Showtime Networks Inc. set up the short-subject side of its annual Latino
Filmmakers Showcase Tuesday afternoon, in part with a $30,000 grant to an
aspiring director.
Five 15- to 30-minute shorts will run during the showcase period, Sept. 15
through Oct. 15, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
All of the films were finalists in a Showtime-conducted competition held
earlier this year.
Gustavo Mercado -- whose family drama, Sensitive, will be one of the
five subjects highlighted -- will get the $30,000 grant from Showtime to make a
new short film, which the network will premiere later on.
The other highlighted shorts are First Days by Lidia Estrada,
Learning to Swim by Christopher Olness, De Colores from Peter
Barbosa and Garrett Lenoir and Trauco's Daughter by Francisca
Fuenzalida.
Showtime instituted the Latino showcase in 2000 to develop and support new
film-directing talent. Cast members and production talent from Resurrection
Blvd., which recently launched its third season on the channel, were among
the panel of judges.
