Brands like McDonalds have known for years that U.S. Latinos make up a consumer market too large to ignore. According to the 2023 Latino Donor Collaborative study, U.S. Latinos currently represent the 5th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $3.2 trillion dollars a year, a consumer cohort that are brand loyal. That is one of the reasons McDonald’s USA last year launched the Spotlight Dorado Short Film initiative, a multiyear platform that seeks to showcase and advocate for Latino talent in Hollywood, because representation matters.

In it 2nd annual McDonalds once again dives into the captivating world of the latest Spotlight Dorado lineup, showcasing the talents of emerging Latino and Hispanic filmmakers. Cinephiles across the nation will have until Februaty 11th to cast their vote for their favorite short film to be selected from the latest edition of the three films selected to be part of th this year SpotlightDorado.com

This year’s films include Marissa Díaz‘s adventure-filled Mexican standoff, Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation, Kryzz Gautier‘s virtual reality romance, Chimera, and Pablo Riesgo‘s satire sci-fi, Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra. Fans can vote for their favorite film until February 11 to help determine the grand prize winner.

The short films are making their debut amid underrepresentation of Latinos in the entertainment and film industry. Recent findings from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative highlight the issue remains ongoing, both behind the scenes and on-screen. Their latest research study, supported by McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado, reveals that less than 5% of directors from major motion pictures between 2007 and 2022 were Hispanic/Latino. Among this group, only five were women.

Latin Heat had the pleasure of interviewing Marissa Diaz about her entry in this competition, with her short Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation on their show Hollywood Talks.

This disparity goes beyond directors. On-screen, a mere 4.4% of lead or co-lead roles featured Hispanic/Latino actors. This latest research highlights the urgency for a more inclusive film landscape.

By supporting pivotal research and rising storytellers, McDonald’s is helping drive inclusivity while reaffirming its commitment to the diverse communities it serves.

“As part of our commitment to giving back to the diverse communities we call home, we are proud to support opportunities that help drive inclusivity and change,” said Ryan Worthy, Content and Culture Director at McDonald’s USA. “With Spotlight Dorado, McDonald’s has been able to use its scale to amplify pivotal research and create opportunities for Latino and Hispanic storytellers–and the results speak for themselves. We’re so proud of the outstanding talent showcased by this year’s Spotlight Dorado finalists. They have a bright future and we can’t wait to see what else is in store for them.”

Following their selection as the top three finalists last summer, McDonald’s gave the talented filmmakers a combined budget of $225,000 to produce their short films. Each also received personalized mentorship from industry leaders, including Grammy®-winning artist, Golden Globe® and Emmy® nominated actor Anthony Ramos, actress Danay Garcia, comedian, writer, actor, and producer Al Madrigal, director Carlos López Estrada and writer-director Nancy Mejía.

The grand prize winner of this year’s program will be announced in March. For more information on the program, visit www.spotlightdorado.com.

Watch the Spotlight Dorado Short Film Trailers

• Marissa Díaz – Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation
• Kryzz Gautier – Chimera
• Pablo Riesgo – Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra

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