JURY & AWARDS

In 2025 LALIFF brings the following awards:

Best U.S. Live Action Short, Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo

“Beyond (Más Allá)” by Bettina López Mendoza | $4,000 prize
*Oscar^® Qualifying category.

Achievement in Original Music-Driven Film

“Brownsville Bred” by Elaine del Valle

Best U.S. Latina Director of a Live Action Short, Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo

“There’s a Devil Inside Me” by Karina Lomelin Ripper | $4,000 prize

Best U.S. Latino Animated Short Award, Presented by the Latino Film Institute

“No Vacancy” by Miguel Rodrick

Special Jury Mention: “As If the Earth Had Swallowed Them Up” by Natalia León | $4,000 prize
*Oscar^® Qualifying category.

Best U.S. Episodic Short Award, Presented by Disney Entertainment

“Born 2 Lose” by Carlos Cardona | $4,000 prize

LIVE ACTION SHORTS JURY

Joanna Lombardi

Joanna Lombardi studied film at FUC (Argentina). In 2012 she released her first film Casadentro which won the Golden Zenit at the Montreal Film Festival and FIPRESCI International Critics Award. In 2015 she premiered Solos at the IFFR Rotterdam. In 2017 she directed her first commissioned film How to Get Over a Breakup which was a box office success and became the first Peruvian film acquired by Netflix as an Original. Since 2018 she’s Head of Fiction at Movistar for Latin America. In 2023 she directed How to Get Over a Breakup 2 as a Netflix worldwide original.

Kantu Lentz

Kantú Lentz is a writer/director, known for blending bold visuals with emotional depth.

Her award-winning short film Jack and Jo Don’t Want to Die, starring Justin Kirk, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is currently being developed into a feature.

She made her TV directorial debut on Dick Wolf’s Chicago Fire (NBC), followed by multiple episodes of Jerry Bruckheimer’s Fire Country (CBS).

A proud alum of NBC Female Forward, AFI DWW, Sony Pictures Television’s Diverse Directors Program, Viacom’s Emerging Directors Program, and Tribeca/Chanel’s Through Her Lens, Lentz is committed to telling stories that are as visually striking as they are emotionally resonant.

In 2021, Paul Feig tapped her to write and direct a comedic short for Powderkeg’s Fuse series.

On the commercial side, she’s directed for clients like New Balance, Microsoft, Verizon, Ulta Beauty, TUMI, Aveda, L’Oréal, and YouTube Originals—bringing a cinematic flair to every frame.

Lentz is repped by Levity, Verve, and Granderson Des Rochers.

Pedro Paulo Araújo

Pedro Paulo Araújo (b. Fortaleza, Brazil) is a filmmaker whose work explores identity, memory, and transformation through visually striking storytelling. Raised across seven countries, his global perspective informs films that blend documentary and fiction, science and poetry. His shorts—including Blur, The Hidden, and Alheio—have screened internationally and earned recognition from institutions like the Academy of American Poets. In 2019, he co-wrote Junoon, one of Saudi Arabia’s first horror features, which premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival and was later acquired by Netflix. A 2023 Cine Qua Non Lab fellow, Pedro received mentorship from Palme d’Or winner Cristian Mungiu for his script Telegram. With roots in music videos, he’s directed for artists like J Balvin, Prince Royce, and Becky G, amassing billions of views. He now works part-time in film acquisitions at top festivals and recently co-wrote a screenplay with Brazilian actor-director Selton Mello.

ANIMATED SHORTS JURY

Angélica Lares

Producer, communicologist, and cultural manager, Angélica is the Executive Director of Taller del Chucho, an animation studio in Zapopan, Mexico, known for supporting high-quality stop-motion projects, including Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Formerly Director of Industry and Market at the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), she led key initiatives like the Coproduction Meeting and Guadalajara Construye. She has taught and spoken internationally, including at the Gijón and São Paulo film festivals, CONTECT 2021, and Cuba’s EICTV. She has also served as a jury member at SANFIC, Viña del Mar, and DocsMX.

Jeanette Moreno King

Jeanette Moreno King is a supervising director, director, and storyboard artist with a celebrated career in animation. Her credits include Little Demon (FXX), Beavis and Butthead Do The Universe (Paramount), Q-Force (Netflix), and iconic series like Futurama and The Simpsons. She has also contributed to numerous pilots and shows for Warner Bros, Cartoon Network, Disney TV, Adult Swim, and SyFy. A champion of independent animation, Jeanette has judged the Annies and Emmys, recognizing excellence in the field. Now in her second term as President of The Animation Guild, she’s a respected industry leader and dedicated mentor to emerging, underrepresented artists. Jeanette lives in Los Angeles with her spouse, children, and their beloved dogs, Tito and Meatball.

Jennifer del Rey

Jennifer del Rey is a director of creative at Sony Pictures Animation. She began her career in the entertainment industry as a runner and assistant editor at a post-production house, contributing to music videos and national commercials, before going on to support line producers and directors on live-action projects for Netflix, Facebook Watch, and FOX. In 2018, del Rey pivoted toward creative development, joining Sony Pictures Animation as a trainee in the development department and has since risen through the ranks, guided by her passion for storytelling. Throughout her time at Sony Animation, del Rey has played a role in bringing to life a diverse range of projects across the studio’s feature film and series slates.

EPISODIC SHORTS JURY

Adriana Garcia

Bio coming soon.

Aurelio Lopez

Bio coming soon.

Julio Castro

Bio coming soon.

Rafael Garcia

Bio coming soon.

Samantha Militante

Bio coming soon.

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