NTERTAIN, the Latin-focused content and media company led by Lex Borrero, Tommy Mottola, and Tainy has acquired The Official Latino Film Festival.
The announcement of the merger arrives alongside the launch of NTERTAIN’s new NVISION Film & Music Festival, which will take place October 10 – 12, 2024, at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs, CA.
The wider NTERTAIN company is also comprised of NEON16, NTERTAIN Studios, and culture marketing agency AM16, which was launched following the acquisition of ARRO MEDIA in June last year.
Over the past decade, The Official Latino Film Festival has showcased thousands of films and featured notable participants like Xochitl Gomez and George Lopez.
Commenting on NTERTAIN’s decision to acquire the festival, Lex Borrero, CEO of NTERTAIN, told us: “We, like most Latinos in Hollywood, want a change in how we are represented and included throughout the entire world of media.
“We saw this as an opportunity to unite our community and provide a platform that will become the gold standard and begin the conversation to truly impact our industry.”
Borrero added that the addition of the festival to NTERTAIN’s stable of brands will make the company “the nucleus of our community, therefore attracting the best Latina and Latino talent and stories as well making us the flag carriers for the movement we are titling The Power of Latino Culture’.”
This strategic acquisition also renews the festival’s partnership with Palm Springs Museum where the festival and conference will take place over three days.
NTERTAIN says that attendees at the event can expect “a dynamic lineup” of film screenings, music performances, art exhibitions, technology showcases, and conference-style panels and presentations that provide valuable insight into the industry’s future.
Submissions open April 9, 2024, for US and International Shorts and features in Drama, Horror/Sci-fi, Documentary, Comedy, Experimental and animation, and Music Videos.
The top awards for Best US and International Features will be $10,000, respectively, and for Best US and International Shorts, they will be $5,000.
The Open submission call starts on April 9, 2024, and the Early Bird deadline for submissions is May 19, 2024.
The Official deadline for submissions is June 29, 2024, and the Extended deadline for submissions is July 19, 2024.
NTERTAIN says that the event arrives “at a critical time when the American Latino population is driving US overall growth, yet representation in front of and behind the camera remains a mere 4%”.
Via NVISION, NTERTAIN says that it seeks to address this disparity by offering a platform that supports emerging talent and “catalyzes industry change”.
“Our goal is to not only influence how Latino culture is represented but to also ensure it contributes to shaping the media landscape.”
Lex Borrero, NTERTAIN
Commenting on his long-term goals for the festival, Lex Borrero said: “Looking forward, our long-term ambitions for the NVISION Film & Music Festival are to establish it as the premier platform for Latino artists across the globe to showcase their work.
“Our goal is to have NVISION grow beyond this Film and Music festival into a movement that supports, nurtures, and propels Latino talent to the forefront of the global media scene.
“Our goal is to not only influence how Latino culture is represented but to also ensure it contributes to shaping the media landscape. By doing so, we aim to create a lasting impact that transcends the festival itself, fostering innovation and creativity in the arts while promoting greater understanding and appreciation of Latino culture worldwide.”
“This new joint venture cannot come at a greater time for the festival. It was important for me to find partners who understand building businesses and also understand our culture.”
Danny Hastings, festival creator
Danny Hastings, the creator of the festival, added: “This new joint venture cannot come at a greater time for the festival. It was important for me to find partners who understand building businesses and also understand our culture.
“Their financial and emotional commitment to our community is evident, making this a win-win for our beloved community.”Music Business Worldwide
