2022 Film Festival | Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation

2022 Theme: “Honoring the Illustrious Past and Celebrating a Bright Future.”

On May 14-15, 2022, the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF), a 501 (c)3, celebrated the Inaugural Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards at the historic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.

The Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards mission is to provide Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers, who represent 40 million Americans of Mexican decent, a venue to showcase, promote and celebrate their beautiful art. A place for the Mexican-American/Chicano filmmaking community to network, honor each other, 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.

Our Amazing Judging Panel

To maintain high-quality, films and television projects submitted will be judged by some of the most experienced and successful Mexican-American filmmakers and critics. In 2022, judges will include actor, producer and publicist Bel Hernandez, who serves as our program director; actor and producer Jerry Velasco, who serves as our juror chair; director Jesus Trevino; director, producer and agent Carolyn Caldera De Fanti; show runner Dennis Leoni; producer David Damian Figueroa; director Joel Bailey; director and producer Sylvia Morales; producer William Virchis; actor Mike Gomez, and many more.

Representatives from film studios, film distributors and financial institutions will be present, providing an excellent opportunity for filmmakers to make an impression.

The Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards will be a first-class, star-studded red carpet event to celebrate and promote Mexican-American/Chicano films, television, celebrities and filmmakers, a place to be seen by some of the major players in the industry and influential leaders. On May 15, at 7 p.m., the festival will celebrate its Award Ceremony, with eight categories receiving the “Mexican-American Illustrious Awards,” in honor of our illustrious Mexican cultural heritage. One notoriously stereotypical scene in a movie or TV show will also receive the “La Chancla Award,” which denounces tired old stereotypical depictions of Mexican-Americans.

It was an unforgettable night of celebration for Mexican-Americans in Hollywood!
Check out LatinHeat’s overview of the festival.

‘Love & Baseball’ Wins Best Feature at The Mexican-American Film & TV Festival – Latin Heat

Schedule

On May 14 and 15, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., we screened amazing new films, short films and TV pilots produced and performed by Mexican-American filmmakers and actors. The screening was both, live in person and virtual.

Full Schedule of Screening Films

In accordance with our theme, on Saturday, May 14, at 6 p.m., we screened “Luminarias”. Jose Luis Valenzuela (Director), Sal Lopez (Producer), Evelina Fernandez (Andrea), Scott Bakula (Joseph), Seidy Lopez (Cindy), Marta Du Bois (Sofia), Dayana Ortelli (Irene), Angela Moya (Lilly), Robert Beltran (Joe) and Cheech Marin (Jesus). This film about four professional women who meet at an East Los Angeles restaurant called Luminarias and share secrets about their careers, love and family. After the screening, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a Q&A session with some of the cast, the director and the producer of this groundbreaking movie.

On Sunday, May 15, at 4 p.m., was the screening of a Library of Congress honored movie, “Walkout,” directed by Edward James Olmos, produced by Moctezuma Esparza and Robert Katz, and starring Alexa Vega, Efren Ramirez, Michael Peña and Tonantzin Esparza. This film is about a teacher who becomes a mentor to Chicano high school students protesting injustices in schools in 1968. After the screening, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a Q&A session with some of the cast, the director and the producer of this groundbreaking movie.

The Following Three MACEF Production Grant Recipients Will Be Screened

Borders
Director: Frank Velasquez
Producer: Marina Coutinho
Cast: Daniel Mora, Michael G. Martinez
Grant Donor: La Plaza EAI

IN TOW
Director: Sharon Arteaga
Producer: Sommer Garcia Saqr, Chelsea Hernandez
Cast: Sandy Avila, Katy Atkinson, Alec Franco
Grant Donor: Dr. Maria Elena Rodriguez

íBACA THE KID!
Director: Antonio Marquez
Grant Donor: Vasquez Company LLP

The Illustrious Awards

BEST FILM – LOVE & BASEBALL – DIRECTED BY: STEVE ACEVEDO
BEST DIRECTOR – ANDREW GUTIERREZ FOR “PAZ”
BEST SHORT FILM – “IN BROAD DAYLIGHT” DIRECTED BY: ALEX FERRUFINO
BEST TV SERIES: “THE KING OF DOWNEY” DIRECTED BY: MOSES MEDINA
BEST MALE ACTOR – MAX ARCINIEGA FOR “LOVE & BASEBALL”
BEST FEMALE ACTRESS – BLANCA ORDAZ FOR “DEATH & DEATHABILITY”
BEST SCREENPLAY FOR FILM – “THEY CALL US SEDICIOSOS” BY IZ GUTIERREZ
BEST SCREENPLAY FOR TV – “GHETTOBUSTERS” BY FREDDY FALCON & DANNY SAUCEDA

The Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Moctesuma Esparza in recognition of his contributions to improve the lives & image of Mexican-Americans & All Latinos in film.

Thank you Moctesuma for all you do!

The President’s Award

MACEF honored Antonia Hernandez, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation, Mexican-American Activist and Philanthropist, with the MACEF President’s Award. For her tireless work for social justice for our community! Thank you Antonia!

La Chancla Award

The “winners” of La Chancla Award were announced at the Mexican American Film and TV Festival on May 15th at Raleigh Studios. This Award is in fact a denouncement to films, TV shows or segments in them which continues to use tired and offensive old stereotypical depictions of Mexican-Americans/Chicanas/os.

The first Chancla Award went the movie Knives Out where the characters are belittling Mexican-immigrant and comparing them to the “better” Latinos. ATT/Warner Media/Discovery received the Chancla Award for not adding Latinos to their newly created corporate that does include Asian and Blacks yet Latinos are the largest minority in the U.S.

The third Chancla Award recipients this year are SNL, Selena Gomez & Melissa Villaseñor for an offensive and unfunny depiction of a Pico Rivera “Cholas”. This sketch portrays an antiquated and ignorant view of a Latina subculture. We invite you to consider the consequences of your irresponsible portrayal of people who for far too long, have been depicted as ignorant in media, SNL you get a “Chancla Award”!