2022 Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards
2022 Theme: “Honoring the Illustrious Past and Celebrating a Bright Future.”
Look Back at Our 2022 Film Festival
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
THE FOLLOWING THREE MACEF PRODUCTION GRANT RECIPIENTS WERE 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”!
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR FILM FESTIVAL BOARD 2022
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
Jerry Velasco — Chair of Judging
Actor, Producer, Councilman, Activist
PANEL OF JUDGES
Mike Gomez — Judge
Actor, Producer, Activist, Councilman
Enrique Castillo — Judge
Actor/Director Enrique Castillo, (Ugly Little Monkeys, Blood in Blood Out)
Joel Bailey — Judge
EMMY Award recipient, Producer, Writer, Director, Actor
David Damian Figueroa — Judge
Actor, Music & Film Producer, Director
Carolyn Caldera De Fanti — Producer
Film and Television Producer
Jesus Treviño — Judge
Director, Producer & Writer
Dennis Leoni — Judge
Actor, Producer, Writer
Sylvia Morales — Judge
Film Director, Screenwriter, Author, Professor
Bill Virchis — Judge
Producing, Artistic and Theatre Director
