Diandra Interviews Calixto Chinchilla: Founding The New York Latino Film Festival
The New York Latino Film Festival Hits New York On August 12, and it is WORTH IT! The films this year are phenomenally emotional, raw, gritty, loving, and filled with the fun, vibrancy of the Latinx spirit. Hence, I got to chat with the mind behind it all, Founder Calixto Chinchilla.
Diandra: How do you define Latin culture and what this identity or spirit means to you?
Calixto: I think we are really diverse, multi—faceted, and rooted in a rich history. All these things made us … us! We are not a race; we are a culture. This generation is acknowledging and exploring our history as a culture, especially people identifying with the “multiculturalism” of being Latino.
How do you see NYLFF reflects that multiculturalism?
HBO Presents NY Latino Film Festival & Futuro digital conference with Google #DrivenXP
Calixto: I think that is what being a New Yorker is all about. We have every Latin culture on the planet here. So it was about building an event that encompasses that and included sub-cultures like, LGBTQ, and opens people to their experience. It was about creating an event that had a sense of belonging as a festival and in our spirit.
Diandra: How do you think our portrayals in media affect our entrance and opportunities in media?
Calixto: I think there is a lack of opportunity. When you have the content coming from the culture we are able to reprogram ourselves into what we can do. We can just be good film-makers and make what we want to make. Yet, it all goes back to a lack of opportunity. When you see the stats and we are on television even less that is a problem. We want to shed light and awareness to what is happening to our community and become an agent of change.
HBO Presents NY Latino Film Festival & Futuro digital conference with Google #DrivenXP
Diandra: When you think of the first NYLFF and now 2019, how do you see you have grown as a leader and activist, of sorts, in the film industry?
Calixto: It has been uphill. When the festival came out, in 2000, there was nothing like us. We had not only to represent the community but kind of teach it. We know what a film festival is. I’m saying, “What was its purpose? What was its intent?” You know, “How does one hand wash the other?” How important is the audience to supporting the filmmaker? The content creators are here to entertain you, and its about how we get the studio to recognize them and the people to recognize their purpose. We had to educate the studios and the industry. While, I don’t expect change to happen over night, and it has been a “stop and go,” I am patient for it because every little victory adds up. This was not in my life’s cards but it has been a dream. I look at the festival like its own person like, a kid. We have to take care of it, while watching people watch it.
Diandra: What has been you favorite part about doing this festival?
Calixto: Watching people’s “come up.” Kerry Washington, before Olivia Pope, was here, and Gina Rodriguez, too; so many people that have an impact. So many people have come here like, Juan Luis Guerra and Farruko, this year. Even the customers! I met this woman that, literally, saves her ticket stubs from every year. That’s what’s up!
Diandra: Do you see a thread, particularly in message, between all the films chosen in this year’s NYLFF?
Calixto: Immigration, Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria, these are themes we expected. Yet, no story is the same. It’s different narratives, which I think is cool. You are never getting the obvious.
Diandra: What inspired you to include a Stand-up competition?
Calixto: It was an idea I had two years ago. It really is talent identification. Trying to see who it out there. I told HBO, and they were like, “Let’s do it!” The only thing is that they need to do a show for the network, and they get paid. It’s winner take all.
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