Latino Film Showcase will be co-produced with Latin Heat Media and Getty Images Hispanic

In an effort to spotlight the next generation of U.S. Latino filmmakers, organizers of Hispanicize 2012 (April 11-13) announced that the third installment of its national trends event will feature a Latino Film Showcase and professional development program. The film showcase (http://film.hispanicizeevent.com) will highlight more than a combined 40 feature length films, documentaries and short films by Latino filmmakers.

“Hispanicize 2012 will be one of the most influential national platforms Latino filmmakers have to nurture and promote their careers,” said Hispanicize 2012 Creative Director and Organizer Manny Ruiz. “Our event will gather so many journalists, Latino blog-gers and other key cultural influencers together around the themes of media, social media, marketing and entertainment that it will provide a natural launch pad for filmmakers to be discovered and recognized.” 

Latin Heat Media and Getty Images Hispanic

The Hispanicize 2012 Latino Film Showcase will be produced in conjunction with the venerable Latin Heat Media, LLC and Getty Images Hispanic, two leading entertainment content platforms.

“Hispanicize 2012 represents a one-of-a-kind, historic opportunity that I believe will greatly enrich the Latino filmmaking community,” said Latin Heat CEO Bel Hernandez. “Latin Heat is working closely with its industry friends and Hispanicize 2012 to ensure this event advances the work of the independent filmmakers, actors and producers that we serve.”

Latin Heat will play a lead role in both the selection of films and in the creation of workshops that helps filmmakers learn about developing content, networking, marketing and funding their projects.

For its part, Getty Images Latin America will play a key role in documenting the entire Hispanicize 2012 event and especially in helping organize the key film premieres and red carpet programs that are planned.

“This is an event whose time has come,” said Monica Taher, partner, Getty Images Hispanic. “We’re excited to provide our national and global news distribution platform to broadcast the people and the works that will be showcased at Hispanicize 2012.” 

Call for Entries

The Hispanicize 2012 Film Showcase will screen feature length films and documentaries in South Florida movie theaters and at the event’s main conference hotel itself, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Miami.

Overseen by film showcase organizer/curator Roman Morales of Austin, Texas, the film showcase part of the event will include content from Latin America but will have a special emphasis on the works of U.S.-based Latino filmmakers. The deadline submission deadline is February 7. The final deadline for film entries is February 21.

Hispanicize 2012 will have a $10,000 prize for the best independent feature film included in the showcase.

The event will have a $5,000 prize for the best short film. Short films selected for Hispanicize 2012 will be screened in a constant rotation format throughout each day of the event at the main hotel venue and will be heavily marketed before and during the program.

Late breaking news and complete film entry details about the Latino Film Showcase are available through the special film microsite of Hispanicize 2012, http://film.hispanicizeevent.com.