As the presenting sponsor of the New York International Latino Film Festival since its inception in 1999, HBO® is proud of its continuing role in helping to raise the profile of Latino films, filmmakers and the Latino experience through this celebrated industry forum.
A pre-eminent film event, the NYILFF has dedicated itself to empowering the Latino film community through competition, workshops, music and art showcases, family and community events and scholarships for aspiring filmmakers. We commend the festival on their great success and continued advocacy on behalf of new Latino talent and the development and promotion of Latino and Urban cinema.
As in the past, HBO will have significant presence at this year's festival, first and foremost, through the HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition, a joint partnership that has offered new Latino talent a chance to produce a winning script to film since 2004. This year, we are proud to announce The Acting Lesson, a screenplay by Carmen Peláez, as the 2012 winner. Directed by Peláez and Nicholas Calzada, the short film will be shown at screenings throughout the festival - an exposure rarely given to new filmmakers. In addition, we are presenting a special screening event for the upcoming HBO Latino® drama series Prófugos, the "Cinema Under the Stars" venue at St. Nicholas Park as well as sponsoring "Dominican Night" at Columbia University.
As always, we look forward to all the festivities and hope you enjoy the events that are offered. We also want to extend our best wishes to the NYILFF, with special thanks to Calixto Chinchilla, Elizabeth Gardner, the NYILFF staff and the festival's corporate sponsors for their ongoing support of Latino films.
Enjoy the festival!