2024 Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards
2024 Theme: “Honoring the Contribution Of Mexican-American/Chicana Filmmakers”
MAFTF is more than just the premier festival representing the 40 million Americans of Mexican descent; it's a two-day celebration of our culture and artists. It's where Mexican-American and Latino film & television makers come together to interact, collaborate, network, and find like-minded partners. It's a platform where industry leaders connect with authentic storytellers.
On April 20th and 21st, 2024, the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF), a 501(c)3, held its third annual Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards at the Harmony Gold Theater in Los Angeles.
The Mexican-American Film & Television Festival MAFTF has grown to become the premier Los Angeles Festival which represents the 40 million Americans of Mexican descent. In 2023 it was a sold-out event with over 1000 tickets sold, and an impressive list of talent including Paul Rodriguez, Annie Gonzales, Pepe Serna, Luis Valdez, Moctesuma Esparza and many more. Its focus is projects which depict the Mexican-American community, not with the usual Hollywood stereotype, but the more real-to-life depiction of a community of hardworking Americans who contribute and have contributed endlessly to this country. Astronauts, lawyers, teachers, nurses, doctors, accountants, builders, war heroes and people of every sort whose stories go untold, because a demeaning stereotypical narrative is preferred by Hollywood.
Hollywood has been notorious for erasing Mexican-Americans/Chicanx out of American life for over 100 years. Even stories where Mexican-Americans war heroes are featured e.g; “Hell To Eternity” (1960), Anglo-American actors have portrayed their bravery and never mentioned their Mexican heritage. The perception of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the US is distorted and the media has played a large part in this. Largely portrayed in media through degrading stereotypes such as “bandidos” “criminals”, “the help”, “lazy”, “illegal invaders”, and “uneducated”. Recently, those in political power, including the former president, have legitimized these Mexican-American stereotypes into the American consciousness, with disastrous consequences see throughout the news. No other Latino group has endured such abuse.
Schedule
Saturday April 20th, 2024
11:00-1:00 PM
Father Time
Canta Santiago
We Can’t Breathe
ASI ES LA VIDA
In Wonderland
Shura
Meet Los Parents
1:10-3:35 PM
Estela, Is It You?
Taco Mafia
Razon De Ser: Luis C Garza
El Ronco
The Latina Book Club
3:35-5:40 PM
You, Me & Her
I Just Wish You Told Me
5:40-7:30 PM
Taxi
Physical Therapy
We Missed You
Kiddo
The Kill Floor
7:30-9:30 PM
All The Words But The One (MACEF Grant Recipient) (Adult Content)
Moe
Sunday April 21st, 2024
11 AM - 1:00 PM
Divorce Bait (Adult Content)
Death In Training
1:10-3:00 PM
The Unbroken Sky
Exit Fee
El Paisa
The First Cowboy
El Tesoro
3:00- 4:49 PM
Agueda Martinez
Under The Same Moon
5:00- 6:00 PM Red Carpet
6:00- 7:30 PM Illustrious Awards
7:30-9:00 PM After Party, Drinks & Food
Look Back at Our 2022 Film Festival
Look Back at Our 2023 Film Festival
Our Amazing Judging Panel Judged the Following Categories
BEST FILM
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST SHORT FILM
BEST TV SERIES
BEST MALE ACTOR
BEST FEMALE ACTRESS
BEST SCREENPLAY FOR FILM
BEST SCREENPLAY FOR TV
THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Bel Hernandez for her contribution to improving the image of Mexican-Americans and Latinos in the media.
THE PRESIDENT’S EXEMPLAR AWARD
We honored film producer and oscar winner, Yvett Merino.
Source: Walt Disney Animation Studios
MACEF’S TRAILBLAZING IN WRITING AWARD
We honored playwright, Josefina Lopez.
Source: Desert Sun
MACEF’S TRAILBLAZING IN DIRECTING EXCELLENCE
We honored director, Patricia Riggen.
Retrospective Screenings
Under the Same Moon
PANEL OF JUDGES
Jerry Velasco — Judge
Actor, Producer, Councilman, Activist
Mike Gomez — Judge
Actor, Producer, Activist, Councilman
Enrique Castillo —Judge
Actor/Director
Robert Diaz LeRoy — Judge
Writer & Director
Robert Ruiz — Judge MACEF Secretary
Jose Luis Ruiz — Judge MACEF President, Producer/Director, Author, Cosmetic Dentist
Sid DeLa Cruz — Judge
Composer
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR FILM FESTIVAL BOARD 2023
Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz — President MACEF
Author, Researcher, Activist, Cosmetic Dentist
Bel Hernandez — Programming Director
CEO, Founder and Publisher of Latin Heat Media, Actress, MACEF Advisory Board member
Robert Ruiz — Festival Manager
Human Resources Business Partner
Jerry Velasco — Chair of Judging
Actor, Producer, Councilman, Activist
Mike Gomez — Co-host
Actor & Activist