The Los Angeles Latino Film Festival celebrates and mentors young filmmakers
Applause, hoots and cheers were bouncing off the century-old walls at Hollywood’s Egyptian and Chinese Theatres this weekend for the 25th anniversary edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. The prestigious showcase for emerging talent not only screened a multitude of features, shorts and animation made by filmmakers from Spanish-speaking countries, but also offered showcases for music and comedy, gave out awards (Jennifer Lopez took home the Adelante) and provided an opportunity to grow the underrepresented community of Latino filmmakers in Southern California.
Los Angeles Latino Film Festival at the Egyptian TheatreCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Perhaps most importantly for the creators were the continuous sessions on how to write, produce and finance independent films and the copious chances to mingle with peers and mentors at mixers and parties.
Edward James Olmos was among the founders of this first-ever Latino-focused international film festival in the 1990s and remains chairman of the board. The Tony, Emmy and Oscar- nominated actor made a point to mix in the crowd to meet and inspire young filmmakers.
Los Angeles Latino Film Festival at the Egyptian TheatreCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
“He’s a great presence,” says filmmaker Alec Castillo, who screened his short Manatees Strike Back on Friday. “He’s like the uncle, the tio, of the festival.” Sandra Powers, who premiered her animated film Bestias de la Muerte at an industry screening on Thursday says Olmos treats the filmmakers like family. “He’s our godfather,” she says. “He was in the screening room waiting to meet each one of us. The LFI (Latino Film Institute) community is what it is because he has so much love for every single person.”
Los Angeles Latino Film Festival at the Egyptian TheatreCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Directors Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro G. Iñarritu made their debuts at LALIFF before going on to win Academy Awards. “I’ve met so many people through the festival,” Castillo says, “After my first film played I had meetings with every single studio in town. I’ve been able to build some great connections.”
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Winners of the Latino Film Institute Spark Animation Fellowship, sponsored by Netflix, were awarded $30,000 to create their films. “We all got the same amount,” says Powers. “But most of us get more ambitious and find the rest of it.” For Powers, whose wildly stylish film was about love and loss, the funding was only the beginning.
Los Angeles Latino Film Festival at the Egyptian TheatreCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
“It doesn’t feel like a competitive industry festival. They are a community that embraces, elevates, nurtures and supports one another,” Powers says. “I received mentorship from people who wanted me to succeed. They cared so deeply and helped me create the vision that I wanted. The empathy is palpable.”