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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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 .

McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado, a multi-year platform created to uplift and amplify Latino voices across different industries, kicked off in April with an open call for all U.S.-based Latino writers, directors and producers to submit their screenplays. Finalists were announced at a celebratory event in LA where acclaimed actress, director, producer, and representation advocate Stephanie Beatriz surprised them with the news, positioning them in the running of being named the grand-prize winner.

“It’s been a long journey for Latino representation on and off-screen, but the creativity, passion and top-notch quality of the three finalist short film narratives fill me with hope for the future,” said Stephanie Beatriz, best known for her role as ‘Mirabel’ in Disney’s Academy Award-winning film, Encanto. “While there’s still work to be done, programs like McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado are essential to support talented creatives and give them the tools they need to bring their stories to life.”

The three finalists were selected by a panel of industry leaders based on criteria across all aspects of filmmaking, including originality, direction, writing, cinematography, and production value, to name a few. Bringing the program full circle, the finalists will also get access to mentorship from renowned leaders in film including Stephanie Beatriz, Director Carlos López Estrada, Showrunner Ilana Peña, Actress Danay Garcia and Writer/Director Nancy C. Mejía.

Meet the Spotlight Dorado finalists

Jazmin Aguilar is a writer and director from South Gate, CA. Her short film The Letter played at numerous Academy Award/BAFTA qualifying festivals and was eventually licensed by HBO in 2020. Aguilar has been recognized as Best Director at the Young Entertainer Awards, and the Official Latino Film Festival. She was also a recipient of NALIP’s Emerging Creator Scholarship.

Jesus Celaya is a Mexican American writer and director who grew up between Washington State and the border state Sonora, Mexico. Celaya studied film at the Brooks Institute in L.A. Since then, he has won various awards, including a Latinx Fellowship at the 2020 Screenwriters and Directors Labs.

Lorena Russi is a queer professional soccer player turned comedian, filmmaker, and educator. Originally from Queens, she recently wrote and performed in HBO’s PAUSE with Sam Jay. In the past, she has been a writer for Spotify and PBS, in addition to writing and producing for the digital team at “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” on CBS.

The finalist short films will debut in November on spotlightdorado.com. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite short film and help determine the grand-prize winner. The winner will be given a year-long opportunity to work with McDonald’s USA in 2023 on future creative initiatives and campaigns and will receive industry-standard creative software subscription services.

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