HITN continues its efforts to engage middle school students in celebrating Puerto Rican Heritage Month through Cortitos, a national short-film contest.

This year’s winning entry, a co-directed short film from students at Esperanza Academy Charter Middle School in Philadelphia, highlights the achievements of one this year’s honoree, Ángel Luis Ortiz Rivera. The film was written and produced by Arianna I. Carias and Daneishka Estrella, and guided by their teacher, Dwight Wilkins.

“The Cortitos National Middle School Contest gives our students a fantastic chance to learn about influential Puerto Rican figures while expressing themselves through filmmaking,” said Wilkins. “I’m extremely proud of the work our students have produced over the last two years.”

The Cortitos contest challenges students to write and produce one-minute films that spotlight one of HITN’s five Puerto Rican Heritage honorees. Reflecting on the experience, Arianna shared, “Making the film was fun! It showed me how my hard work can inspire others. I can’t wait to create more and show what I can do!”

Daneishka added, “It was amazing to see everyone’s reactions to our work! It made all the time we spent on it worthwhile and motivated me to aim even higher.”

Luis Alejandro Molina, the co-director of Cortitos, praised the students’ creativity and dedication, stating “Their work is truly inspiring, and we hope they continue sharing their talents with the world.”

Beyond celebrating talent and encouraging representation, Cortitos bridges generations by encouraging students to explore the lives of influential Puerto Ricans. The initiative aims to deepen students’ understanding of these pioneers’ historical contributions and their impact on society.