Hispaniola screenplay wins HBO and the New York International Latino Film Festival.

HBO and the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) today announced Hispaniola, a screenplay by Freddy Vargas, as the winner of the 4th Annual HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition. Vargas will receive a $15,000 grant from HBO to produce and direct a short film based on his original script. The competition, created in 2004, seeks to foster films by Latino filmmakers and/or about the Latino experience.

“We’re immensely proud of the HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition and what our partnership with the festival has been able do for new filmmakers,” said Lucinda Martinez-Desir, vice president, Market Development at HBO. “Our combined efforts have helped to call attention to the universality of Latino cultural entertainment.”

Hispaniola is an endearing story of two boys from different worlds – one Haitian, the other Dominican – who develop a strong bond through baseball. The completed short, now filming in Santo Domingo, will be exhibited at the 2007 New York International Film Festival, July 24-29, and on HBO’s programming services including HBO Latino.

“We received submissions from filmmakers from all over the world, and we’re excited that this will be the first production of the program that will be shot outside the U.S.,” said Calixto Chinchilla, founder and co-executive director, NYILFF. “This is proof that if the script is good, we’ll support the filmmaker anywhere.”

Freddy Vargas is an award-winning filmmaker born in the Dominican Republic and educated in the United States. Having spent half his life in each of these countries has allowed him to navigate the waters of two different cultures – experiences that have enhanced his work as a filmmaker. From his beginnings in film at St. John’s University he showed talent and dedication, winning film competitions for his shorts Uptown and Victor. Vargas also has two feature screenplays that have been produced, In Search of a Dream and Red Passport. Invited to screen at the Telluride Film Festival, his work has been shown around the world and showcased by renowned exhibitors such as the American Museum of the Moving Image. Currently he is developing a number of projects for his debut as a feature film director.

“Never in my wildest dreams had I thought I would be working with the NYILFF and HBO in producing an original short,” said Vargas. “I guess dreams do come true after all, and I know this is just the beginning. Thanks to the NYILFF and HBO for allowing my voice to be heard, and thanks for supporting Latino filmmakers.”