NY International Latino Film Festival Winners.

The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) and Fleet Bank (NYSE: FBF) announced the winners of the Fleet Future Filmmaker Awards, a scholarship program for Latino high school students pursuing careers in filmmaking and the arts. The Fleet Future Filmmaker Award was developed in conjunction with the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF), a not for profit organization that showcases the work of Latino filmmakers in the United States and Latin America.

At an awards ceremony at Magno Sound Studios in Manhattan, a $2,000 educational grant was presented to Veridiana Nicole Montas, a senior at Wings Academy in the Bronx, and to Jon J. Román, who attends El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice in Brooklyn. The scholarship award includes the opportunity to be mentored by two of New York’s brightest Latino filmmakers, and participation in the 2004 New York International Latino Film Festival in July, a five-day event that features a diverse selection of documentaries, short films and experimental works.

“The Fleet Future Filmmaker Award is a stepping stone for these two talented students to pursue their dreams. We commend them for their talent, creativity and fierce desire to overcome obstacles, and grasp the brass ring of success,” said Carl Figueroa, Executive Vice President, Fleet Affinity Markets Group. “We are committed to providing opportunities and opening doors for the next generation of Latino artists and filmmakers, who will shake and shape the nature of the film industry in the future.”

Calixto Chincilla, founder and executive director of the NYILFF, said the experience gained by the multifaceted award would allow the students to interact with producers, directors and professional filmmakers in a unique environment. The winners will be mentored by Benjamin De Jesus, founder of Diamente Pictures, a full service production company, specializing in television commercials, documentaries and music videos for clients such as MTV, Essence Music Festival, and Nickelodeon’s The Network. The other mentor, Judith Escalona, is the award-winning producer of the Puerto Rico and the American Dream website (prdream.com), that provides cultural and historical information about Puerto Rico. Escalona is also founder of El Centro, a film and video resource program that provides youth with the tools and hands-on knowledge to produce their own films.

The winners were selected by a diverse panel of judges for their academic achievement, originality of their 500-word essay, letter of recommendation, and demonstrated desire for filmmaking and the arts. The judges included Calixto Chinchilla, NYILFF, Nicole Rodriquez, Summer Institute for the TEAK Fellowship Program, Benny Vasquez, East Harlem Tutorial Program, and Joseph Ayala, Prep for Prep Program.