Lights! Camera! Action! For Future Latino Filmmakers.

Fleet Bank has created the Fleet Future Filmmaker Award program to encourage Latino youth in the New York tri-state area interested in pursuing a career in filmmaking and the arts. In conjunction with The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF), Fleet Bank is offering these students a $2,000 educational grant and a New York-based internship opportunity. Fleet Bank supports arts and culture as essential threads in the fabric of the community. The Fleet Future Filmmaker Award program, will allow Latino youth to learn about the film industry, and to network among professionals.

The Fleet Future Filmmaker Award program will select two high school seniors to win a $2,000 educational grant plus the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by two of New York’s brightest producers: Ben DeJesus and Judith Escalona. Award-winning producer Benjamin DeJesus is founder of Diamante Pictures, a full-service production company specializing in commercials, music videos, and documentaries. Located in lower Manhattan, Diamante Pictures has produced commercials for Nickelodeon’s The N Network, the MTV Aaliyah book, the Essence Music Festival and ESPN. Judith Escalona is an award-winning producer of the Puerto Rico and the American Dream website (prdream.com) and founder of El Centro, a hands-on film and video program that provides youth with the tools and knowledge to make their own movies. In addition, both award winners will participate in the 2004 New York International Latino Film Festival, an annual event that presents the works of distinguished Latino artists. The festival, a five-day event, showcases a diverse selection of features, documentaries, short films and experimental works from both emerging U. S. Latino and international Latin American filmmakers.

To apply to the Fleet Future Filmmaker Award program, students must fill out an application, submit the requested materials, and write a personal essay of a minimum of 300 to 500 words that best describes them and their career goals in filmmaking. Students can download the application online at www.nylatinofilm.com. The website will also provide eligibility rules, which specify all participation requirements.

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2003. All materials, including the official application, high school transcript, a letter of recommendation, and a typed, double-spaced 300-500 word personal essay, must be received by December 1, 2003 at: NYILFF/FLEET FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD, P.O. Box 72, New York, NY 10023. Applications received after December 1 will not be accepted.