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The Latino Film Fund is proud to announce the 2012 LFF Seed Grant Recipients:

DETAINED IN THE DESERT

Writer/Director: Iliana Sosa

Executive Producer/Writer: Josefina Lopez

“Two people on opposite sides of the immigration debate find each other lost in the desert and discover their humanity and the true plight of migrants crossing the Arizona desert.” This feature narrative is the directorial debut of promising Latina filmmaker Iliana Sosa and is an adaptation of Josefina Lopez’s award-winning original play of the same name.

Project Status: Post-Production

Learn more about this film on the LFF Films page or at the production company’s Official Website.

THE LUCKIEST GUY ALIVE/

THE CAMILO PARDO DOCUMENTARY

Director/Writer/Producer: Mark MacInnis

The Luckiest Guy Alive/The Camilo Pardo Documentary shares the story of the rise of Colombian-American artist-turned-automotive designer Camilo Pardo, whose presence in Motor City has been vital to the design of the Ford GT, and has played a key role in the city’s vibrant art scene. MacInnis is an innovative filmmaker; his first feature documentary is titled URBAN ROOTS.

Project Status: In Production

Learn more about this film on the LFF Films page or join the film’s Facebook page.

AMERICAN DREAMERS

Directors: Jenniffer Castillo & Saray Deiseil

Executive Producers: Castillo, Deiseil, Jon Huertas & Nicholas Stich

American Dreamers is a feature documentary about a group of undocumented youth who are walking across the United States to share their stories and spark a national dialogue on the DREAM Act and it’s potential to alleviate the plight of undocumented youth in the U.S.  This ambitious project is spearheaded by two talented Latina filmmakers.

Project Status: In Production

Learn more about this film on the LFF Films page or at the film’s Official Website.

Congratulations to all of the grant recipients.

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The 2013 call for submissions for the LFF Seed Grant Program will be open in March 2013. Please visit the LFF Seed Grants page for more information and to download an application form at that time.

DOC U POINT OF VIEW

The Latino Influence—From Programming to Audience

Approximately 1 in 6 Americans – 50.5 million – is Latino and they are searching for and consuming content relevant to their interests and experience. A multitude of US Latino focused networks, digital platforms and distribution channels are being expanded and created for this market in Spanish and English.

NBCUniversal and Telemundo, ABC and Univision, Fox and Colombia’s RCN; major networks recognize the opportunities in providing content to the growing U.S. Latino and Hispanic population, including 2^nd generation viewers who want content in English and Spanish. The demand for content is as diverse as the viewership, and includes the spectrum of non-fiction programming, from news, to lifestyle programming, to documentary series.

How can you leverage the opportunities available with this new demand for content?   What stories are programmers seeking, and how does your doc fit into the picture?  How can you incorporate these new outlets into your distribution plan?

Join Moises Velez, IDA Board Member and Peabody award-winning Director of Development & Current Programming for NBC Universal-owned cable network mun2, and a panel of content creators, programmers, and industry influencers, for a discussion of the new programming outlets and how you can participate in the opportunities to be found. Panelists include Luis Ortiz, Managing Director, Latino Public Broadcasting and filmmaker Jennifer Maytorena Taylor (New Muslim Cool, Home Front).

Get your tickets today. Click below to receive the LFF discount to this event. We hope to see you there.

http://doc-u-oct-2012.eventbrite.com/?discount=LFFDOCU

]]> http://www.latinofilmfund.org/home/2012/09/08/the-latino-influence/feed/ 0 http://www.latinofilmfund.org/home/2012/08/15/itvs-diversity-development-fund-due-september-7th/ http://www.latinofilmfund.org/home/2012/08/15/itvs-diversity-development-fund-due-september-7th/#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2012 23:02:59 +0000 LFF http://www.latinofilmfund.org/home/?p=2817 Continue Reading]]>

Calling all Latino American or Latin American filmmakers!

Do you have a film that you want to tell that takes risks and could be well-suited for the television format?

If so, don’t miss this opportunity to learn about another distribution outlet through which you can produce and share your personal screen stories:

This year’s deadline for the Diversity Development Fund (DDF) falls on September 7th.

On Thursday, August 23 at 1PM PT / 4PM ET, ITVS Programming Coordinator N’Jeri Eaton will be taking questions from interested applicants in a live chat on the ITVS Beyond the Box Blog.

The DDF provides up to $15,000 in research and development funding to independent producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. Projects should speak to the ITVS mission to serve underserved audiences with programs that take creative risks, explore complex issues, inspire dialogue and express points of view seldom seen on commercial or public television.

Funded activities may include travel, research, script development, preliminary production for
fundraising/work-in-progress reels, or other early phase activities.

DDF accepts:

• Projects that have not yet begun production
• Programs that can become eligible for ITVS production funding initiatives as single programs of standard broadcast length (half-hour or one-hour). In rare cases ITVS will consider feature-length programs.

DDF does not accept:

• Proposals for completed projects seeking distribution
• Series proposals or fictional dramas
• Projects intended solely for theatrical release

GO TO THE WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

Photo Caption: Screen grab from Waiting For The Revolution (Rodrigo Vazquez, Director; Don Edkins & Mette Heide,Producers); playing on Global Voices now. Learn more about this film.

What does it mean to “Expand the Latino Perspective” and how do I know if my film project qualifies?

All film projects submitted must be “Latino-themed.” “Latino-themed Film” is a term that encompasses the presence of characters, conflicts, plots, environment and settings in Latino cinema that is made available to viewing audiences in commercial, art-house, film festivals and educational environments. Both short and full-length feature films are accepted for consideration.

What types of film projects can apply?

Both narrative and documentary films are considered for the LFF grant program. The projects we seek are well-crafted film projects, which present unique, true-to-life Latino stories. We will consider fictional stories and films about real-life issues taking place in the United States or internationally. Films can be in development, pre-production or production. We request that films have not completed principal photography by the date of the application deadline.

Do I have to be Latino/Hispanic/Latin American to apply?

No. Filmmakers of all ethnic backgrounds are urged to apply; it is not a requirement that the project’s filmmakers be of Latin American descent. Applicants may live abroad. Also, the film project may be produced in the United States or outside of the U.S.A.

What is the application process?

The LFF requires an application process to ensure applicants are committed to the success of the proposed film project. The postmark deadline for the 2012 Seed Grant is Friday, August 3, 2012. Do not wait until the last minute to apply, as the application includes both Written and Visual Materials. The Visual Materials portion of the application is a <1-minute “Video Pitch” that should present one or more of the project’s filmmakers conveying the following: 1. What is the essence of your story and what makes your film Latino? 2. How does your film align with the mission statement of the Latino Film Fund? Because filmmaking is a visual medium, we encourage filmmakers to be as creative as possible when executing the <1-minute “Video Pitch,” as the pitch will be considered an example of the filmmakers’ potential to execute a film project.

How many films will receive a grant and how much is it?

The LFF decides it’s granting amount depending on the pool of projects considered. Granting will be provided to up to two (2) film projects, although in our first grant cycle of 2011, one (1) film received the entirety of the grant of $2,000.00 USD. The amount of the 2012 grant(s) is not finalized but the total grant sum disbursed will be on average at, or slightly above, the total grant sum disbursed in 2011.

What does being a LFF Seed Grant Recipient require?

The LFF only asks Grant Recipients to include the logo of the LFF organization in the closing titles of the completed picture. Otherwise, our financial support of your project is only the beginning of our assistance to you and the successful completion of your film. In addition to providing your film a USD payment, winning projects receive promotion, any development and production-related guidance we can provide, as well as an automatic inclusion into our Fiscal Sponsorship program, if participants request such.

Learn more about the Latino Film Film Seed Grant Program by visiting our <Seed Grants> page, where you may download an application, as well as review <FAQs> to assist you with your application.

Sign up for the event today, and get on the road to completing your film!

http://doc-u-trailer-mechanics.eventbrite.com/

The LOFT Entertainment Boot Camp

The objective of the Entertainment Boot Camp is to expose emerging Latino Leaders (students and young professionals) to the movie making process, from development to distribution. The training workshop will provide participants with a unique opportunity to meet, network, and learn from professionals in the Entertainment Industry. More details regarding the content of the Boot Camp are provided upon your confirmation to the event.

The Latino Film Fund’s CEO S.J. Main will be providing a seminar on Film Finance & Distribution for the event. The other panels of the day will include Pitching (with Octavio Marin/NALIP) & Film Directing (with Carmen Marron of the film ‘Go For It’).

The event is free of charge to participate.

REGISTER to participate at http://bit.ly/yZQ0Xx and submit your resume to resume@loftinstitute.org.
Confirmation of your attendance will follow your registration.

LOFT is a program founded by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Hosts LOFT Institute & USC Latina/o Student Assembly

Questions?

Contact Saray Deiseil LOFT Media Advisor  
or Cynthia Balderas, LOFT Fellow, Public Relations Co-Director  cvbaldera@gmail.com

Read the Full Story on The Huffington Post

The theme of the student film festival is “The World Through My Eyes.” 15 students have entered their films running from 5 to 10 minutes in length. The festival will screen the best 10 movies at the film festival, as well as awards the Top 4 Student Films.

The YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL is the first youth film festival in the East San Gabriel Valley area of California, which encompasses approximately a dozen cities just east of Los Angeles. Hispanics make up the largest ethnic group in the area.

The Film Fest is hosted by a small learning community within the high school called GAMA (Global Action through Media Arts) where students learn how creative technologies can be used to address global issues.

The LFF wants to promote your event that shares with the community the significance of Latino-themed films. Please email us and we will share your event with the LFF Community.

Do you have questions or want to support the YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL in Baldwin Park, CA on April 5th at 6:00pm? Contact the Fest NOW. See you at the fest!