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Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Arilyn Martinez Cora: The 2017 Latino Film Market succeeds at providing a unique platform to raise the visibility of up-and-coming Latino filmmakers. LFM 2017 brings film professionals together to collaborate on the distribution of approximately 40+ selected projects within the United States.

What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2017)?

You can expect a great program filled with outstanding Latino films from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Spain, United States, Canada, United Kingdom -all gathered in one location and ready to increase opportunities for international sales and distribution of films made by Latino filmmakers. Workshops, panel discussions as well as photo and sculpture exhibitions will alternate with the event program. In addition, there will be Q&A sessions with actors, producers, directors, and crew members.

What are the qualifications for the selected films?

We pay attention to the content, duration, the actors’ performance, sound, music, editing, set design, and make up.

Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

I think that a film entering to a film festival is an amazing opportunity to connect with the audience and increase the followers who can help you later to either sell the movie traditionally or through VOD. So rather than looking to see if fair or not, the filmmaker should be ready to understand on what they will like to achieve

What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Living in New York City for over six years, has given me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. After attending several Latino events, I realized that many U.S born Latinos (first and second generation) transition themselves into Latinos as a result of their parents passing down their beautiful culture and traditions. The concept of Latino Film Market came from the idea of integrating my expertise in the process of filmmaking and my interest to find ways to preserve and promote the Latin American culture through the showcase of films that would be recognized at a national and international level creating economic development in the United States and Latin American countries.

My team realized that there is no Film Market focused on Latino films in the United States, and we decided to create one to help the up-and-coming filmmakers learn more about the process of filmmaking and distribution.

How has your FilmFreeway submission process been?

The FilmFreeway submission process was amazing. Its website is very easy to be used and when I had a question I looked it up on Google and I was able to proceed quickly. In addition, the website of FilmFreeway is well organized and it is friendly in terms of watching and selecting the films.

Where do you see the festival by 2020?

My team and I envision the festival by 2020 as the leading destination for Latino filmmakers who are eager to network, and acquire the latest knowledge and tools to promote, distribute and sell their short and feature films, documentaries and web series, where the Latino community is included as the main topic. The funds paid by distributors can be used for their future film projects.

We aim to be able to create more opportunities for international sales and distribution of Latino films and we hope to be able to widen the choice of Latino films shown to audiences and provide affordable workshops and educational panels to up-and-coming Latino filmmakers.

What film have you seen the most times in your life?

V for Vendetta, Y tu mamá también, New York Stories, The Notebook, La Guagua Aérea, Amelie, Rocky, and Babel are the films I have seen the most times in my life, I really enjoy how their stories are well developed and the way these movies are shot.

In one sentence, what makes a great film?

A well developed story makes a great film.

How is the film scene in your city?

In New York City, there are film festivals everywhere and the filmmaking industry is almost in every corner.
 

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 2 times a month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

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