Showtime & Sí TV Call For Submissions For 2nd. Annual Latino Filmmaker Showcase.

Following up on its successful launch of the Latino Filmmaker Showcase, Showtime and Sí TV are pleased to announce a call for submissions for its second annual “Latino Filmmaker Showcase” program. Interested participants must submit their 15-30 minute original short film to Showtime Networks no later than April 30, 2001. The Latino Filmmaker Showcase, a Sí TV Production with Jeff Valdez as Executive Director, is modeled after Showtime’s popular Black Filmmaker Showcase. This annual event is designed to support up-and-coming Latino filmmaker.

Of the submissions, a blue ribbon panel will select between three and five finalists, all of whom will have their submissions featured in a Latino Short Film Showcase in September during Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition to having its premiere on Showtime, the winning filmmaker will receive a $30,000 grant to be used toward the production of another short film which will have its exclusive world premiere on Showtime.

The blue ribbon panel judging the Latino Filmmaker Showcase includes stars: Cheech Marin (Up In Smoke, Tin Cup, Nash Bridges, Cheech & Chong’s Nice Dreams); Tony Plana (Showtime’s Resurrection Blvd. and The Princess and the Barrio Boy, Born in East L.A.); writer/director Allison Anders (Showtime’s Things Behind the Sun, Four Rooms, Mi vida loca); director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck, episodes of Freaks and Geeks and Homicide: Life on the Street); actress Ada Maris (SHOWTIME’s The Princess and the Barrio Boy, The Brothers Garcia) and CAA agent Steve Tellez. Also included on the blue ribbon panel will be last year’s grand prize winner Matt Casado.

Last year, “Honest Injun” was selected as the winner by a blue ribbon panel comprised of director Gregory Nava, actor/director Edward James Olmos, actor Nestor Carbonell, actor/director Georg Stanford Brown, producer David Valdes and producer Moctesuma Esparza. Showtime Networks’ Pancho Mansfield, Senior Vice President, Development, Original Programming, serves as Showtime’s creative executive for the Latino Filmmaker Showcase, which is headed up by Randy Runkle, Supervisor, Original Programming and Lorie Hope, Coordinator, Story Department.

Pancho Mansfield, Showtime’s Senior Vice President, Development, Original Programming stated, “We are truly proud of this program which is a win-win for everyone involved. There is an abundance of Latino talent out there. With this program, aspiring Latino filmmakers get an introduction to the network development process and Showtime gets the opportunity to forge relationships with the new filmmakers of tomorrow.”

“We are continuing our commitment to recognize talent within the Latino community,” said Jeff Valdez, co-founder of Sí TV. “We want to do as much as possible to support talented Latinos who traditionally have not had access to the entertainment industry and wish to pursue careers in the field.”

This program, including the points outlined here, is open to all filmmaker who are 18 years of age or older and are legal U.S. residents, and is subject in all respects to the Latino Filmmaker Showcase rules. Materials will not be returned. Along with the film, each participant must sign a “release” form. For viewing purposes, SNI requests that a ½ inch VHS videotape be sent. All requests for information should be sent to :

Showtime’s Latino Filmmaker Showcase Program
Showtime Networks Inc.
10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1600
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Attn: Lorie Hope