Submission Deadline: Until January 15

The Mexican-American Cultural Foundation, a U.S. based non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the Latino image in film and and television, will hold the 4th Edition of the Mexican-American Film and Television Festival  & Awards (MAFTF)  Saturday, April 19th and Sunday 20th, 2025, returning to its homebase at the Harmony Gold Theater in the heart of Hollywood. 

Filmmakers wishing to showcase their work at MAFTF are invited to submit now through our website  (www.MAFTF.org) where they can also find submission requirements. The final deadline for  submission is January 15^th , 2025. 

This year MAFTF continues its mission of amplifying the voices of Chicano/Mexican-American filmmakers with its theme Bridging Generations By Our Shared Roots: Somos De  Aquí Y Somos De Allá, which furthers their mission. The aim is to bridge the diverse experiences of Mexican born filmmakers and the Mexican-American/Chicano-born filmmakers, in an effort to showcase the nuanced difference and similarities which will foster communication, cultural awareness, and  shared identity through their projects.

The reality is, being Mexican-American fosters an opportunity to benefit from two rich cultures, shared experiences, and access to more perspectives that differ from one single  culture mindset. We are united, fierce, and resilient. 

MAFTF is a two day event with screenings of short films, features, and television content, culminating with the yearly Illustrious Award ceremony on April 20, 2025.  

“As we proudly announce the 2025 edition of the Mexican-American Film and Television Festival, I am reminded of the incredible success of our past three editions,” said MAFTF Director Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz. “However, I am  also aware that despite our shared heritage, filmmakers from Mexico and  Chicano/Mexican-American filmmakers have not always collaborated as closely as we could. This year’s festival theme is a call to action – a reminder that by working together,  we can amplify our voices, share our stories, and celebrate our rich cultural diversity.

Dr. Ruiz, adds, “I am  excited to see the amazing work that will emerge from this collaboration and I invite all  filmmakers to join us on this journey.” 

MAFTF enlists a panel of judges consisting of Hollywood industry professionals who will be judging the submissions in the following categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Short Film, Best TV Series, Best Male Actor, Best  Female Actress, Best Screenplay For Film, and Best Screenplay For TV.  

Our Illustrious awards honor Industry leaders and honor those in the industry pushing to change the narrative and how they go  above and beyond. Our past honorees have included producer Yvett Merino (Encanto), directors Patricia Riggen (G20, Miracles from Heaven), Writer/Director Luis Valdez (La Bamba/Zoot Suit), Frank Rodriguez, Head of Distribution at Amazon (MGM), and Producer Moctesuma Esparza (Selena).

Tickets will be available for purchase in early 2025.  Check our website at www.MAFTF.org

The post 4th Edition of The Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards April 26 – 27, 2025 at Harmony Gold first appeared on .

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

The post McDonalds Spotlight Dorado Emerging Latine Filmmakers: Cast Your Vote by Feb. 11th first appeared on .

Get ready to vote for the latest short films from emerging Latino and Hispanic filmmakers in the Spotlight Dorado lineup. Starting today, you can check out three diverse projects from the latest edition of the short film contest at SpotlightDorado.com. The films include Marissa Díaz‘s action-packed “Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation,” Kryzz Gautier‘s virtual reality romance, “Chimera,” and Pablo Riesgo‘s satire sci-fi, “Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra.” Voting for your favorite film is open until February 11 to help determine the grand prize winner.

The short films are launching at a time when there’s a notable lack of representation for Latinos and Hispanics in the entertainment and film industry. Recent research from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, supported by McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado, reveals that less than 5% of directors of major motion pictures from 2007 to 2022 were Hispanic/Latino. Among them, only five were women.

This inequality extends beyond directors, with a mere 4.4% of lead or co-lead roles featuring Hispanic/Latino actors. This research underscores the pressing need for a more inclusive film landscape.

McDonald’s is addressing this issue by supporting important research and upcoming storytellers, contributing to inclusivity and demonstrating its commitment to diverse communities.

Ryan Worthy, Content and Culture Director at McDonald’s USA, stated, “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. With Spotlight Dorado, McDonald’s has been able to use its scale to amplify pivotal research and create opportunities for Latino and Hispanic storytellers. We’re proud of the outstanding talent showcased by this year’s Spotlight Dorado finalists, and we look forward to seeing what else is in store for them.”

After being selected as the top three finalists last summer, McDonald’s provided the filmmakers with a combined budget of $225,000 to produce their short films. Each filmmaker 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, and to cast your vote visit www.spotlightdorado.com.

The post McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado Champions Hispanic Representation in Film by Unveiling Top Three Finalist Short Films first appeared on .

HBO today announced three short films they have selected from the 2019 Official Latino Film and Arts Festival (OLFAF) alumni to license for exhibition on the HBO distribution platforms. In line with HBO’s ongoing commitment to deliver compelling and culturally relevant programming to the U.S. Latinx audience, this partnership with the 2019 OLFAF will support the festival’s mission of showcasing, nurturing and supporting emerging creative U.S. Latinx filmmakers, as well as support culturally inclusive films and filmmakers that represent true American diversity.

The finalists were selected from hundreds of submissions and were judged by the OLFAF, in partnership with the HBO Latino team in order to find the most unique stories out there. The three winning films touched on the themes of incarceration, coming of age and the love we have for our mothers. The short films selected for distribution are Slipping into Darkness  (directed by Alex Ferrufino, written by David Mansanalez), The Serenade (directed by Adelina Anthony, written by Ernesto Javier Martinez), and Pepito (directed by Eman Esfandi, written by Isaac Garza).

HBO will debut the films on its on-demand and digital platforms (including HBO NOW®, HBO GO®, HBO On Demand® and partners’ streaming platforms) and on HBO Latino starting on April 3, 2020.

“At a time when the most personal stories are also the most universal, the diversity of our storytellers is more important than ever,” stated Jackie Gagne, VP Multicultural Marketing at HBO. “This competition is designed to celebrate emerging creative U.S. Latinx filmmakers and their unique experiences and unsung talent that exist within the Latinx community”

Here is a highlight reel of the winning filmmakers on being selected:

Below is an overview of the selected films and filmmakers:

SLIPPING INTO DARKNESS
Trailer HERE

Follows a young Mexican American named Juanito, who is struggling to provide for his family and not follow in his incarcerated father’s footsteps. His life changes dramatically when a friend is released from prison, stirring up old bad habits. Jay is presented with a choice that could devastate his entire life. This film was created to empower the Latino community and to break the cycle of generational incarceration.

About the Director: Alex Ferrufino is of Mexican and Honduran descent, raised in Los Angeles. He has always been a talented visual artist but the heavy gang culture and violence in his neighborhood made it difficult for him to believe that storytelling could be a viable career. After witnessing the killing of his friend at the age of sixteen, he made the choice to put all of his time and energy into honing his abilities as a filmmaker. He feels he has a responsibility to tell stories that speak truth to the rough realities of his communities and hopes his stories give inspiration to young men and women who can relate.

About the writer: David Mansanalez was born and raised in Northern Californian. As a young adult, David joined the U.S. Army. After a rough 18-month tour in Afghanistan, he attended film school where he focused on writing scripts to express his thoughts and cope with his severe PTSD. Mansanalez writes to bring an authentic reality to the screen and aspires to give his people a voice and change the narrative of what the American culture perceives Latino content to be.

THE SERENADE
Trailer HERE

Tells the story of a Mexican American boy, Luis, who learns from his parents about the tradition of serenading, and why demonstrating romantic affection proudly, publicly, and through song is a treasured Mexican custom. One day, the boy asks his parents if there is a song for a boy who loves a boy. The parents, initially surprised by the question and unsure of how to answer, must decide how to honor their son and how to reimagine a beloved tradition.

About the Director: Originally from San Antonio, Tejas, Adelina Anthony is a critically acclaimed Two Spirit Xicana Lesbiana actor-writer-director-producer in film and theater. In 2012, along with Marisa Becerra, she co-founded AdeRisa Productions. Most recently, at the end of 2019, AdeRisa Productions helped to produce Ro & Shirelle, a transgender comedy written by D’Lo, directed by Adelina and starring D’Lo and Shakina Nayfack.  She is a former fellow of Film Independent’s Project Involve and the Sundance Screenwriters Intensive.

About the Writer: Born and raised in East Oakland, Ernesto Javier Martínez is an award-winning queer Chicano/Puerto Rican writer and educator. He studied literature at Stanford and Cornell, and currently teaches at the University of Oregon. His work, both academic and artistic, explores how racially and sexually marginalized communities use literature and art to produce knowledge about their lives.


PEPITO
Trailer HERE

An absurdist dramedy about a mother who wants to hold on to the image of her little boy, even though he’s all grown up. One day, while visiting his mother, Pepito is forced to go to confession. On their way there they argue, they have run-ins with quirky church-goer personalities, nuns, and eventually, Pepito enters the confessional where he has a panic attack. This mother-son relationship is going through an identity crisis. Pepito must confront his mother, and his mother must say goodbye to her little boy. This universal story is a love letter to mothers everywhere, told through the lens of the Latino experience.

About the Director: Eman Esfandi is an American actor and filmmaker from the border town of Laredo, Texas. His mother immigrated to America from Ecuador and his father from Iran. He was raised in a household with two distinct cultures, and a town that is homogeneously Hispanic. These different perspectives have influenced heavily the way he approaches the characters he portrays and the films he makes. He wants to share the truths of being raised Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and American to emphasize how similar we can all be, while honoring how rich and unique each culture and their people are.

About the Writer: Isaac Garza is a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas who was born and raised in the border town of Laredo, Texas where he was a trumpet player in a mariachi band, played tennis competitively, and worked at his parents’ toy store. After receiving his journalism degree from Texas State University, he moved to Austin where he continues to pursue film and comedy and create

The post HBO Announces Winners Of Latinx Short Film Competition first appeared on .