Presented by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), the annual NALIP Media Summit is designed to give Latino content creators the tools they need to succeed with panels, keynotes, and plenty of networking opportunities. During last year’s gathering, we got to witness a hilarious chat between cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz and comedian Al Madrigal; were one of the first to see Rita Moreno steal the show in Netflix’s One Day at a Time; and even got tips from Latinos working in digital spaces on how to get your work out into the world for all to see. For those eager to break into the entertainment industry and hoping to make the kind of connections great filmmaking careers are made of, the NALIP Media Summit is the place to be.
As part of this year’s program, our very own Film editor, Vanessa Erazo, will be moderating the “Critical Voices: The Importance of Film Critics of Color” panel on Friday, June 23. As its title suggests, the conversation will tackle why it’s key that we don’t restrict the diversity conversation to only actors and filmmakers. Critics of color, after all, have plenty to offer when it comes to framing discussions of media production and consumption. From the official description: “The panel will feature critics of color who will speak on why they’re uniquely positioned to write about issues of diversity, and how their point of view is vital to criticism. Filmmakers will learn who and how to pitch to increase media awareness of their diverse projects, and movie fans will come away with an understanding of why the field of criticism desperately needs a shakeup.”
Joining Vanessa are Mexican-born, LA-based film critic (and Remezcla contributor) Carlos Aguilar, consultant and digital entrepreneur Jocelyn “Joz” Wang, film journalist Carla Renata, and co-founder/president of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), Gil Robertson. It promises to be a lively conversation you won’t want to miss.
The 2017 NALIP Media Summit takes place at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles June 22-25, 2017. To purchase your Media Summit pass, click here.