Partner News 9/30/21

Posted by on October 01, 2021

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Check out this week's partner news!

GEORGIA LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Don't forget to get your tickets for the GEORGIA LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL at www.filmfreeway.com/GeorgiaLatinoFilmFestival/tickets. 

"Lights, Camera, Acción" directed by Ben de Jesus Premiered October 5th on PBS!

Lights, Camera, Acción is a celebration of the incredible impact Latinos have made in Hollywood - past, present, and future, with a focus on the exciting new wave of talent that is transforming the industry. The film premieres nationwide on Tuesday, October 5th on PBS, immediately following the broadcast of American Masters: Rita Moreno at 9 p.m.

“Visual media is such a powerful medium. It has the power to change the way we look at the world around us,” says executive producer John Leguizamo. “Ben is on a 24/7 mission to get more of our stories out there because if people are able to see the incredible contributions that Latinx people make and have made to our society, imagine how they would look at our community. And more importantly, imagine how we would look at ourselves.”

Learn more here.

SCREAMFEST 2021

Grab your tickets for three Latinx Directed films, "The Exorcism of God", "Nocturna: Side A – The Great Old Man’s Night", and "The Returned (Los Que Vuelven)"! For more information, check out the SCREAMFEST schedule: https://screamfestla.com/2021/festival-schedule.

Sony Pictures Television Launches 2021 Diverse Directors Program

Courtesy of Deadline

Sony Pictures Television’s 2021 Diverse Directors Program began accepting applicants. The program is part of a strategy by SPT to identify and engage emerging talent. For more information, read here.

MPA, College Outreach Program Launch Program To Boost Diversity In Entertainment Law And Policy

Courtesy of Deadline

 

The Motion Picture Association and the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program have launched the MPA-EICOP Entertainment Law & Policy Fellowship Program to increase diversity in the entertainment and policy sector. The fellowship will be offered to two recent graduates from Historic Black Colleges and University, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Minority Serving Institutions. The application period began today and will run through Dec. 30. Read more here.

Producers Guild Unveils Teams For Inaugural PGA Create; Google Set As Sponsor

Courtesy of Deadline

On Monday, the Producers Guild of America announced th 10 scripted producers and producing teams that will participate in the inaugural PGA Create. PGA Create is a lab for emerging and mid-career creative producers from underrepresented backgrounds. The lab will take place October 25-28 and will be invited to reconvene for the PGA Create Forum, which will be held in June 2022. Read more here.

Sundance Institute to Honor Filmmakers Siân Heder and Questlove With Vanguard Awards

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

The Sundance Institute announced “Coda” filmmaker Siân Heder and “Summer of Soul” musician-turned-filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will each receive the Vanguard Award during the virtual celebration on October 20. The award has been expanded this year to highlight a fiction and nonfiction storyteller “whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence.” Read more here.

How Banijay’s Cris Abrego Went From Logging Tapes to Industry Leader

 

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

Reality TV pioneer, Cris Abrego, producer of unscripted shows like Fox’s “MasterChef” and Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” discussed his beginnings in the industry. Abrego also shared his production plans for the future, including rebooting past shows and an upcoming project with Mo’Nique. Read more here.

WarnerMedia Access Adds Early Career Bootcamp With Focus On Underserved Communities

Courtesy of Deadline

 In an initiative to cultivate the next generation of content creatives and executives from underserved communities, WarnerMedia Access has begun its fellowship opportunity: the WarnerMedia Access Early Career Bootcamp. The fellowship will be a weeklong intensive workshop introducing Hollywood careers to a cohort of 40 participants from the Indigenous, disabled, transgender, and MENASA and other Muslim communities. A total of 10 fellows each were chosen from partner organizations RespectAbility, IllumiNative, Transgender Film Center and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Read more here.

MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau announces 2021 cohort for WarnerMedia Access Early Career Bootcamp

Along with Illuminative, Respectability, and the Transgender Film Center, MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau is honored to be a partner organization for the WarnerMedia Access Early Career Bootcamp.

Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Instagram to recognize five Latinx change-makers with the 2021 #YoSoy Award during the 34th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards

Courtesy of Hispanic Heritage Foundation

 The Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Instagram in a partnership will recognize five Latinx creators during the 34th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards virtual prelude to the PBS broadcast on October 8th. This is the fourth year that the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Instagram have partnered to recognize entrepreneurs, filmmakers, artists, activists, and writers, for their positive and inspiring advocacy work within the community on mental health, body positivity, marginalization, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. To see the list of 2021 #YoSoy Instagram Awardees, read more here.

AMAZON STUDIOS PRESENTS VOICES/VOCES: AN ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATION FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, TAKING PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 30t


 

The virtual event features special guests John Leguizamo, Gloria Calderón-Kellett, Laz Alonso, Congressman Joaquin Castro, and Gina Brillon

 CULVER CITY, California – September 22, 2021 – Amazon Studios today announced Amazon Studios VOICES/VOCES: An Entertainment Celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, a one-day virtual event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and highlighting the many contributions to entertainment from the Latiné community. The event will take place on September 30, 2021 and will include multiple group panels and a set from Puerto Rican comedian Gina Brillion celebrating the richness, diversity and beauty of Latiné communities, and conversations that will dive deep into Latiné representation in film and media over time, as well as celebrate the changing narratives and what is to come. The event will be available to stream on Amazon Live and Amazon Studios DEI Twitch. 

 

Participants include:

  • John Leguizamo, Actor, Writer, Producer

  • Gloria Calderón-Kellett (Showrunner, Executive Producer & Writer, With Love)

  • Yolanda Guillen (Sr. Executive of Casting, Amazon Studios)

  • Laz Alonso (Actor, The Boys)

  • Clayton Davis (Film Awards Editor, Variety)

  • Congressman Joaquin Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus

  • Gina Brillon, Comedian (The Floor is Lava and finalist on America’s Got Talent)

  • Malu Miranda, Producer & Head of Originals Brazil, at Amazon Studios

  • Javiera Balmaceda, Head of Local Originals, Spanish Speaking Latin America at Amazon Studios

  • Lorenza Muñoz, Sr. Global Awards Executive at Amazon Studios

 

This event is a celebration and further discovery of the diverse and powerfully rich culture of 60M+ people living in the United States. Together they represent more than 22 countries that have been labeled as “Hispanic” by the US Census.  Yet there is a lot of complexity in trying to fit this diverse, non-monolithic group under any one label. Many refer to themselves as Latino, others feel more comfortable being referred to as Latinx or Latiné. And many identify themselves through their country of origin i.e., “mexicana”, “puertorriqueño”, “colombiano” or through their indigenous communities including, Bene Xhon’s, Yucatan Mayans, etc. 

 "The Latiné community is comprised of many rich and dynamic cultures with multilayered stories to tell. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re thrilled to present a Voices/Voces event with an esteemed group of creators, performers and community members from the pan-Latin diaspora,” said Latasha Gillespie, Global Head of DEI for Amazon Studios and IMDb. “Our Voices/Voces event aims to entertain, initiate honest dialog, and drive industry change. We think everyone who tunes in will have a great time and be part of some very important and enlightening conversations.”

Amazon Studios’ Voices is about diving deep into entertainment industry data, having honest conversations, and aligning on actions to amplify and cultivate stories from historically excluded story-tellers and creators of races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and religious backgrounds. Each external Voices event dives deep into a community (and their intersections), and highlight data, conversation, and community.  Past Amazon Voices events are available here: https://dei.amazonstudios.com/voices/

Thursday, September 30 Line-Up:

 

9:00-9:07 AM PT | Welcome, Kickoff & Indigenous Land Acknowledgement 

  • Latasha Gillespie, Global Head of DEI, Amazon Studios and IMDb

 

9:07-9:17 AM PT | Lightning talk: Who We Are… Hispanic, Latino, Latiné, Latinx, Afro-Latino, Indigenous,  Understanding the breadth and depth of the community 

  • Speaker: John Leguizamo, Actor, Writer, Producer, Activist

 

9:20-9:45 AM PT | Industry Conversation: Content Across Borders

Conversation with Amazon’s head of Spanish-Speaking Latin American Content, and head of Brazilian Content. Discussing how the originals are resonating in the US and across borders. 

  • Malu Miranda, Producer & Head of Originals Brazil, at Amazon Studios

  • Javiera Balmaceda, Head of Local Originals, Spanish Speaking Latin America at Amazon Studios

  • Lorenza Munoz, Sr. Global Awards Executive at Amazon Studios, Moderator

 

9:48-9:51 AM PT | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Remarks

  • Rep. Joaquin Castro, CHC

 

9:51-10:41 AM  PT | Panel Discussion: Conversation: The Evolution of Latiné Representation on Screen

A candid conversation discussing how Latiné representation has changed over time on screen, in writers rooms, and among creative teams. While some communities have seen increased representation, this panel will dive deep into where the narrative still needs to be improved – particularly around colorism and the inclusion of the afro Latinidad – and how everyone in the industry can work to make change.

  • Gloria Calderón-Kellett (Producer & Writer, With Love, One Day At A Time)

  • Yolanda Guillen (Sr. Executive of Casting, Amazon Studios)

  • Laz Alonso (Actor, The Boys)

  • Clayton Davis (Film Awards Editor, Variety), Moderator

 

10:43-11:00 AM PT | Comedy Set from Gina Brillon

Puerto Rican comedian Gina Brillion brings her hilarious New York-bred stand up style to Voices in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

  • Gina Brillon, Comedian

 

About Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios is the home for talent, creating and producing original films and television series for a global audience. Original series premiere on Amazon Prime Video, which is available in over 240 countries and territories, including the Emmy Award-winning comedies Fleabag, created by and starring Emmy Award-winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel from Emmy Award-winners Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, as well as the action thriller drama Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan starring John Krasinski, the irreverent superhero series The Boys, Greg Daniels’ comedy Upload, and The Underground Railroad, from Academy Award-winner Barry Jenkins. Amazon Originals also include culturally relevant and buzzed about content such as Rihanna’s annual Savage X Fenty music and fashion event. Amazon Studios also produces original content for IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service. Upcoming IMDb TV series from Amazon Studios include the Bosch spin-off series starring Titus Welliver and the Untitled Judge Judy Sheindlin Project.

 

In film, Amazon Studios produces and acquires original movies for theatrical release and exclusively for Amazon Prime Video. Amazon Studios became the first streaming service to win Oscars for Manchester by the Sea and The Salesman. In 2021, Amazon Studios received a record-breaking 12 Academy Award nominations, winning two for Sound of Metal for Best Editing and Best Sound. Recent Amazon original movies include the action-packed thriller Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse starring Michael B. Jordan, the cultural smash hit Coming 2 America starring Eddie Murphy, the Golden Globe-winning comedy Borat Subsequent Moviefilm with Sacha Baron Cohen, the Oscar-winning Sound of Metal starring Riz Ahmed, the family comedy My Spy starring Dave Bautista, Garrett Bradley’s Time, Sylvie’s Love starring Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha, Regina King’s directorial debut One Night in Miami…, and I’m Your Woman starring and produced by Rachel Brosnahan. This summer, upcoming tentpoles include the action-packed sci-fi escape The Tomorrow War starring Chris Pratt.

INCLUSION, INFORMATION, AND INTERSECTION: The truth about connecting with U.S. Latinos

Courtesy of Nielsen

Nielsen released a report looking at today’s U.S. Latino community, its intersectional identities, and how brands can tailor their dialogue with America’s greatest untapped opportunity. Read the report here.