Film

Loisaida Cortos Seeks Entries

Loisaida Cortos Latino Film Festival 2007 (LCLFF 2007) will take place on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at La Plaza Cultural, an outdoor community garden in New York’s historic Lower East Side, and organizers are seeking short-film and still-photography submissions for this festival.

Films must be 30 minutes or less, made by, featuring and/or about Latino themes and/or Latino Filmmakers, and be in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or an indigenous language. For submission guidelines and an application, go to www.loisaidacortos.com.

Located at 9th Street and Avenue C (Loisaida Avenue) in the heart of “Alphabet City,” La Plaza Cultural has been the home of the festival since its 2002 inception. A reception and exhibit of inspired and fun-filled art and photography by Latino artists will also feature a live performance by a special musical guest, and of course—salsa dancing! There will also be an after-party at neighborhood bars and restaurants sponsoring the event.

LCLFF is racking up its share of awards and honors: Éramos Pocos (One Too Many) by Borja Cobeaga (LCLFF 2006) was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Hasta La Muerte (Till Death) by Juan Pérez-Fajardo (LCLFF 2005) was nominated for Best Short Film–Animation at Spain’s Goya Awards in 2007.

A comprehensive DVD press kit, designed by 2004 Student Academy Award–winner Robert Castillo, featuring a selection of films and artists from LCLFF 2002–2006, along with information about upcoming events and LCLFF 2007 will be available soon. E-mail info@loisaidacortos.com to request a copy.

March and October 2006’s screening-fundraisers at Agora Loft on W. 34th Street drew hundreds of supporters, helping spread the word to artists, performers, and filmmakers.

Festival co-founders Ellie Diez and Sílvia Mesalles have developed plans to expand LCLFF worldwide. Recent events organized by Mesalles and MonxetaStudio (www.monxeta.com), a cutting-edge visual communications and new-technologies design studio, include the third annual international Loisaida Cortos Barcelona at the Maumau Underground this past May 18. Mesalles will also host the first annual LCLFF Antwerp (Belgium). Plans are underway to expand to university film departments in Latin-American countries and to Latino communities in Europe and Asia.

Gearing up for New York’s sixth annual LCLFF 2007, co-founder Ellie Diez is hosting the first LCLFF Mexico, screening a selection of LCLFF-2006 shorts this summer in Mexico City. Diez is also planning an LCLFF 2007 blast-off party in September featuring performances by spoken-word artist Vanessa Hidary, and special guests, along with selected shorts from LCLFF 2002–2006.

LCLFF is a free community event that takes place annually in a diverse, multicultural neighborhood in New York’s historic Lower East Side. LCLFF gives Latino and Latino-American filmmakers a unique opportunity to have their quality short films professionally screened at an outdoor festival venue, providing the valuable exposure needed to broaden their spectrum of industry opportunities while helping artists and audiences to cross cultural and national borders and find common ground. While LCLFF cultivates its Latino-American audience, its broader mission is to introduce the creativity and artistic contribution of the Latino spirit to non-Latinos, fostering appreciation of the diverse, dynamic Latino culture.

For more information about LCLFF and upcoming events:

www.loisaidacortos.com.