Conversations Among “X” Series launches with Focus on the Role of Imagination and Storytelling in Times of Pandemic
Brooklyn, NY — HITN TV announced a series of virtual panels leading up to the premier of the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest. The events include discussions with Latinx content creators in a variety of mediums, as well as visibility and representation of Latinx across the creative spectrum.
These events will be livestreamed on a monthly basis leading up to the Cine Youth Fest to take place Sept. 18 – Oct. 16, 2021. The first panel planned for March 17, is entitled “Imagination in the Time of the Pandemic: Stories by Latinx Creatives” and will feature a panel discussion moderated by writer/director/filmmaker Lorena Russi.
Panelists for the conversation about how the pandemic has shifted art and creativity include:
- Chris Yong-Garcia, Peruvian designer, cultural producer and founder of LatinLover Food & Travel Magazine
- Carmen Febo-San Miguel, executive director of Taller Puertorriqueño, Inc., a Philadelphia organization promoting Puerto Rican arts and culture and empowering the community.
- Kristian Mercado Figueroa, Puerto Rican filmmaker, screenwriter and director.
- Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazon” Diaz, dancer, vocalist and leader within Chicago’s Bomba community.
“By bringing together Latinx creative leaders and practitioners in the arts field, we are showing young filmmakers a path to share their voice, to elevating their visibility in their communities and in the film industry,” said Cynthia Rivera, Director of Festival Operations, Cine Youth Fest. “Representation matters, and we want to empower these youth filmmakers by exposing them to the knowledge and experience gained by other Latinx professionals who’ve achieved success in the arts.”
This first virtual panel, along with the rest of the series of virtual conversations to be held monthly, are designed to support and inspire young creatives leading up to the inaugural ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed from its initial 2020 launch, and will instead take place during the fall of 2021. The new submission period will be July 19 – Aug. 30, 2021.
“During the past year, many of us have spent more time apart and isolated. Through this series of virtual panels and through the Cine Youth Fest, we’re excited to bring people close together again and using technology to continue building a stronger connection within our Latinx creative community,” said Caitlin Agrón, Cine Youth Fest Social Media Strategy & Publishing
The Conversations Among “X” virtual series will be livestreamed across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitch social media channels. For more information about the first event and details about how to join the conversation, visit https://hitn.tv/cyflive/. To learn more about the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest and how to participate or submit a film, visit http://cineyouthfest.org/.
Upcoming events:
April 7, 2021. Evolving Visions of the Future: Stories by Latinx creatives. Participants: Richard Santiago (Artist), Melissa Duprey (Actress), Nydia Castillo (Actress), and Vico Ortiz (Actor).
April 28, 2021. Addressing Latinx Invisibility: A discussion from the trenches. Participants: Adrian Roman (Artist), Dr. Raquel M. Ortiz (Children’s book author), Rhina Valentin (Actress), and Waldo Cabrera (Journalist).
Check the website for a full list of events and dates: cineyouthfest.
The ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest will be presented in collaboration with educational institutions across New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Pennsylvania, Miami and Puerto Rico. A grand prize winner will be selected to receive a cash prize of $5000. An additional student scholarship of $2,000.00 will be awarded to the outstanding work submitted by a student. Additional virtual learning courses will be awarded.
