¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest is calling all emerging Latino filmmaker students

All the way from Brooklyn, New York, ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest is now accepting entries for its fourth annual event, spotlighting the talent of innovative narratives by up-and-coming Latino and Latina filmmaker, ages 16-26.

Presented by HITN, Cine Youth Fest is an online film festival that showcases the work of young and diverse filmmakers. Since 2021, HITN’s annual film festival has amplified the voices of up-and-coming Latino storytellers, artists and filmmakers. 

HITN-TV is a leading Spanish-language media company that offers educational and cultural programming for the whole family. It reaches more than 40 million homes in the United States and Puerto Rico through DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, AT&T TV, DISH Network, Verizon FiOS TV, Charter Spectrum and more.

Despite Latinos accounting for 24 percent of film ticket sales and 29 percent of daily mobile TV viewers, they hold less than five percent of leading on-screen, off-screen and executive leadership roles in US media.

Co-director for the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest, Cynthia Rivera, told CALÓ News why it is important to give young Latinos a spotlight in the film industry. “As much as we go to the movies, we're still not represented accurately in some cases, or as filmmakers, there's not enough of us. And personally, when you look at the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, when you see what the National Hispanic Media Coalition is trying to do, we're trying to go beyond stereotypes, and we're trying to show that we have talent behind the scenes and in front of the screen. So, that includes directors, writers, actors and all that, and we want to see more of that. The percentage is low.”

Rivera said that entries will be accepted via CineYouthFest.org through August 6, 2024, with an early bird discount available until June 4, 2024. The festival will also occur from October 9 to October 16, 2024, closing Hispanic Heritage Month.

Submissions in English or Spanish-language and works of fiction or nonfiction are welcome. Also, filmmakers are asked to submit their work in one of the following categories: Mental Health Awareness, Social Media and Digital Life, Identity and Self-Discovery, Animation, Discovery Shorts.

As of last year 60% of the submissions for the festival were by young female directors. Rivera told CALÓ News that has never happened in previous years. “That made us feel good because that means that things are trying to level up because in the industry also females are underrepresented. There's a low percentage, I believe at the Oscars there has been only three award-winning female directors out of what, 95 years that they've been doing it and it's only been three female directors that have won best director,” she said.

In order for the submission to be accepted, it must include the following criteria. 

● Submissions must feature a Latino/a in a creative lead position in front or behind the camera.

● Films must be 30 minutes or less in length. 

● All film genres, including documentary, drama, animation, comedy, and narrative, are eligible. 

● Only films completed after January 1, 2020, are eligible for this festival. 

● Entries from the United States and Puerto Rico are eligible.

Visit CineYouthFest.org for a complete list of rules and eligibility criteria.

The top selection of films for the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest will be screened on CineYouthFest.org and the HITN GO app. The judges will select three winners from the pool of finalists. The first winner will receive $4,000 for the grand prize, $2,000 for the second winner, and $1,000 for the individual who gets the third prize. Winners will be announced at the end of October on the HITN GO app and the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest website.

As a result of this festival, young creatives have an opportunity to gain exposure and recognition, addressing the underrepresentation of Latino/a perspectives in the film and entertainment industries.

Rivera told CALÓ News that it’s important for filmmakers to embrace their identity and heritage. “Your unique experiences are the key to creating authentic and impactful films. Tell your personal stories boldly. Find mentors and a supportive community to help guide you. Stay resilient through rejection, knowing each 'no' brings you closer to a breakthrough, and never lose sight of why you started this journey,” Rivera said

Also, every year they host an Instagram social media “Cafecito” chat with industry experts and professionals as an educational resource for emerging filmmakers. These chats are announced on their social media page, so stay tuned for their upcoming announcements.