Orlando Hispanic Film Festival announces 2009 dates and strategic partnerships

April 14, 2009 - PRLog -- Orlando, FL - The third Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (OHFF) will expand from a three day to a five day format, September 16 – 20, 2009.  “This year we will be kicking off Orlando’s Hispanic Heritage Month in a big way”, said Executive Director James Schoepflin. The past two years the OHFF has brought some of the world’s finest independent Latino films and filmmakers to Central Florida during Hispanic Heritage Month.   Senior Festival Director Ana Curras explains, “It only makes sense to grow the number of films and make our event more exciting for the Orlando community, the OHFF’s audience and participants”.

This year the OHFF will partner with the Miami based Florida Media Market (FMM). “This will bring the OHFF to the next level”, says Schoepflin. The Florida Media Market will run side by side with the OHFF on location during September 16-20, 2009. The FMM will present juried films, of which the best will receive awards. FMM is in it’s 4th year with a proven track record of attracting many top executives in film distribution and financing. “It is an honor and a privilege to partner up with such a recognized organization as The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival. Our joint venture will reach more filmmakers in Florida, which is our target audience, for continuous mentoring and to be able to develop their projects locally and globally by partnering with executives, distributors and financiers from around the world.  These are some of the key attendees that will be at the Festival this year, getting pitches and letting us know what they are looking for” commented Maritza Guimet, President of FMM.

This new partnership maximizes use of resources and provides additional value to filmmakers’ time and effort. This also marks Orlando as an ideal destination by providing a key regional event in a single location where filmmakers from around the world can expand their industry participation and exposure.   The new format will allow filmmakers to enter their films into the OHFF competitive environment, submit their projects into FMM’s circuit as well as attend educational seminars, social events and network opportunities where attendees can interact with peers and decision makers.

OHFF is also excited to introduce into its program starting in 2009, the Mexican Film Festival, which premiered last year, created by the Consulate of Mexico and Casa de Mexico. The Mexican Film Festival will present a free screening to kick off the 2009 OHFF with an opening night red carpet independent film event, which will take place appropriately on Mexican Independence Day with key filmmakers in attendance. Seating is limited. The Mexican Consulate will program one screen all day Thursday September 17, 2009 in which all films presented will also be free. Casa de Mexico will program one screen Friday September 18, 2009 in which most of the proceeds will benefit Casa de Mexico. James Schoepflin says, “In order to continue to bring the Hispanic community closer together it is important that we work collectively by teaming up for much needed first class educational and entertaining events like the Orlando Hispanic Film Festival and Florida Media Market. It is our hope to make this event a staple Orlando signature event”.  

The OHFF will be accepting independent film submissions starting April 15, 2009. Film submissions will be viewed by educational and entertainment professionals that will choose the best of the best to screen and award. To submit a film, please visit www.ohfilmfestival.com. For further questions regarding the 2009 OHFF & FMM please contact us at info@ohfilmfestival.com and info@floridamediamarket.com.

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Production and distribution company that produces the Orlando Hispanic Film Festival. Standard Entertainment Inc. Has produced the OHFF 2 years successfully and is now planning year 3!