NALIP’s Latino Lens Festival: A Celebration of Filmmakers and Shakers

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) is excited to announce the finalists of the 2021 Latino Lens: Narrative Short Film Incubator For Women Of Color sponsored by Netflix.

The program will work in conjunction with partners to empower content creators with resources, intensive mentorship, and the successful completion of their intended project. Here are the chosen ones.

EUNICE LEVIS with “RO & THE STARDUST” 

Ro and the Stardust follows a teen and her terminally ill grandmother as they build a rocket ship they plan to launch to outer space.

CAROLINE GUO with “FIRECRACKER”

On the night of their first anniversary in Beijing, a young Chinese woman (Annie Wang) is confronted with a life-changing decision: whether she should keep herself and her Asian-American girlfriend (Same Lee) hidden from her traditional family with the upcoming Chinese New Year…or live out her dream as her true self.

ANGELITA MENDOZA with “THE BLUE DRUM”

A grieving woman is tormented by memories of a mother that abandoned her as a child, as she tried to mourn her dead father, who raised her on his own. The house calls for her to discover the secrets kept from her.

EILEEN ALVAREZ with “MAMA RETREAT”

An expectant Latinx mother attends an all-inclusive retreat for mothers in the woods, where all her deepest fears about motherhood are realized.

Aside from keeping track of the project in the incubator, join POSE co-creator, Steven Canals, who we interviewed in The Q Agenda, and inclusion strategist, Anita Ortiz, for a discussion on building the creative pipeline for Latinx and BIPOC talent, on and off screen.

How can successful creatives work together to uplift diverse voices and pave the way for the next generation? What’s the best way for new Latinx and BIPOC creatives to enter the entertainment industry and establish their careers? This conversation will cover all this and more, in an effort to demystify the creative pipeline and encourage the inclusion of Latinx and BIPOC talent in every facet of the industry.

Also, did you know that recent media studies show that a large majority of audiences are watching foreign language properties, like Elite and La Casa de Papel, which have become tremendously popular with Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking viewers alike. Join executives from top companies creating Spanish and English-language content for an in depth discussion on the development of bilingual media.

That and many other things – make sure you join them!