True to its mission of year-round support for Latino content creators, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) is following up its recent Media Summit with Latino Media Fest (September 26 and 27), a two-day event in Los Angeles showcasing short films and hosting conversations with industry professionals. This fall fest gives Latinos in entertainment, and their allies, another chance to connect and see what fellow storytellers are doing.
For those in search of concrete guidance on how to break into the business talent, the Emerging Content Creators Workshop, which kicks off the Media Fest, will offer mentorship time with seasoned professionals. Two NBC-sponsored sessions will also take place on Tuesday, September 26, one dedicated to the Talent Development and Inclusion team that’s in charge of finding and nurturing underrepresented voices, and another with Superstore writers Sierra Ornelas and Vanessa Ramos – two success stories now making a difference from within. The panel culminates an advance screening of the show’s upcoming new season.
If you were among the millions that swooned over the adorable LGBT animated short, In a Heartbeat by Esteban Bravo and Beth David, you’ll be pleased to know that NALIP is showing it on the big screen followed by a conversation with The Book of Life director Jorge Gutierrez on Wednesday, September 27 at the AMC Century City. The Master Class will provide an opportunity for aspiring animators to discuss technique with Gutierrez, who is currently working on the LEGO spinoff, Billion Brick Race. The director is a character, as he proved during his speech at this year’s media submit, so any conversation with him is likely to be a riot.
The actual festival part of the program consists of two shorts blocks, one per day, which will feature William D. Caballero’s animated work, Victor & Isolina; Venezuela-set drama, Hijo por Hijo by Juan Avella; and extraterrestrial story, Parallax Effect: Abduction, by Davy Perez, among other works that grant us a glimpse into current US Latino film production.
NALIP’s Latino Media Fest runs September 26 – 27, 2017 in Los Angeles.