The Mexican-American Film & Television Festival (MAFTF)
MAFTF is more than just the premier festival representing the 40 million Americans of Mexican descent; it's a two-day celebration of our culture and artists. It's where Mexican-American and Latino film & television makers come together to interact, collaborate, network, and find like-minded partners. It's a platform where industry leaders connect with authentic storytellers.
The Mexican-American Film & Television Festival MAFTF has grown to become the premier Los Angeles Festival which represents the 40 million Americans of Mexican descent. Its focus is projects which depict the Mexican-American community, not with the usual Hollywood stereotype, but the more real-to-life depiction of a community of hardworking Americans who contribute and have contributed endlessly to this country. Astronauts, lawyers, teachers, nurses, doctors, accountants, builders, war heroes and people of every sort whose stories go untold, because a demeaning stereotypical narrative is preferred by Hollywood.
Hollywood has been notorious for erasing Mexican-Americans/Chicanx out of American life for over 100 years. Even stories where Mexican-Americans war heroes are featured e.g; “Hell To Eternity” (1960), Anglo-American actors have portrayed their bravery and never mentioned their Mexican heritage. The perception of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the US is distorted and the media has played a large part in this. Largely portrayed in media through degrading stereotypes such as “bandidos” “criminals”, “the help”, “lazy”, “illegal invaders”, and “uneducated”. Recently, those in political power, including the former president, have legitimized these Mexican-American stereotypes into the American consciousness, with disastrous consequences see throughout the news. No other Latino group has endured such abuse.
MISSION
The Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards mission is designed to provide Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers, who represent 40 million Americans of Mexican descent, a venue to showcase, promote and celebrate their beautiful art. It is a place that gives movie goers the opportunity to view dozens of films, short films and television pilots, both in person and online, depicting their beautiful people, stories and culture the way they want to see it, away from the stereotypical Hollywood portrait. These films and television shows are made by the best U.S.-based Mexican-American/Chicano filmmakers and actors, who understand our unique culture and journey in America and tell authentic stories. It is an opportunity to meet and ask questions for the filmmakers.
It is a place for the Mexican-American/Chicano filmmaking community to network, honor each other, and support and promote each other; a place for Hollywood to see our best filmmakers, as well as talented newcomers, and learn how we Mexican-Americans want our unique culture and people to be represented, as an important part of the American fabric instead of the old stereotypical images.
FILM & TV FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS FOR SCREENING & AWARDS
Criteria for Selection: Filmmakers of any ethnicity with high quality, positive and non-stereotypical Mexican-American/Chicana/o characters or stories are encourage to submit. The primary language of the Films should be English, though any amount of Spanish is ok. It is required that at least one lead character and one primary producer or director be Mexican-American. Stories with universal appeal are most desirable. Documentaries are not accepted at this time.
We are accepting high quality short films, feature films, television and streaming content that demonstrates a more accurate, non-stereotypical depiction of Mexican-Americans, helping educate the community at large about the true history and contribution of Mexicans in America, as well as promoting films made by Mexican-Americans/Chicanas/os with positive and true-to-life stories showing Mexican-Americans as a valuable part of American society!
Films and television shows submitted will be judged and selected for screening and awards by some of the most experienced and successful Mexican-American filmmakers and critics.
Application Opens In Late 2025
Appointments
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Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz
President of the First Mexican-American Film and Television Festival
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Jerry Velasco
Presiding Judge of the First Mexican-American Film and Television Festival, in charge of judging the film and television entries to receive awards
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Bel Hernandez
President of the Festival Selection Committee, First Mexican-American Film and Television Festival
Research:
The UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2020 shows that film screenplay writers are 89% white, 5.2% Black, 3.0% Asian and 0.7% Latino, and that directors are 84% white, 5.5% Black, 3.4% Asian and 2.7% Latino. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Report 2021 reviewed 126 films and 180 series produced by Netflix in 2018 and 2019, showing great improvement in gender and racial equality with most minorities. Latinos were one of the exceptions, as only 2.6% of all stories had a Latinx lead or co-lead, with similarly low numbers behind the camera.
The 2022 Oscars show that Mexican-Americans are the least represented Latinos, as out of 14 Latinos 4 are Mexican-American/Chicanos, slightly more than 25% of the awards, while Mexican-Americans are almost 70% of all Latinos in the US. And while we are so very proud of our Mexican-American/Chicano nominees, it is distressing that none of the Mexican-American nominated are amongst the most prominent awards, including best actors, that went to other Latinos.
Historical Racism and Intentional Stereotyping Against Mexican-Americans in Hollywood.
Even in stories where Mexican-American war heroes are featured, as in the film Hell To Eternity (1960), Anglo-American actors have portrayed their bravery and never mentioned their Mexican heritage. The perception of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. is distorted, and the media has played a large part in this, largely portraying Mexican-Americans through degrading stereotypes, such as bandidos, criminals, the help, lazy, illegal invaders and uneducated. Recently, those in political power, including Donald Trump, have legitimized these Mexican-American stereotypes into the American consciousness, with disastrous consequences seen throughout the news. No other Latino group has endured such abuse.