Initiative Made Possible with Support from Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty
LOS ANGELES, June 26, 2024 – Two leading Latino film events, the New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF) and the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), one of the Latino Film Institute’s (LFI) signature programs, today announced an initiative aimed at supporting Latino content creators and their compelling stories for all audiences. Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty program, inspired by the company’s 100-year history of innovation and storytelling, will help fund this initiative, providing grants to support creators’ original projects spanning narrative film, documentaries, and series.
Warner Bros. Discovery will receive first-look rights for all projects selected by the festival organizations as part of this initiative, which will focus on projects with a strong cultural aesthetic that feature Latinos both in front of and behind the camera.
“Through this initiative, we’re offering more than just financial support. This is our commitment to celebrate and amplify the rich, diverse narratives within the Latino community. We look forward to seeing the incredible work that will emerge from this initiative and are excited to support the artistic excellence of talented Latino filmmakers,” said Axel Caballero, CEO of the Latino Film Institute, the parent organization for LALIFF.
“It’s truly thrilling to witness the evolution of our relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery and our collaboration with our friends at LALIFF. With a rich legacy among our organizations, this cooperation speaks to our extensive understanding of cultural moments and commitment to authentic storytelling. The fund is not only groundbreaking but also immensely impactful for our cultural landscape,” said Calixto Chinchilla, NYLFF Founder and Executive Director.
“This initiative aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery’s belief that strong, important stories are waiting to be discovered,” said Dennis Williams, SVP and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Warner Bros. Discovery. “We are thrilled to solidify our relationship with two respected industry organizations—New York Latino Film Festival and LFI’s Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival—and lean into their expertise to identify and elevate exciting projects by up-and-coming content creators.”
ABOUT THE NEW YORK LATINO FILM FESTIVAL (NYLFF)
Since its inception in 1999 by Calixto Chinchilla, the New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF) has solidified its position as the nation’s premier Latino cinematic event. With a core mission to cultivate audiences for Latino cinema, bolster the film community, and facilitate collaborations within the entertainment industry, NYLFF has become a beacon for Latino creatives across various mediums. Its diverse programming encompasses the flagship film festival, the Futuro Digital Conference, and the award-winning marketing arm, AGENCY NYLFF, recognized for its innovative campaigns. For further details, visit www.NYLatinoFilmFestival.com and engage with NYLFF on social media:
- Facebook: @NYLatinoFilm
- Instagram: @NYLatinoFilmFestival
- Twitter: @NYLFF
ABOUT LALIFF
The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) is a premier international event dedicated to showcasing the entirety of human experience from the Latino perspective, whether through film, television, digital, music, art, or any other vehicle, regardless of platform. LALIFF is presented by the Latino Film Institute (LFI). For more information and updates on LALIFF, visit www.laliff.org.
ABOUT LFI
The Latino Film Institute (LFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating infrastructure for equity, diversity, and excellence for the Latino community in the entertainment industry. LFI houses five signature programs: The Youth Cinema Project (YCP), the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), LatinX in Animation (LXiA), LFI Scholar, and LFI Spotlight Series. For more information on LFI, visit www.latinofilm.org.
ABOUT ONEFIFTY
Inspired by the 100-year history of innovation and storytelling at Warner Bros. Discovery, OneFifty supports emerging content creators and elevates stories with social impact by leveraging Warner Bros. Discovery’s artistic and cultural partners and creating new access points for creativity.