Straying from Convention: The Heineken Voces Grant
The basics of the Heineken Voces Grant:
- Supports Latin American artists living in the U.S. and working on feature-length narrative and documentary projects that offer new perspectives on their cultural experiences.
- Project Status - For narratives: films at any stage of production from treatment to rough cut. For documentaries: films in the advanced stages of development, production and/or post-production.
- Region: For Latino filmmakers based in the United States
- Funding: Two $10,000 grants being awarded (for one feature narrative and one feature documentary)
TFI has made it a goal to not only seek out unheralded projects from around the world but also help foster the development of filmmakers living and working here in the United States. That's what brought the Tribeca All Access (TAA) program into fruition and what's propelled it to advocate for idiosyncratic and refreshing subject matter.
Over the years, TAA's succeeded in highlighting stories that go beyond common parameters of theme and characterization. Having seen this continued investment towards underrepresented works pay off through the years, TFI's now expanded on this idea and launched the Heineken Voces grant, which supports US-based Latino filmmakers working on a feature-length narrative or documentary project that offers a new perspective on their cultural experience. You can apply for the grant here; submissions close on October 10th.
Since its onset, TAA's established a talented roster of filmmakers that have depicted Latinos’ triumphs and struggles in modern America with uncompromising takes on the material. On the narrative front, Gun Hill Road (TAA ’09) and Entre Nos (TAA ’08) offer compelling views on frayed family dynamics and immigration, respectively, while also delving into deeper insights of acceptance and individualism.
Rashad Ernesto Green’s Gun Hill Road is currently captivating theater audiences with its potent look at a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx and the clash of norms that erupts between a father and son. His tackling of the domestic drama convention is particularly striking because of how he addresses culture, sexual identity and social status through grounded performances and a believable, realistic sense of place.
In another character-driven drama, Entre Nos, Paola Mendoza and Gloria La Morte present a soulful and introspective account of a resourceful Colombian mother & daughter struggling to start anew while facing stark socio-economic obstacles. While the film delves into the oft-repeated theme of immigration, the female-oriented focus is noteworthy and captivating, giving the story a palpably refreshing viewpoint.
Latino documentary filmmakers have also made great strides in bringing their cameras into lively situations. Alexandra Codina’s Monica & David (a TAA ’07 grantee project & Best Documentary winner at TFF ‘10) lovingly captures the romantic relationship between two adults with Down syndrome and their passionate efforts to plan their wedding. It is Codina’s quaint insight into her own Cuban-American family (the “Monica” in the film is her cousin) that makes the film such an intimate presentation of human devotion.
Marilyn Agrelo’s Mad Hot Ballroom (a TFF ’05 favorite) chronicles several elementary school kids taking ballroom dancing lessons in schools throughout the city. The Cuban-born Agrelo delivers a breezy and feel-good story about the untapped talent and zest for life of today’s youth, all while reveling in the vibrant cultural “melting pot” that is New York City.
All of these versatile filmmakers present unvarnished views on Latinos’ diverse lifestyles through a thoughtful approach to storytelling. With the Heineken Voces grant, these kinds of stories will continue to be told in unique ways – asserting content above all else and, yes – straying from convention.
Interested in applying for the Heineken Voces grant? Check out apply.tribecafilminstitute.org -- deadline's October 11th.
