LATINO POWER Georgia Latino Film Alliance Continues to Tell Its Stories Why Georgia’s film community is the new Hollywood for today’s Latino filmmakers By Michael J. Pallerino
Fridays program helped allow film- makers to discuss initiatives and op- portunities with studio production heads. GALIFF even held a short film competition where it asked writers and directors from across the world to collaborate and shoot mov- ies with their iPhones—document- ing how the pandemic impacted their countries. At last year’s Festival, in a re-
Jose Marquez, Yvette Moise and Julie Ann Crommett
turn to somewhat normalcy, Geor- gia Latino International Film Festi- val’s received rave reviews. Emmy Award winner Diego Silva’s first film, Hunting Souls , was a super- natural horror film about a couple that discovers a demon is hunting their child and making her sick. The movie, which was awarded best director, best movie and script at GALIFF2021, received a $25,000 prize from Panavision and Light Iron. The movie was picked up for international distribution, eventually scoring distribution on Amazon Prime and Netflix. “That’s the impact—you change one life at a time, which is what GALIFF has been doing for the past 11-plus years,” Marquez says. As GALIFF prepares for its next Festival, slated for Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2022, at the Lawrenceville Arts Center and Gas South District, Marquez and Moise see even more casting directors and location directors reaching out to work with the Alliance. And that, as he says, is the goal—to find like-minded people who want to help grow a community hungry for representation and success. “Our industry continues to overcome many obstacles, negative stereotypes and reputation,” Moise says. “We will continue to make our mark, to continue to disrupt the narrative and demand that our voices be heard. This takes diversity in our casting directors and executives to greenlight Latino Stories. Representation matters, especially Latino representation.” As the Georgia Latino film community continues to speed ahead, Marquez will continue to provide a place where people can support each other. “If one wins, we all win.”
Jose Marquez, Pepe Serna, Izabella Alvarez and Edward James Olmos
“ The time is now. We need to tell our stories. That’s why the Georgia Latino Film Alliance continues to pull out that chair. ”
Photos courtesy of Jose Marquez
I f Jose Marquez and Yvette Moise’s vision plays out, aspiring and talented Latino filmmakers in Georgia will no longer have to think that Hollywood is the only destination for their moviemaking dreams. For the past 11 years (pandemic years included), Marquez and Moise have poured their heart and soul into the Georgia Latino Film Alliance and International Film Festival (GALIFF), giving the upcoming generation of Latino storytellers a platform to hone their crafts. And as much as Marquez believes in the power of enabling that platform, the CEO of the Festival is even more driven to build a community where hard work, cre- ative pursuits and groundbreaking storytelling continues to give Latino filmmakers a seat at the table. “The time is now. We need to tell our stories. That’s why the Georgia Latino Film Alliance continues to pull out that chair.” The festival helps celebrate the state’s Latino direct- ed, produced and acted films, among other national and international entries. By building awareness of indepen- dent films and film as an art form, GALIFF continues to provide educational opportunities for students and Geor- gia filmmakers, helping create opportunities that did not exist before.
“We have been part of the film conversation of Georgia for 12 years, advocating for underrepresented filmmakers while educating and preparing the Latino community to be part of this entertainment industry,” Marquez says. “Through our writer and director boot camps and film business workshops, Latino filmmakers on all levels are getting the tools to not only be a part of the conversation, but to be change agents.” The festival’s plight has not been without its chal- lenges, including the aforementioned recent pandemic years. Marquez says the industry lost many friends and family due to COVID. But even as the pandemic tried to shut things down, the community’s passion for what it does—and needed to do—prevailed. “We had to im- mediately pivot, and work and build a community on- line says Moise, co-founder and president of the Geor- gia Latino Film Alliance. “We held a number of Zoom calls that challenged our filmmakers to give back and change the doom and gloom narrative. We decided we would make it a time for growth—a time to learn and share ideas.” The Latino community’s passion ended up shining through. Holding zoom events like private screenings and being a part of Motion Picture Association Film School
Georgia Latino International Film Festival Sept. 30-Oct 2, 2022 | Lawrenceville Art Center For more information, visit www.galiff.org
32 | THE GEORGIA HOLLYWOOD REVIEW | FALL 2022
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