Latino Filmmakers Get Awarded $225K to Produce Their Short Films

With Latino stories making up less than 1% of those told by Hollywood, Spotlight Dorado by McDonald’s is showcasing Latino talent and advocating for increased industry representation.

The food giant will award a $75,000 production budget to bring Latino stories to life with the support of renowned industry leaders including acclaimed actress, director, producer and representation advocate Stephanie Beatriz —most recently known for her role as Mirabel in Disney’s Encanto!  From a unique coming-of-age journey to an epic luchador battle and an adventure-filled western story, we’d love for you to learn more about the diverse short film narratives directly from the finalists. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Spotlight Dorado shot film contest: 

• 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.

• The finalists will also get access to mentorship from renowned leaders in film including Director Carlos López Estrada, Showrunner Ilana Peña, Actress Danay Garcia and Writer/Director Nancy C. Mejía. 

• 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.

Stay tuned for more!