Since 2012, Watsonville Film Festival has showcased powerful films in Santa Cruz County and offered a platform to many local up-and-coming filmmakers. To commemorate its 10 year anniversary, the non-profit arts organization is deepening its work by launching the WFF Cine Se Puede Fellowship.
“WFF Cine Se Puede Fellowship will support five emerging Latinx filmmakers from Santa Cruz
County / Pájaro Valley with short film projects in production and post-production,” said Consuelo Alba, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Watsonville Film Festival.The fellowship will assist with funding up to $1,000 per project, mentorship and pitch sessions with industry specialists that will help filmmakers and their projects reach the next level of their careers.
“Latinx filmmakers have great stories to tell, but can’t move their projects and careers forward because it is extremely hard to enter an industry where we have been historically excluded,” says Alba. “We have talent and passion as filmmakers, but in this region we have limited access to mentorships, industry connections and funding. WFF Cine Se Puede Fellowship aims to address that gap.”
Local filmmakers can submit their applications at watsonvillefilmfest.org through December 22. Selected participants will learn to pitch their stories and projects, improve their film proposals, budgets, marketing and distribution plans. In addition, fellows will have a chance to pitch their projects to industry experts during the 10th Annual Watsonville Film Festival, March 11-20. Fellowship mentors will also offer free community master classes throughout the festival.
“Our goal is to reach and support early career/emerging filmmakers at a critical point in their professional journey, who are looking for sustainability to continue working and thriving in the filmmaking industry,” says Brenda Avila-Hanna, WFF Cine Se Puede Fellowship lead and documentary filmmaker.
Funding for Cine Se Puede comes from Rise Together, an initiative of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, which works with local leaders of color to advance racial equity in Santa Cruz County. www.risetogetherscc.org
About Watsonville Film Festival The Watsonville Film Festival showcases Latinx filmmakers and stories that illuminate our shared humanity and inspire positive change. Founded in 2012, WFF developed from a grassroots collective into a non-profit arts organization offering year-round programming that celebrates powerful filmmaking and local creativity. WFF strives to make its programs accessible to all, leveraging the power of film to build bridges, spark conversations and imagine new possibilities in the Central Coast. .
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AT A GLANCE
WFF Cine Se Puede Fellowship
• Call for entries open now through December 22
Online Application link: watsonvillefilmfest.org
• Informational Webinar: December 15, 6PM
Eventbrite link to register for informational webinar: watsonvillefilmfest.org
• Selection Announcement: January 17
10th Annual Watsonville Film Festival March 11-20, 2022
Details and updates: watsonvillefilmfest.org
