¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest Opens Submissions for 2024 Edition

¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest is now accepting entries for its fourth annual event, spotlighting the talent, innovative narratives, and artistic vision of up-and-coming Latino/a filmmakers. Entries will be accepted via CineYouthFest.org through August 6, 2024, with an early bird discount available until June 4, 2024. The festival will occur from October 9 to October 16, 2024, closing Hispanic Heritage Month.

Since 2021, HITN’s annual film festival has amplified the voices of up-and-coming Latino/a storytellers, artists, and filmmakers. Despite Latinos accounting for 24 percent of film ticket sales and 29 percent of daily mobile TV viewers, they hold less than 5 percent of leading on-screen, off-screen, and executive leadership roles in US media. This festival unlocks avenues for young creatives to gain exposure and acknowledgment, addressing the ongoing challenges of underrepresentation faced by Latino/a perspectives within the film and entertainment sphere.

“Each year, we eagerly anticipate the wide range of films submitted to our festival. From animated and documentary to narrative short films, the works submitted by this next generation of filmmakers is a breath of fresh air, delivering diverse perspectives and innovative narratives that captivate and inspire audiences,” said Cynthia Rivera, ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest Co-Director. “Our dedication to fostering representation within the entertainment industry is the driving force behind the work that we do. This is borne out by the fact that 60% of the finalists last year were talented young Latina filmmakers.”

For four years, the festival’s “Cafecito” chats have evolved as invaluable educational and networking platforms for our social media followers. Once again, this year, the sessions will feature industry experts and professionals who generously share their stories and insights, offering invaluable guidance to emerging filmmakers in the industry. Stay tuned for announcements about upcoming events, which will be posted on CineYouthFest.org and the festival’s Instagram page.

English or Spanish-language works of fiction or nonfiction are welcome. Filmmakers are asked to submit their work under one of these categories:

• Mental Health Awareness
• Social Media and Digital Life
• Identity and Self-Discovery
• Animation
• Discovery Shorts

Submission Fees

Submission fees are structured as follows:

• Early Bird Entry: Free from April 1 to June 4, 2024
• Standard Entry: $20 submission fee from June 5 to July 5, 2024
• Late Entry: $25 submission fee from July 6 to August 6, 2024

Special fees apply for student films:

• Early Bird Entry: Free from April 1 to June 4, 2024
• Standard Entry: $10 submission fee from June 5 to July 5, 2024
• Late Entry: $15 submission fee from July 6 to August 6, 2024

Eligibility Criteria

• Submissions must feature a Latino/a in a creative lead position in front or behind the camera.
• Films must be 30 minutes or less in length.
• All film genres, including documentary, drama, animation, comedy, and narrative, are eligible.
• Only films completed after January 1, 2020, are eligible for this festival.
• Entries from the United States and Puerto Rico are eligible.
• Visit CineYouthFest.org for a complete list of rules and eligibility criteria.

Awards

The selection of films for the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest will be announced on August 9, 2024 and will be screened on CineYouthFest.org and the HITN GO app from October 9 to October 16, 2024.

An independent jury will evaluate entries based on a variety of factors, including awareness of the subject matter; creativity in the approach of the subject matter; technical aspects such as directing, acting, cinematography, and editing; and inspirational and storytelling impact of the piece. Judges will select three winners from a pool of finalists. Awards are $4000 for the Grand Prize, $2000 for the Second Prize, and $1000 for the Third Prize. Winners will be announced at the end of October on the HITN GO app and the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest website.