The Mexican-American Film & Television Festival (MAFTF)
PURPOSE
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.
Appointments
Jose-Luis Ruiz President of the First Mexican-American Film and Television Festival
Bel Hernandez President of the Festival Selection Committee, First Mexican-American Film and Television Festival
Moctesuma Esparza President of the Selection Committee of the MACEF Film Tuition Scholarship
Jose-Luis Ruiz President of the Selection Committee of the MACEF Film Production Grant
Jerry Velasco Presiding Judge of the First Mexican-American Film and Television Festival, in charge of judging the film and television entries to receive awards
Research:
The UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2020 shows that film screenplay writers are 89% white, 5.2% Black, 3.0% Asian and 0.7% Latino, and that directors are 84% white, 5.5% Black, 3.4% Asian and 2.7% Latino. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Report 2021 reviewed 126 films and 180 series produced by Netflix in 2018 and 2019, showing great improvement in gender and racial equality with most minorities. Latinos were one of the exceptions, as only 2.6% of all stories had a Latinx lead or co-lead, with similarly low numbers behind the camera.
The 2022 Oscars show that Mexican-Americans are the least represented Latinos, as out of 14 Latinos 4 are Mexican-American/Chicanos, slightly more than 25% of the awards, while Mexican-Americans are almost 70% of all Latinos in the US. And while we are so very proud of our Mexican-American/Chicano nominees, it is distressing that none of the Mexican-American nominated are amongst the most prominent awards, including best actors, that went to other Latinos.
Historical Racism and Intentional Stereotyping Against Mexican-Americans in Hollywood.
Even in stories where Mexican-American war heroes are featured, as in the film 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 U.S. is distorted, and the media has played a large part in this, largely portraying Mexican-Americans through degrading stereotypes, such as bandidos, criminals, the help, lazy, illegal invaders and uneducated. Recently, those in political power, including Donald Trump, have legitimized these Mexican-American stereotypes into the American consciousness, with disastrous consequences seen throughout the news. No other Latino group has endured such abuse.