MIAMI.- He festival You Count! Cine Youth Fest opened registration for the fourth edition that highlights the talent, innovative narratives and artistic vision of the latin filmmakers emerging.
According to a press release, applications are accepted through CineYouthFest.org until next August 6, with an early registration discount available until June 4. The festival will be held from October 9 to 16, 2024, closing Hispanic Heritage Month.
This initiative opens avenues for young creatives to gain exposure and recognition, addressing the current challenges of underrepresentation that Latino perspectives face in the film and entertainment sphere.
“Every year we look forward to the wide variety of films submitted to our festival. From animation and documentaries to narrative shorts, the works presented by this new generation of filmmakers are a breath of fresh air, offering diverse perspectives and innovative narratives that captivate and inspire the public,” Cynthia Rivera, co-director of T Cuentas, said in a statement! Cinema Youth Fest. “Our dedication to promoting representation within the entertainment industry is the driving force behind the work we do. Proof of this is that 60% of last year’s finalists were talented young Latina filmmakers,” she added.
Festival as an educational platform
For four years, the festival’s talks – called Cafecito – have become educational and networking platforms for followers on social networks. Once again, the sessions will feature industry experts and professionals sharing their stories and insights, offering guidance to emerging filmmakers in the industry. Announcements about upcoming events will be posted on CineYouthFest.org and in @tccineyouthfestand Instagram.
T Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest admits works of fiction or non-fiction in English or space, which cover themes in these categories
- Mental health awareness.
- Social media and digital life.
- Identity and self-discovery.
- animation
- Discovery shorts.
Admisin fees
- Early entry: free from April 1 to June 4, 2024.
- Standard admission: $20 registration fee from June 5 to July 5, 2024.
- Late Entry: $25 registration fee from July 6 to August 6, 2024.
Special rates for student films
- Early entry: free from April 1 to June 4, 2024.
- Standard admission: $10 registration fee from June 5 to July 5, 2024.
- Late Entry: $15 registration fee from July 6 to August 6, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
- Submissions must feature a Latino in a creative leadership position in front of or behind the camera.
- Movies must have a maximum duration of 30 minutes.
- All film genres are eligible, including documentaries, dramas, animation, comedy and narrative.
- Only films completed after January 1, 2020 are eligible for this festival.
- Entries from the United States and Puerto Rico are eligible.
Awards
The T Accounts film selection! Cine Youth Fest will be announced on August 9, 2024 and will screen on CineYouthFest.org and the HITN GO app from October 9 to 16, 2024.
An independent jury will evaluate the applications based on a variety of factors, including knowledge of the subject matter; creativity in approaching the topic; technical aspects such as direction, acting, cinematography and editing; and the inspirational and narrative impact of the piece. The judges will select three winners from a pool of finalists.
The prizes are $4,000 for the grand prize; $2,000, for second prize; and $1,000 for third prize. The winners will be announced at the end of October on the HITN GO application and on the T Cuentas Cine YouthFest website.
You Count! Cine Youth Fest 2024 is sponsored by the Puerto Rican Heritage International Film Festival, Filmfreeway, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Reel Works, Esperanza College, St. Francis College, Autonomous Municipality of Commerce, Fundacin Cortes y Loza Florece, Northeastern Illinois University, Roberto Clemente Community Academy, Philadelphia Latino Film Festival, Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, Manhattan Neighborhood Network and the University of Houston.
To know more details about the competition you can consult http://cineyouthfest.org/.
