Animated Shorts Program
Sponsored by
Saturday June 4
1:30PM | TCL Chinese Theaters – Hollywood
Best Animated Short Film
The profile of LXiA’s Animated Shorts Program filmmakers is diverse, representing Latinx creatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Mexico, Spain, and the US. Many of these filmmakers are independent animators and artists, and their short films have screened at top animation film festivals such as Annecy, GLAS, SXSW, Sundance, and more.
All the films in our Animated Shorts Program are competing for this award. The jury will select the Best Animated Short Film to receive the top prize which also includes one Storyboard Pro license presented by Toon Boom and a Wacom Cintiq Pro.
ANIMATED SHORTS JURY
GUILLERMO MARTINEZ
Director
Sony Pictures Animation
NICOLE RIVERA
Vice President of Development
Cartoon Network Studios
SIMÓN WILCHES-CASTRO
Animation Director
Titmouse
Friday, June 3rd
NETFLIX PRESENTS
WRITING FOR ANIMATION MASTERCLASS
June 3, 2022
10AM – 1PM PST
In Partnership with LALIFF & LatinX in Animation
Netflix is partnering with LatinX in Animation to present an interactive Writing for Animation Masterclass during LALIFF’s Animation Day, aimed at preparing emerging Latin/a/o/x/e writers with the necessary skills to land their first writing gig. This three-hour masterclass is designed to offer genuine educational access for writers interested in learning and entering the screenwriting animation industry.
ANIMATED EPISODIC PROGRAM
FRANKELDA’S BOOK OF SPOOKS & REY MYSTERIO VS THE DARKNESS
FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022
7PM | TCL CHINESE THEATRES, HOLLYWOOD
Screening to be followed with in-person Q&A with Arturo & Roy Ambriz and Los Hermanos Calavera, moderated by Pixelatl’s José Iñesta
CAFECITOS
Grab that cafecito and join LXiA as we spotlight professionals from various studios, capturing the scope and variety of Latinx perspectives in the animation industry.
Cafecitos will be streamed during LALIFF and will be open to the public, follow LatinX in Animation and LALIFF for the latest updates.
Friday, June 3rd, 09:00AM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Abe Audish (Supervising Producer, “Bugs Bunny Builders”) and Luis Gadea (Supervising Producer, “Bugs Bunny Builders”).
Moderated by Jen Hurler
Friday, June 3rd, 10:00AM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Christine Benitez (SVP Multicultural Marketing and Brand, Paramount Pictures)
Moderated by Bryan Dimas (Co-Director, LatinX in Animation)
Friday, June 3rd, 11:00AM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Octavio E. Rodriguez (Head of Story, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse)
Moderated by Dani Fernandez (Writer, Actress, and Comedian)
Cafecito with Netflix Animation
Friday, June 3rd, 12:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Karissa Valencia (Creator/Showrunner, “Spirit Rangers”, Laughing Wild/Netflix Animation)
Moderated by Ian Skorodin (CEO, Barcid Foundation; Director of Strategy, Native American Media Alliance)
Friday, June 3rd, 1:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Rafael Chaidez (Producer, “Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur”), Janelle Martinez (Production Supervisor, “Firebuds”), Melinda Carrillo (Associate Producer, “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery”)
Moderated by Ingrid Tous Tovar (Manager, Development, Disney Jr)
Cafecito with HBO Max X WBD Access Animated Shorts Program
Friday, June 3rd, 2:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Aaron Davidson (Sr. Director, Original Programming, HBO Max)
Moderated by Bryan Dimas (Co-Director, LatinX in Animation)
Friday, June 3rd, 3:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Streaming Online via Eventive Only
Featuring Alê Abreu (Writer & Director, Perlimps), Ernesto Soto Canny (Executive Producer, Perlimps), Viviane Guimarães (Director’s Assistant, Perlimps)
Moderated by Pedro Eboli (Animation Showrunner & Producer)
Friday, June 3rd, 4:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Gita Rebbapragada (Chief Marketing Officer, Crunchyroll), Andre de Abreu (Sr. Director of International Business Operations, Crunchyroll), and Josellie Rios (Senior Marketing Manager for LATAM, Crunchyroll)
Moderated by Angela M. Sánchez
Friday, June 3rd, 5:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Vivienne Medrano (Creator, “Hazbin Hotel”)
Moderated by Kate Sánchez (But Why Tho? Podcast)
Friday, June 3rd, 6:00PM (PST – Los Angeles)
Open to the Public | Streaming Online
Featuring Renato Dos Anjos (Head of Animation, Encanto) , Kira Lehtomaki (Head of Animation, Encanto), Kaity Martinez (Assistant Choreographer, Encanto)
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
LALIFF and LXiA are excited to announce virtual Portfolio Reviews with the following participating studios: Cartoon Network Studios, Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, and Warner Bros. Animation.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
If you have any questions, email [email protected]
LALIFF Animation Day Sponsors
LatinX in Animation Industry Sponsors
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
CANICAS
Directed by Eduardo Altamirano
Mexico | 12 minutes | 2021
Marbles bounce, and so do relationships.
Eduardo Altamirano is a Mexican animator and director born in 1985. He graduated from Gobelins L’ecole de l’image in 2012. Altamirano worked for notable studios such as Toei Animation in Japan, Mindark SE, Electrolux in Brazil, and he founded Cocoa López in 2014, an independent animation studio that specializes in stylized character animation and 2D/3D mix.
IT RAINS
Directed by Carolina Corral y Magali Rocha
Mexico | 19 minutes | 2021
Have you ever thought about mass graves? A pile of bodies piled on top of each other with nothing in between. Oliver communicates with his mom through rain, sending signals to help her unearth the truth.
Carolina Corral, a visual anthropologist, graduated from the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology at The University of Manchester. She teaches at CIESAS. After a long academic career, Carolina became an independent filmmaker touching mainly on women struggles. All of her work has earned prizes nationally and internationally.
Magali Rocha is a film producer who graduated from Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica, she studied literature in Paris where she promoted Latin American cinema. Rocha has produced several short films with her production company Amate Films, which have participated at international festivals and received several awards.
CHILLY AND MILLY
Directed by William D. Caballero
United States | 9 minutes | 2021
An animated documentary about a devoted caretaker, her chronically ill husband, and the power of undying love.
11 years after filming a documentary about his family, William returns home to revisit scenes from his documentary with his parents, Chilly and Milly. Chilly, William’s father, is a diabetic with kidney failure whose illness detrimentally affects the lives of him and his family. Milly, William’s mother, is the matriarchal caretaker of the family.
When Chilly passes during the pandemic, William and Milly must come to terms with their loss. With Chilly’s passing, Milly is tasked with finding a new purpose in life.
William D. Caballero is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, multimedia storyteller, 2018 Guggenheim Fellow, and 2021 Creative Capital Award recipient. Born in Coney Island, New York and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Caballero obtained the Gates Millennium Scholarship in 2001, and returned to New York City where he graduated from Pratt Institute (BFA Digital Art, 2006, Minor in Art History ) and New York University (MA The Arts and Humanities in Education, 2008). Caballero’s directorial films have debuted at the 2017 and 2022 Sundance Film Festival, 2013 Slamdance Film Festival, the Museum of Modern Art, and on major networks, such as HBO, PBS, Univision, and World Channel. He aims to empower all creatives to tell their own stories in their own unique voice.
IT WAS RAINING
Directed by Ignacio Lillini
Argentina | 7 minutes | 2021
While his family sleeps, Iñaki is awaken by a new desire.
Ignacio Lillini (1987) lives in Córdoba, Argentina. He studied Social Communication at The National University of Entre Ríos (UNER). Lillini is an animator and director at Cha Animation and Osa Estudio. His works include “Aire,” “Llovía” y “Besitos.” He is a founding member of APA Association of Animation Producers and APA LAB. He produced “El Niño y la Noche” by Claudia Ruiz, and he served as programmer of El Ventilador, an International Animation Festival.
REPARATIONS
Directed by Wilson Borja
Colombia | 8 minutes | 2021
An exploration into the phenomenon of migration (forced and voluntary), through the fragmentation and modulation of a character: a chair.
Wilson Borja was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1980. After graduating as a graphic designer in 2003, he has been creating images for magazines and books for more than ten years. In animation, he has collaborated as a concept artist and character designer for TV and film projects. He graduated from the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program at the University of Arkansas after earning a Fulbright scholarship in 2011. Currently, he teaches illustration and animation courses in the graphic design program at Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
SOMETHING IN THE GARDEN
Directed by Marcos Sánchez
Chile | 6 minutes | 2021
A journey into the depths of the neighbor’s backyard.
Marcos Sánchez is a Chilean filmmaker, animator and visual artist born in 1980. He works in animation, drawing, and hybrid art exhibits. He has directed animated music videos for The Breeders and Claire Cronin, among other musicians. His work has screened at festivals such as Sitges, SXSW and Clermont-Ferrand. His animated music video for Lydia Lee’s song Grey to Green received a Bronze Cube at the ADC Awards 2021 and an Excellence Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival of the same year. His short film “Something in the Garden” received a Special Jury Mention at SXSW Festival 2022.
TAMGÙ
Directed by Isabel Loyer, Luis Paris
Argentina, France | 4 minutes | 2021
Isabel Loyer was born in Italy in 1989. After studying cinema at the University of Paris, In 2020 she obtained a master’s degree in stop-motion animation at the BAU design school of Barcelona. Her short film “La Vie Souterraine d’Elisabet Granget” was selected by Festival International de Film de Bruxelles in Belgium, Laceno d’Oro in Italy, Un Festival C’est Trop Court in France, Chouftouhonna Festival in Tunisia, among many others.
Luis Paris is an artist and digital animator, he graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, he studies Visual Arts at the National University of Arts, and he teaches in the Multimedia Arts program at the same university. His animated short film “Pasajes” and his documentary “Srta. Hisas” were selected in numerous festivals including Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival, Angelika Short Film Competition in the U.S., Carton Festival in Argentina, Cortoons Festival di Corti di Animazione di Roma, Salamanca Short Film Festival, Badalona Short Film Festival, among others.
THE GIRL BEHIND THE MIRROR
Directed by Iuri Moreno
Brazil | 12 minutes | 2022
Iuri Moreno owns Caolha Films, a production company in Goiás, Brazil, where he works as an animation director and scriptwriter. His latest short film, “The Juggler,” was nominated for the Grand Prix of Brazilian Cinema and selected for more than 220 festivals in 47 countries, with a total of 37 awards.
Currently, Moreno works as creator, director and chief scriptwriter on the animation series 347 Mission, and he has just finished his newest short film, “The Girl Behind the Mirror.” He serves a director of Lanterna Mágica International Animation Festival. Moreno’s first feature film, Flora’s Little World, is in development, in addition to various other projects.
THE WEIGHT OF IT
Directed by Olivia Marie Valdez, Sandra Afonso Rodríguez, Einar Soler Fernández
Spain | 3 minutes | 2021
Maria, a recent breast-cancer survivor, learns to find beauty, strength and humor in her new body as she gets ready for bed one night.
Olivia Marie Valdez, Einar Soler Fernández and Sandra Afonso Rodríguez co-directed “The Weight of It.” Olivia is a stop motion filmmaker, previously she was a salesperson in creative industries from the United States. Einar tried everything from 2D illustration to cooking until she found his passion: stop motion filmmaking. Sandra is an illustrator, painter, and stop motion filmmaker from Barcelona with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. The trio met at BAU’s Stop Motion Program.
UNINHABITED
Directed by Camila Donoso Astudillo
Chile | 7 minutes | 2021
An experimental short film that goes through emotional scenarios of a woman in the last moments of her life.
Camila Donoso Astudillo is a graphic designer and stop motion animator. In 2014, she directed and animated her first short film “Camposanto,” which won various awards around the world. Since then she has worked as director, producer and art director on audiovisual projects related to stop motion animation and film. In 2015, she worked on the first season of the animated series “Puerto Papel” by Zumbástico Studios. “Uninhabited,” is her second short film, financed by state funds.
WE ARE HERE
Directed by Doménica Castro, Constanza Castro
United States | 9 minutes | 2021
What is it like to walk this land in the shoes of an immigrant under 30? Reflections of young adults who immigrated to the United States as children remind us that beyond citizenship, there is a human.
Sisters Doménica and Constanza Castro are filmmakers from Mexico City and founders of 271 Films, a creative production company based in Los Angeles.
Collectively, their work has garnered over 2 billion views and they’ve produced numerous award-winning films and commercial content that has been featured on The New Yorker Screening Room, Nylon, Vice, HBO, BET Networks, MTV and Adweek, as well as prestigious film festivals including AFI Fest, Tribeca, Palm Springs, and Austin Film Festival.
They teamed up with Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and Indeed to produce ten films helmed by ten BIPOC directors. The first season premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, and they are currently producing the second season.
Guillermo Martinez
Director, Sony Pictures Animation
Guillermo Martinez currently has a project in development in which he will be director for Sony Pictures Animation. Most recently, he served as the head of story on the Academy Award®-nominated “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” now on Netflix. Prior to joining Sony Pictures Animation, Martinez served as a story artist at Laika Studios on “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “Missing Link.” Martinez’s additional credits include storyboard artist and writer on the Cartoon Network series “We Bare Bears.” Also at Cartoon Network, he developed a short film for the show “Clarence.” Martinez was born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and earned his bachelors in design at the Escuela de Artes Plasticas in San Juan, Puerto Rico before attending Academy of Art University for his masters. He currently lives in Culver City with his wife and two daughters.
Nicole Rivera
Vice President of Development, Cartoon Network Studios
Nicole Rivera is Vice President of Development for Cartoon Network Studio, where she works to identify and shepherd new animated series. Prior to joining the development team at Cartoon Network, Rivera was on the development teams at Universal Kids & Family Productions and DreamWorks Animation TV. She also worked for Cartoon Network from 2008-2015, first as part of the Content Acquisitions Team and then as Manager of Current Series, where she worked on shows including Steven Universe, Clarence and the reimagined The Powerpuff Girls.
Previously, Rivera worked in production and development at Focus Features and served as the assistant to one of the producers on the 20th Century Fox Film, The Devil Wears Prada.
Rivera holds a BA in Dramatic Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young sons.
Simón Wilches-Castro
Animation Director, Titmouse
Simón Wilches-Castro is an award-winning animation director from Colombia, currently based in Los Angeles where he works as a Creative Director at Titmouse. His films have screened in festivals around the world and have earned him various recognitions, including two Adobe Design Achievement Award awards, two Annie Awards nominations, and two student Academy Award regional finalist nominations, as well as six consecutive official selections in the Annecy Festival, among others. He recently served as animation director for Dua Lipa’s latest animated video, Hallucinate and Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things. He directed The Emperor’s Newest Clothes for HBO and did a One Direction Smut fiction for Euphoria. Simón received his MFA from the John C. Hench Division of Animation at USC and is also a Fulbright Scholar.
Cafecito with Walt Disney Animation Studios
Renato Dos Anjos
Head of Animation, Encanto
RENATO DOS ANJOS oversees character animation, working with a team of animators to realize the directors’ vision for each character’s personality. He collaborates with other departments as each character is designed and built to ensure they meet all animation needs.
Dos Anjos joined Disney in July 2007. He served as animation supervisor on the studio’s animated feature “Bolt,” as well as on the multiple Emmy® Award-winning holiday TV special “Prep & Landing.” He served as head of animation for the arcade-game-hopping feature “Wreck-It Ralph,” and in the Oscar®-winning feature “Zootopia,” as well as “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”
Over the course of his 33 years in animation, dos Anjos has worked on more than 100 television commercials and numerous animated features. Among his non-Disney feature credits is Sony Pictures Animation’s “Surf’s Up,” as animation supervisor. He also served as an animation supervisor for “Open Season.” For Sony Pictures ImageWorks, dos Anjos worked on several projects, including Robert Zemeckis’ “The Polar Express,” Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion” and the Oscar®-winning short film “The ChubbChubbs!” For his work on “The Polar Express,” dos Anjos received a 2004 VES Awards nomination for outstanding performance by an animated character in an animated motion picture for the character of Steamer. His theatrical credits also include the feature film “Titan A.E.” (as directing animator) and the Academy Award®-nominated “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” (as lead animator).
Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, dos Anjos initially wanted to be a comic book artist, but fell in love with animation as an intern in 1987 at the age of 14. He lives in Burbank, Calif., with wife Andrea and son Gabriel. They have a black cocker spaniel named Cacao, who provides reference for the animator (when he is not sleeping).
Kira Lehtomaki
Head of Animation, Encanto
KIRA LEHTOMAKI joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2007 as an animation trainee in the talent development program. She’s contributed to a host of Disney Animation titles, including Oscar® winners “Zootopia,” “Paperman” and “Frozen,” plus “Bolt,” “Tangled,” “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice,” “Tangled Ever After” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” as well as “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” on which she was head of animation. Previously, Lehtomaki served as a junior animator on “Alvin & the Chipmunks” at Rhythm & Hues.
At age 3, Lehtomaki saw “Sleeping Beauty” for the first time; she was mesmerized by the sequence of Briar Rose in the forest. By age 5, she knew she wanted to be a “drawer” for Disney. In addition to completing Animation Mentor’s online character animation program, she attended the University of Washington, majoring in computer science, and took part in the Disneyland Resort College Program.
Lehtomaki resides in Burbank, Calif.
Kai Martinez
Animation Reference Consultant, Encanto
Kai Martinez worked alongside “Encanto” animation reference choreographer Jamal Sims to help create the musical dance numbers for the film. She also worked closely with the Animation team to help bring the dance sequences to life, advising on movement as well as cultural nuances derived from her own Colombian heritage.
Martinez grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, and is a graduate of St. John’s University, where she served as choreographer of the university’s Caribbean Student Association Dance Troupe from 2006-2009.
Growing up a Disney fan, Martinez credits Walt Disney Animation Studios films with having a huge impact on her upbringing. She feels that the opportunity to work on something that will impact generations to come in such a positive way is a dream come true, and as a Colombian-American woman she is proud to represent her heritage in the film.
Cafecito with Sony Pictures Animation
With a highly anticipated release date of summer 2023, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the next chapter of Miles Morales’ adventures into the Spider-Verse! Catch up with Octavio Rodriguez, Head of Story, as he dishes with Dani Fernandez about his career trajectory in animation, approaching story on the follow up to a groundbreaking film, and on all things spidey.
Octavio E. Rodriguez
Head of Story, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Octavio Rodriguez is the head of story on the highly-anticipated upcoming animated feature, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Prior to joining Sony Animation, Rodriguez served as the co-director of the animated feature “Ron’s Gone Wrong,” from Locksmith Animation, and worked at Pixar Animation Studios on a handful of features including “Monsters University,” “Coco,” and “Incredibles 2.” Rodriguez has past experience at various animation studios, including Starz, Rough Draft, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, Disney, Nickelodeon, Mass Animation, and Lucasfilm Animation. Rodriguez is developing his own original film at Sony Pictures Animation.
Dani Fernandez
Moderator | Writer, Actress, and Comedian
DANI FERNANDEZ is a Mexican-American writer, actress, and comedian, who contributed to the recently-published US edition of The Good Immigrant—a book of essays written by respected writers and actors of color. She can be seen in animated form, playing herself, in the WRECK-IT RALPH sequel, RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET. Co-host of iHeartRadio’s hit podcast “Nerdificent,” Dani is also a correspondent for E! and Disney, and can be seen on just about every popular nerd channel, such as Nerdist and Geek & Sundry, as well as Broadway Video’s Más Mejor. Additionally, she stars in and wrote for the VRV streaming series LIVE FROM WZRD. A panelist and moderator at San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon, and Stan Lee’s LA Comic Con, Dani has also written and performed at The Comedy Store’s Roast Battle, Meltdown’s The Historical and Fictional Roasts, UCB’s Tournament of Nerds, and Cracked.com LIVE.
Cafecito with Paramount Pictures in Partnership with Nickelodeon Animation
It’s not all art and story – animation is a business! LXiA is pleased to host Paramount Pictures’ SVP of Multicultural Marketing and Brand Christine Benitez. We’ll dive into a deep discussion on career pathways in marketing, and how animators and artists can think about marketing and branding during their careers. We’ll cover how to successfully approach marketing animation titles across a variety of cultures, as animation continues to grow in popularity on a global scale.
Christine Benitez
SVP Multicultural Marketing and Brand, Paramount Pictures
Bryan Dimas
Moderator | Co-Director, LatinX in Animation
Bryan Dimas is the Co-Founder & Co-Director of LatinX in Animation, a Signature Program of the Latino Film Institute. He is also an Animation Producer with experience in feature animation production, 2D and CG animation television development and production, and project management. He has contributed to various DreamWorks Animation projects that include “Trolls World Tour”, “The Boss Baby 2″, “3Below: Tales of Arcadia”, “Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia”, and “Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh.” He is currently the Associate Producer, Development at Warner Bros. Animation.
Cafecito with Warner Bros. Animation
Join us for a discussion with Warner Bros. Animation as we host Abe Audish (Supervising Producer) and Luis Gadea (Character Designer) from the upcoming Looney Tunes preschool series “Bugs Bunny Builders.” We’ll dive into their career and journey in animation, and creating and designing a re-imagining of Looney Tunes for a new generation of young viewers.
Abe Audish
Supervising Producer, “Bugs Bunny Builders”
Abe Audish is a visual storyteller with over 15 years of experience in the animation industry working as a storyboard artist, supervisor, writer and director. In his career, Audish has worked on numerous Emmy and Annie award-winning series such as Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, We Bare Bears, Futurama, Wonder Pets! and many more. Audish is currently a supervising producer at Cartoon Network Studios working on the HBO Max series Tig N’ Seek. Apart from his time at the studio, Audish teaches storyboarding at his alma mater, The Kubert School (fka Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art) as well as at California Institute of the Arts. Audish currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Luis Gadea
Character Designer, “Bugs Bunny Builders”
Luis Gadea is a Character Designer and 2D Animator borned in Canada and raised in Costa Rica. Now based in Los Angeles, California.
He’s been working in the Animation industry since 2008 on animated commercials, TV series and animated Feature films like The Angry Birds Movie and The Lego Movie 2. These days he is a Character Designer at Warner Bros. Animation and have also worked freelance for some animated projects yet to be announced with clients like Netflix and Dreamworks TV.
He spends most of his days drawing for his own happiness and finding different ways to accomplish a look on his art. If you give him a cup of coffee, paper and pencils he can be in a corner quietly without disturbing your party.
Jen Hurler
Moderator
Jen Hurler is a Dominican American animation writer and producer currently working at Warner Brothers Animation and Cartoon Network Studios as a creative production assistant. There she assists studio president Sam Register with development and production materials. Prior, she worked at Blue Sky Studios, contributing to films such as “The Peanuts Movie,” “Ferdinand,” and “Nimona.” She has also written for CartoonBrew.com.
Cafecito with Netflix
This special fireside chat features Native-Mexican creator and debut showrunner Karissa Valencia as she shares about her upcoming animated series Spirit Rangers. Imbued with heart, culture, and wonder, Spirit Rangers is the first animated series to have an all-Native writers room. Don’t miss out on Karissa’s story and the anticipated release of this groundbreaking show.
Karissa Valencia
Creator/Showrunner, “Spirit Rangers”, Laughing Wild/Netflix Animation
Karissa is a California Native — literally! She grew up between sunny San Diego and the Santa Ynez Chumash Reservation. She is passionate about animation and has written for preschool favorites such as Disney Junior’s Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, T.O.T.S and The Chicken Squad. She is currently the Showrunner and Executive Producer of Netflix Animation’s upcoming preschool series, Spirit Rangers, which follows the fantastical adventures of a modern day Native American family who live in a National Park. She resides in Los Angeles.
Ian Skorodin
CEO, Barcid Foundation; Director of Strategy, Native American Media Alliance
Ian Skorodin (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and began his directing career with an award winning feature film, entitled TUSHKA, which premiered at Sundance.
Skorodin has moved into television writing where he has been staffed on a Paul Feig comedy series. Skorodin has run an all all Native American writers room, and currently overseeing a second all Native American writers room. Skorodin has also directed and produced a stop motion animation series CrazyInd’n, formed a partnership with Comcast Xfinity where he wrote, directed, and produced several digital series and short films.
In addition to his creative work, Skorodin founded the Barcid Foundation to address the lack of Native American representation in entertainment. In 2007, Skorodin created the LA SKINS FEST, a Native American film festival based in Los Angeles. The festival is accompanied by a week-long series of events that include an annual industry pitch fest that hosts Native American writers, a unique actors program that offers audition workshops with casting directors, and hosts a comedy showcase for Native American actors.
Since 2016, Ian has created several successful programs that include the intensive 5-week Native Marican TV Writer’s Lab, Native American Feature Film Writers Lab, Native American Animation Lab, and the Native American Showrunner Program. Since 2009, Skorodin has overseen the Native Youth Multimedia Workshop. Skorodin has traveled to dozens of reservations throughout the US to provide a week-long workshop that has Native American youth produce short documentaries about their tribe, language and culture.
Skorodin is currently overseeing post-production on his fifth documentary. This one pertaining to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s struggle and resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cafecito with HBO Max X WBD Access Animated Shorts Program
The animation industry can be a tough nut to crack! The HBO Max x WBD Access Animated Shorts Program aims to support new, emerging talent in their efforts to break in. Listen in to learn more about the upcoming opportunities, how to prepare, and what awaits!
Aaron Davidson
Sr. Director, Original Programming, HBO Max
Aaron Davidson is a Director of Animation at HBO Max covering primetime original programming. Among his projects are Adventure Time, Velma, Clone High, and others. Previously, he spent more than five years at Amazon Studios where he developed and produced award-winning animated and live action family series including Annedroids, Niko and the Sword of Light, Little Big Awesome, Danger & Eggs, Costume Quest, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. He spent time at Fox ADHD, JASH, and, in another life, touring in punk bands.
Bryan Dimas
Moderator | Co-Director of LatinX in Animation
Bryan Dimas is the Co-Founder & Co-Director of LatinX in Animation, a Signature Program of the Latino Film Institute. He is also an Animation Producer with experience in feature animation production, 2D and CG animation television development and production, and project management. He has contributed to various DreamWorks Animation projects that include “Trolls World Tour”, “The Boss Baby 2″, “3Below: Tales of Arcadia”, “Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia”, and “Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh.” He is currently the Associate Producer, Development at Warner Bros. Animation.
Cafecito with Perlimps
Brazilian, Oscar-nominated director of Boy and the World Alê Abreu, joined by Executive Producer Ernesto Soto Canny, Director’s Assistant Viviane Guimarães, as they share their insight in this exclusive cafecito. Writer and director for the upcoming, colorful animated feature Perlimps, Abreu reflects on his journey as a Latin American creator. Watch the teaser trailer for Perlimps here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIQ94R3b7zY
Alê Abreu
Writer & Director, Perlimps
Brazilian film director, animator and screenwriter. In 2013, he released “The Boy and the World”, his second feature film. He won the Cristal for best feature film at the Annecy Festival in 2014 and the Grand Prix for best feature film at Animafest Zagreb in 2015, among many other awards, and was also nominated for an Oscar in 2016. Creator and supervisor of the preschool animation series “Vivi Viravento:, launched by Discovery Channel in 2018 in Brazil and Latin America. He is going to launch his third feature film “Perlimps” in June 2022 at the Annecy Festival.
Ernesto Soto Canny
Executive Producer, Perlimps
Viviane Guimarães
Director’s Assistant, Perlimps
Viviane Guimarães graduated from Gobelins in 2017 with the animated short “Mémo”, Viviane has been working on Perlimps since 2018 as a storyboarder, animator and assistant director.
Pedro Eboli
Moderator | Animation Showrunner & Producer
Pedro Eboli is an animation showrunner and producer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He’s the creator of the animated kid’s shows “Oswaldo” (for Cartoon Network Latin America), “Cupcake & Dino – General Services” (for Netflix), which he also directed and produced, and co-creator of “Ollie’s Pack” (Nickelodeon) and “Bada Bean” (Discovery Kids). Pedro’s been living in Los Angeles since 2019, where he’s been developing shows for Disney TVA, Cartoon Network and Amazon with his creative partner, Mark Satterthwaite.
Cafecito with Crunchyroll
From Captain Tsubasa to One Piece, anime has had a special place in the hearts of audiences across Latin America. Crunchyroll’s Chief Marketing Officer, Gita Rebbapragada, Sr. Director of International Business Operations, Andre de Abreu, and Senior Marketing Manager for LATAM, Josellie Rios talk shop about what goes into marketing and bringing quality content to international audiences – and the hottest anime on the horizon!
Gita Rebbapragada
Chief Marketing Officer, Crunchyroll
Gita Rebbapragada is Crunchyroll’s Chief Marketing Officer and is responsible for overseeing all marketing functions and vision of the brand, including brand strategy, experiential, audience development, creative services, communications, and all marketing executions worldwide for the multifaceted fan-forward business.
Most recently, she brought together the marketing leadership and organizations from both the Crunchyroll and Funimation brands to create a world-class, global marketing organization to serve fans under the Crunchyroll banner. Rebbapragada also oversaw the global marketing unification of the SVOD service, led the global marketing for two of the top five films in U.S. anime box office history, helped expand Funimation into Latin America and led brand integrations across acquisitions in the UK, Europe, and Australia. She joined Funimation in 2019.
Rebbapragada holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School for Business where she earned a Dean’s Recognition Award.
Andre de Abreu
Sr. Director of International Business Operations, Crunchyroll
Andre de Abreu is the Sr. Director of International Business Operations for Crunchyroll, where he and his team work with various internal business teams, external partners, third parties, theatrical distributors, press, talent, celebrities, fan communities, influencers, and content creators to strategically assess initiatives on subscriber growth, revenue generation, international expansion, brand awareness, and user education. As an entertainment and gaming executive with 20 years of global expertise, he has led and shaped marketing, business, and communication strategies, managing small and large teams, advising executives, and crafting narratives for Fortune 500 corporations and startups across multiple industries, both agency and in-house.
Josellie Rios
Sr. Marketing Manager for Latin America, Crunchyroll
Josellie Rios is the Sr. Marketing Manager for Latin America at Crunchyroll, and has over ten years of experience in marketing to fans across several industries. Along with in-region teams and partners she develops and leads campaigns to spark brand awareness, foster viewership and subscription growth, and promote theatrical releases in the region.
Angela M. Sánchez
Moderator | LXiA Team Member
Angela M. Sánchez is currently an apprentice writer on an upcoming animated comedy series for Disney Television Animation.
As the first LXiA Program Coordinator and now volunteer team member, Angela brings over eight years’ experience in the nonprofit sector. With a background ranging from UCLA’s Alumni Diversity Programs to the philanthropic sector, Angela is thrilled to offer her acumen to LXiA’s efforts to build community within and for the Latinx professionals across animation, VFX, and gaming industries.
As writer and a Kidscreen Next Wave: Diverse Voices Fellow, Angela holds a deep appreciation for animation and stories that elevate typically underrepresented narratives. She has written and illustrated a picture book series, Scruffy and the Egg, about single-parenthood and homelessness. Her original action-adventure pilot placed as a Finalist in ScreenCraft’s 2020 Animation Competition.
Angela is a Los Angeles native and she has written on animated series for AppleTV+ and Moonbug Entertainment as well as outlets such as SOLRAD, Los Angeles Review of Books, LAist, and The Hechinger Report.
Cafecito with Disney Television Animation
Disney Television Animation is cooking up a storm! Tune in to this line-up of producers across a treasure trove of DTVA series, including Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, Firebuds, and the upcoming “Marvel’s Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur”. We’re here for all the tea – and not just from a guy with a 10-shillings-and-6-pence hat!
Rafael Chaidez
Producer, “Marvel’s Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur”
Melina Carrillo
Associate Producer, “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery”
Janelle Martinez
Production Supervisor, “Firebuds”
Ingrid Tous Tovar
Moderator | Manager, Development, Disney Jr
NETFLIX PRESENTS
WRITING FOR ANIMATION MASTERCLASS
June 3, 2022
10AM – 1PM PST
In Partnership with LALIFF & LatinX in Animation
Netflix is partnering with LatinX in Animation to present an interactive Writing for Animation Masterclass during LALIFF’s Animation Day, aimed at preparing emerging Latin/a/o/x/e writers with the necessary skills to land their first writing gig. This three-hour masterclass is designed to offer genuine educational access for writers interested in learning and entering the screenwriting animation industry. The masterclass will cover:
- An interactive workshop on the anatomy of an animation script hosted by Dustin Fleischmann (Netflix Animation Writing Outreach & Engagement). Participants will learn about the elements of a strong writing sample and apply this knowledge by breaking down a script from an animated Netflix series and through group writing exercises.
- A discussion with a Netflix executive on what to expect and how to make the most of your first general meeting.
The masterclass will be taught in English and will accept all applicants globally. Closed captioning and ASL interpretation will be available. Space for this masterclass is extremely limited. Applying for the masterclass does not guarantee entry. All applicants will hear back on their status on Friday, May 27.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to apply, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must identify as Latinx/a/o/e.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Have an interest in writing for series animation.
- Have two or more completed original pilot samples (live-action or animation) in their writing portfolio. All samples must be written in English.
- Have not been previously hired as a staff writer on a production or hired as a freelance writer on more than 3 productions.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
Dustin Fleischmann
Coordinator, Netflix Animation Writing Outreach & Engagement
Dustin Fleischmann supports the talent initiatives for emerging writers, providing opportunities for writers to gain valuable experience in their early careers. Prior to joining Netflix, Dustin worked as an Events & Operations Coordinator for The Writers Guild Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Writers Guild of America West.
ANIMATED EPISODICS PROGRAM
FRANKELDA’S BOOK OF SPOOKS & REY MYSTERIO VS THE DARKNESS
FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022
7PM | TCL CHINESE THEATRES, HOLLYWOOD
Screening to be followed with in-person Q&A with Arturo & Roy Ambriz and Los Hermanos Calavera, moderated by Pixelatl’s José Iñesta
FRANKELDA’S BOOK OF SPOOKS
Directed by Arturo Ambriz, Roy Ambriz
Mexico | 13 minutes | 2019
REY MYSTERIO VS THE DARKNESS
Directed by Hermanos Calavera
Mexico | 11 minutes | 2021
Oscar wants to watch his favorite wrestler, Rey Mysterio, fighting on the ring. However, his enthusiasm might lead him to one of Mysterio’s biggest secrets. And the adventure of a lifetime.
Oscar and Leo are excited to watch Rey Mysterio on the ring. However Oscar has his mind set on getting a photo with the legendary hero.
As he sneaks into the locker rooms of the arena he discovers an amazing secret. Lucha Libre wrestlers have hidden super powers, and Rey Mysterio seems to be right in the middle of an epic battle. With no one else around to help, it’s now up to Oscar to team up with his idol and fight the forces of evil.
The Hermanos Calavera are surrounded by mystery. Three masked creators involved in animation projects, marketing, and content creation that first appeared in 2010. Known for their epic action, they have been rumored to collaborate with Cartoon Network, Puma, Nike, and more.