continue using her fame and success as a political platform, appearing to broaden her scope of criticism.

“It is no time to be silent; we must fight against any administration that manipulates and tries to distance us all from our humanity,” she said as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Another salient theme throughout the evening was the celebration of a gradual induction of Latino actors into traditionally white-dominated roles. From the beloved butler in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel to the geeky teen in Dope, and now Flash Thompson in Marvel’s up-and-coming Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tony Revolori has been paving a path for young Latino actors by broadening and diversifying casting opportunities.

“I'm playing a traditionally 6'2" blue-eyed white guy, and there's not a single line of exposition in this Marvel movie to explain why that is — and that's amazing,” he said of his new role.

Revolori was awarded the Lupe Ontiveros award, honoring his efforts to expand the character landscape for Latino actors.

Ben Lopez, executive director of NALIP, made note of the same phenomenon across major blockbusters.

“How do you engage an audience that’s typically seen you as the maid, the gangster, the gardener? Now we’re looking at a badass like Zoe battling monsters in space, or Diego Luna as a a rebel leader in Rogue One,” he added, “All doors are starting to open; a woman heroine just saved an entire franchise.”

Check out this article at Hollywoodreporter.com