Ricardo Montalbán presents the Nosotros American Latino Film Festival

July 13, 2006 (PRLEAP.COM) Entertainment News
The premiere event brings together some of the best independent Latino filmmakers in the country and film enthusiast to the epicenter of the entertainment community located at 1615 N. Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90028.

The Nosotros American Latino Film Festival (NALFF) provides a platform to showcase projects created by American Latino filmmakers and will present feature films, documentaries, short films and music videos. The event is integrated with the Latino Entertainment Industry Summit that will host entertainment industry workshops, panel discussions, a high school filmmaker’s showcase, educational programs, and networking receptions with live entertainment.

Each evening will include a gala with celebrity appearances that will bring the entertainment community together. The bi-lingual event is open to the general public and the entertainment industry with the majority of the programs presented in English. The festive event also serves as a fundraiser to benefit various educational programs Nosotros offers throughout the year.

From Los Angeles to New York and Miami and Texas, Central and South America, Latino filmmakers hail from various backgrounds but share one trait, they are Latinos living in the United States. Their films reflect the American experience from their own unique perspective. These individuals stand to make a great impact and contribution to American filmmaking. This film festival provides a platform and gives voice to these otherwise underrepresented filmmakers. By offering resources to filmmakers and presenting educational programs, the festival aims to ensure a Latino presence in the future of American Filmmaking. The English-speaking Latino is also one of the hottest burgeoning markets with more programming geared toward this demographic than ever before, the American Latino has fast become an intensely contested target audience.

For the last 36 years Nosotros, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, has been committed to ensuring equitable representation for Latinos in the entertainment industry. In keeping with the vision of Nosotros founder, Ricardo Montalbán, "to promote the image and employment of Latinos in the entertainment industry," the festival makes this mission a reality.

Call for submissions: NALFF showcases works presented by Latino filmmakers that reside in the United States who have participated in a major role of a production, such as presenting Latino actors in a leading role, projects that speak to issues relevant to American Latinos, represent our Latin culture, or feature Latino filmmakers behind the camera in a position such as writer, director or producer. All submissions must be postmarked by the following dates: Regular Deadline - July 10th / Late Deadline - July 31st.

Nosotros has developed support from many organizations in the entertainment community. This year we would like to thank the following festival sponsors: the Ricardo Montalbán Foundation, Budweiser, Screen Actors Guild, Writers Guild of America, LATV, SiTV, Latin Heat Entertainment, Amarte Design, Summa Media Marketing, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and more…

Information regarding the Nosotros American Latino Film Festival including festival submissions, volunteer opportunities and sponsorships can be found online at: www.Nosotros.org. For festival production contact Festival Directors Shawna Baca (310) 980-8906 or Henry K. Priest (213) 739-3385. Media inquiries may be directed to Summa Media Marketing at (323) 842-0403.

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