00:00What was the biggest challenge programming the festival, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival this year?
00:09Yeah, I think that definitely something that is very challenging is not being able to include every film that you
00:16love.
00:17During the days of programming, we're always very, you know, like even become excited about the possibility of making the
00:24festival longer.
00:25Right now that we're in production, we are very happy with how like long our festival is.
00:31But yes, you know, like I the entire programming comedy of the festival really loves film, you know, and audiovisual
00:41content.
00:42So definitely sometimes we are forced to leave out some films that we think would be great to have at
00:49the festival.
00:49So I would say that's the biggest challenge. And I think also always being able to position the films in
00:56the way you want it.
00:57Like which one is your opening night film? Which one is your centerpiece? Which one is your closing night?
01:03Because definitely those kind of like give kind of like an overview of what the rest of the of the
01:12festival is bringing.
01:14So I find that challenging, but at the same time exciting.
01:17And when you are programming a film festival, what are you looking for?
01:26We're looking, I mean, like I know this sounds sometimes cliche and as if you're really not saying much,
01:34but definitely this idea of finding unique voices and finding films and content that speaks to people from the heart,
01:46from like a very genuine place, it's something that it's difficult to kind of like point at when you're like
01:55explaining it.
01:56But when you see something, you can absolutely feel it.
02:00I think it's also we try to be relevant with like the times because film festivals are a very important
02:09part of the entire ecosystem of the industry.
02:12And they also have this very unique way to engage audiences in conversation.
02:19So we are looking for films that speak to each other in a way that shows kind of like where
02:27we are at as humanity.
02:28And by that, I don't mean we have a focus just, let's say, on documentaries that are very literally speaking
02:37about issues, which we have some of those.
02:41But you can also get a sense of the times we're living by the comedies that we make, by the
02:46horror that we make.
02:48So that is definitely something that we're looking for when programming for a festival, creating a dialogue between all these
02:57films to give this opportunity for audiences to engage with cinema, regardless of where they're coming from.
03:09With over 30 red carpets in just four days, how do you maintain your sanity during the festival?
03:20We drink a lot of water, we drink a lot of water, we try to stay hydrated, we have a
03:26few changes of shoes so that you can run around, which like for real, that is very important to keep
03:34in mind, especially after you do it for so many years.
03:36And after, you know, like the first festivals, you end up, you know, like sick and because it's so intense,
03:44but it's just such a nurturing environment.
03:49Because as much as we're working so hard, when you see the talent on the red carpets, or when you're
03:57walking around and you hear people coming out of the screenings, talking about their experience with the films, that already
04:06makes it all very worth it.
04:07And it just like fuels you, you know, like it gives you this energy to continue, because there's so, there's
04:16so much happening is one of these like, beautiful chaos, right?
04:21Like the or these chaos that operate very well, because you just see people running around, going from one film
04:27to the other, or trying to catch the photo or trying to catch the panel.
04:33And in that, you can feel the energy of people and how they are enjoying and also gaining so much
04:45from an event that our team puts together.
04:48So that already, you know, like makes it very exciting, and it gives you enough adrenaline to be there and
04:56enjoying it as much as you're suffering through it, you're also enjoying it a lot.
05:02Speaking of excitement, what excites you the most, personally, about this edition?
05:11Well, the fact that it's like the 25th edition is super exciting.
05:16Not only because, you know, like it makes me feel very honored and very proud of being part of a
05:23team that's been able to work for all this time to keep, you know, like, to maintain an event
05:32and an organization that it's so important for our community and not only for the Latinos in LA, but also
05:41for the wider, you know, like LA audience.
05:44But also because when you're part of an organization that's reached that, like that type of milestone, it definitely pushes
05:55you to think towards the future.
05:59So being part of that conversation, offering, you know, like, or having this option to be part of a group
06:12of people who are thinking about how are we looking at the future makes it very important.
06:18And I think it's very exciting and very unique about this edition.
06:22And that has fully, you know, like that vision towards the future is put together, you know, like it's shown
06:31through the selection of films.
06:33Like we were very conscious of this as we were selecting films, but also as we were planning the panels,
06:41the master classes, who are the speakers?
06:44Who are we inviting here to share their experience, their voice, their knowledge with our audience?
06:52I think that makes it like very exciting for like this particular year.
06:58I'm very unique from any other editions of the festival.
07:02And from your perspective, how is Latino storytelling evolving globally?
07:10Oh, I think Latino storytelling is one of the most exciting, you know, like industries right now.
07:18I get the opportunity to see a lot of like the both like what is being produced by Latinos in
07:26Latino America, but also what's being produced by Latinos in the diaspora, in the U.S. and in other parts
07:33of the world.
07:33And what I feel is that the complexity of our, the complexity and richness of our like culture and our
07:44cultural identity translates into very strong cinema and very strong television.
07:52I feel that something that you can, that is very palpable is that, you know, like there's this perception that
08:00because you're Latino, you're going to be telling these Latino stories, you know, and Latino stories understood from an exoticized
08:07perspective or, you know, like from like kind of like a flattened perspective.
08:11And in reality, what I see in the evolution of Latino cinema is that our stories are rich, different, complex,
08:20told from so many different angles.
08:22I think we are at a time when our use of the language of like the language of film and
08:28the language of television is very sophisticated.
08:31How important is for you for this edition, for example, we will have Omar Chaparro, Guillermo del Toro, Eugenio Derbez.
08:42Those are big names, everyone knows, but also to have artists that they probably, this festival will be their platform
08:52where they can show their work.
08:55How important is for you?
08:57That's fundamental, you know, and definitely like the, that is the beauty of it, right?
09:04Like the fact that we have these big names, these very recognized stars who we admire and like their work
09:12so much.
09:14The fact that they're present at the festival makes this a bigger platform for these new voices.
09:20But most of the festival is in reality, new voices and, and, you know, and like filmmakers and talent coming
09:30here either for the first time or people with very established careers whose names are not necessarily recognized in like
09:40the trades or for, you know, like in a more commercial way or in a larger way.
09:46But who have like incredible bodies of work, something that I, that I really enjoy throughout the process is precisely
09:55this combination of some films that have this like more, like, like wider appeal.
10:02That speak to films that speak to films that speak to films that are coming from the more like film,
10:08international film festival buzz, a critically acclaimed and, you know, like with great responses for audiences, but are very different
10:18audiences.
10:19Or the films that are the films that are the films that are the films that we're like presenting their
10:23world premieres.
10:24This is the first time they are being seen by anybody.
10:29So the fact that, you know, like we're like that, that in film festivals, you're able to put all of
10:35this work to, to be shown, it really opens doors for new filmmakers, new generations.
10:44And it's very important because we are the ones who bring new perspectives to audiences.
10:53It's always so gratifying when, you know, like when you talk to an audience member, people who not necessarily are
11:02part of the industry, but who enjoy film or who enjoy television.
11:05And they come to the festival and they discover a talent that they have never seen in their lives and
11:11they're like, wow, this, I, I absolutely love how these women acted in this film, or I really love how
11:19this director, this, this or that.
11:22So we are really offering new things, exciting things.
11:26And I think that's very valuable.
11:29And I think that's very valuable.
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