OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS-GRANTS-MENTORSHIP

provides Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers a venue to showcase, promote and celebrate their beautiful art.

PURPOSE

https://www.mexamcef.org/

For over 100 years, Hollywood has erased Mexican-Americans from American life — millions of American citizens were erased, like they did not exist — or chosen to represent them with distorted, offensive and false narratives, making Mexican-Americans less marketable in Hollywood. Hollywood’s executives have for too long only been interested in Mexican-American actors or filmmakers when drug cartels, gangs, maids or illegals are involved.

Racist Hollywood sees other Latinos and Latino stories as cool, more mainstream and marketable, and Mexican-American actors or stories as the least desirable or marketable. The 2022 Oscars show that Mexican-Americans are the least represented Latinos. Out of 14 Latinos nominated, only four were Mexican-American/Chicanos, making up slightly more than 25% of nominations while Mexican-Americans are almost 70% of all Latinos in the US. Furthermore, it is distressing that none of the Mexican-Americans nominated were amongst the most prominent awards, including best actor, which all went to other Latinos. On stage talent at the awards show similar percentage.

Hollywood continues to minimize our value, so we must take matter into our own hands.

MISSION

The Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards mission is designed to provide Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers, who represent 40 million Americans of Mexican descent, a venue to showcase, promote and celebrate their beautiful art. It is a place that gives movie goers the opportunity to view dozens of films, short films and television pilots, both in person and online, depicting their beautiful people, stories and culture the way they want to see it, away from the stereotypical Hollywood portrait. These films and television shows are made by the best U.S.-based Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers and actors, who understand our unique culture and journey in America and tell authentic stories. It is an opportunity to meet and ask questions for the filmmakers.

It is a place for the Mexican-American/Chicano filmmaking community to network, honor each other, and support and promote each other; a place for Hollywood to see our best filmmakers, as well as talented newcomers, and learn how we Mexican-Americans want our unique culture and people to be represented, as an important part of the American fabric instead of the old stereotypical images.

FILM & TV FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS FOR SCREENING & AWARDS

Criteria for Selection: Filmmakers of any ethnicity with high quality, positive and non-stereotypical Mexican-American/Chicana/o characters or stories are encourage to submit. The primary language of the Films should be English, though any amount of Spanish is ok. It is required that at least one lead character and one primary producer or director be Mexican-American. Stories with universal appeal are most desirable. Documentaries are not accepted at this time.

We are accepting high quality short films, feature films, television and streaming content that demonstrates a more accurate, non-stereotypical depiction of Mexican-Americans, helping educate the community at large about the true history and contribution of Mexicans in America, as well as promoting films made by Mexican-Americans/Chicanas/os with positive and true-to-life stories showing Mexican-Americans as a valuable part of American society!

Films and television shows submitted will be judged and selected for screening and awards by some of the most experienced and successful Mexican-American filmmakers and critics.

SCHOLARSHIPS

https://www.mexamcef.org/scholarships

Consistent with our mission to change the distorted, false narrative about Mexican-Americans, and because films, TV and streaming series have a tremendous impact on the narrative, perception and reputation of our community, MACEF, a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, has chosen to provide support to the Mexican-American filmmaker community with different initiatives, including MACEF’s Filmmaker Tuition Scholarships.

GRANTS

https://www.mexamcef.org/grants

MENTORSHIP

THE MASTERS WORKSHOP SERIES

https://www.mexamcef.org/the-masters-workshop

MACEF’s The Masters Workshop Series: From Film To Career; is a series of Interactive Workshops for a maximum of ten selected filmmakers who are developing a short drama or feature length narrative film project and who wish to receive mentorship and guidance by master filmmakers, to produce higher level projects and develop a sustainable career in the film industry.

FILMMAKER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

https://www.mexamcef.org/filmmaker-mentorship-program

MACEF understands that our initiatives to raise funds for the filmmaker tuition scholarships and filmmaker grants for proof-of-concept short films is not enough to finally build an influential Mexican-American filmmaker community that will be able to represent the 40 million Mexican-Americans (or more than 10% of Americans) and finally tell our stories away from the offensive stereotypical form that Hollywood has chosen for 100 years. The lack of Mexican-American/Chicano filmmaker role models is a huge handicap to young filmmakers. For that reason, MACEF has established the Filmmaker Mentorship Program.

A quarterly lecture/seminar by an acclaimed filmmaker at a classroom setting in Studio City will be followed by an opportunity for 20 chosen young filmmaker students or recent grads to meet and pair seasoned, experienced and successful Mexican-Americans in different areas related to filmmaking. These relationships and the cooperation between them will accelerate their professional growth and provide much-needed role models and community support.

Mexican-American History Makers

https://www.mexamcef.org/mexican-american-history-makers

Spotlight on the “Mexican-American History Makers,” individuals who achieved the highest degrees of success in their respective fields, and have influenced the future of not only Mexican-Americans, but of our entire nation. Their stories of success against many odds through relentless work, inspiration, and in some cases, activism, must be heard and will inspire generations to come. They not only share their stories but also share the secrets which allow them to achieve such success, with the ultimate intention that many people will be inspired to achieve those heights and even higher. Stories may inspire the first Mexican-American female president. A 1-hour live Interview, available for streaming.

PEARLS OF WISDOM VIDEO LIBRARY

https://www.mexamcef.org/pearls-of-wisdom

At the same live event, at least two Mexican-American roles models will share their “Pearls Of Wisdom” for success as well as a “How To” lecture. These highly successful role models share intimate stories and their “Secret Sauce” of how being Mexican-American may have both interfered and ultimately helped them achieve greater success in their respective fields! They will also answer questions and offer mentorship. Each “Pearl of Wisdom” will be a 15-minute speech followed by Q&A.

These lectures cover a variety of business subjects designed for the specific needs of Mexican and Latin American immigrants, as well as Mexican-Americans and other Latinos. They are taught by successful Mexican-American leaders.

Subjects include:

Mexican-American History and Rich Contribution To The US…A Course That Will Inspire Pride and Unity
The 101 Of How To Integrate and Succeed as a New Mexican or Latin American Immigrant in the US
Steps to build a powerful self-steam, as an immigrant and Mexican-American, and why it is the foundation of success