
Back to All News
Meet the New Class of the NALIP Latino Lens: Narrative Short Film Incubator for Women of Color
Pete Corona
Director of Drama Series, Netflix
Vannessa Sanchez
Programs Director, NALIP
Social Impact
03 March 2023
United States
Last year, our team opened applications for the second annual NALIP Latino Lens : Narrative Short Film Incubator for Women of Color, a program supported by Netflix's Fund for Creative Equity. Today, were thrilled to introduce the 2022 class of filmmakers: Holly M. Kaplan (Sunflower Girl), Nicole Otero (Wait for Night), Akilah Ak' Walker and Diana Gonzalez-Morett (Pedacito de Carne), Jhanvi Motla (Mirage) and Frida Perez (Detox).
These women stood out for their compelling storytelling visions from the hundreds of applications received this year. As part of this program, the filmmakers received a $25,000 grant to produce a new short film. Throughout that process, they were supported by executives at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and Netflix, who provided creative feedback during development as well as guidance through post-production. The films will showcase at a special screening at NALIP's Diverse Women in Media Forum on March 30, 2023, and the filmmakers will be invited to attend various industry events through NALIP to help expand their professional networks.
We're also excited to share that the 2021 inaugural class of filmmakers have seen national acclaim for their films. Some highlights:
Eileen Alvarezs Mama Retreat had its premiere at LALIFF, and has gone on to play at New York Latino Film Festival, LA Latinx Film Festival, Screamfest Horror Film Festival, Female Voice Rock, Santa Monica Film Festival, San Francisco Latino Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Tallgrass Film Festival and Chelsea Film Festival.
Caroline Guos Firecracker had its world premiere at the 40th OutFest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, and was an Official Selection at the 26th Urbanworld Film Festival, 45th Asian American International Film Festival, 23rd San Diego Asian Film Festival and others.
Eunice Leviss Ro & The Stardust recently won Best Narrative Short at the 25th Annual Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival, and has played in 4 other Oscar Qualifying fests, including American Black Film Festival, Urbanworld, and the Pan African Film Festival where it was nominated for Best Short Film. Up next, the film is scheduled to screen at the Female Voices Rock Film Festival and the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival in May 2023.
Angelita Mendozas The Blue Drum premiered at Screamfest Horror Film Festival, and played at New York Latino Film Festival, Reel Sisters of the Diaspora, San Francisco Another Hole in the Head, Female Voices Rock, Manchester International Film Festival and San Diego Latino Film Festival.
Our teams are excited to be part of these filmmakers' journeys as they create films that will allow more people to see themselves and their experiences represented on screen, and we hope that programs like these will continue to be launchpads for women of color in the entertainment industry. Learn more about this year's class below, and join us in celebrating all the filmmakers' achievements!
Sunflower Girl by Holly M. Kaplan
Logline: When a 13-year-old Chinese-American girl has the opportunity to go skateboarding with her crush, it comes at the cost of neglecting her familial duties.
Bio: Holly M. Kaplan is a second-generation Chinese-American filmmaker, born and raised in New York City. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Film & Media Arts at American University and earned the Ron Sutton Award for Visual Literacy. While studying abroad at FAMU International in Prague, Czech Republic, she shot her first short, The Lesson (Lekce), on 16mm. Following the reception of her short film, Holly became an apprentice to the late Ben Barenholtz on his feature film, Alina. Currently, Holly is working as a Directors Assistant on HBO Max's Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin under directors Lisa Soper and Alex Pillai. Inspired and driven by ties to her Cantonese heritage, Holly is invested in bringing narratives about the Asian diaspora and diversity to the forefront.
Wait for Night by Nicole Otero
Logline: Two siblings return to their late father's house for the last time, but they encounter an already unfamiliar environment in the place that holds their past. WAIT FOR NIGHT is a triptych of loss in America's Southwest.
Bio: Nicole Otero began as a self-taught filmmaker. Learning through experience, she worked extensively on set and in post. In 2020, Otero's directorial narrative debut, SLIP, was acquired & distributed by Kino Lorber/Dedza, as part of a collection highlighting emerging directors. SLIP is currently streaming on Criterion Channel. Born in a mixed, Mexican-American family, her work explores memory, loss and identity. With emphasis on cinema's sonic possibilities, she is interested in haptic, embodied cinema.
Otero has also edited several films for major museum exhibitions, including MoMA, the New Museum, the Hammer, and more. She edited THE AFRICAN DESPERATE, a narrative feature, which premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam and New Directors/New Films 2022 at Lincoln Center.
Pedacito de Carne by Akilah Ak' Walker and Diana Gonzalez-Morett
Logline: Sandra finds herself in a new role as a caregiver for her mother living with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Burnt out by the nonsense that is social service, the relentless pile-on of caregiving demands, and the heartbreak of slowly losing parts of her mother, Sandra risks it all and takes a night off.
Team Bio: Creative collaborators since 2015, acting, devising theater, writing, and recently producing our short film, Ivar Tunnel: Shook Ones, written and directed by Akilah an
More from Netflix
01/07/2025
Back to All News
Watch: A Line Crossed: Netflix Drops Explosive Trailer for New...
30/06/2025
Back to All News
Bel n Cuesta and Karra Elejalde Star in El ni o, the New Film ...
30/06/2025
Back to All News
A New Dangerous Troll Awakens: Netflix Unleashes Teaser for Troll 2Play Video
Play Video
Entertainment
30 June 2025
GlobalNorwayDenmarkSwe...
29/06/2025
Back to All News
A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curs...
27/06/2025
Back to All News
Let the Final Games Begin With Squid Game' Season 3 Complete Coverage Guide
Entertainment
27 June 2025
Global
Link copied to clipboar...
27/06/2025
Back to All News
Squid Game: Unleashed: Celebrate the Epic Series Finale With N...
25/06/2025
Back to All News
Its Worth It by Dani Rovira Arrives at Netflix on July 11thPlay Video
Play Video
Entertainment
25 June 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to cl...
25/06/2025
Back to All News
Step Into the Game IRL With Squid Game Season 3-Inspired Produ...
25/06/2025
Back to All News
Teaser for Action Thriller Series Trigger' Unleashes Tens...
25/06/2025
Back to All News
Love, Conflict and Family Drama: Netflix Drops The Trailer For...
25/06/2025
Back to All News
The Ripple Effect of K-Content: How Netflix Viewers Are Embracing Korean Culture
A giant Young-hee presides over the Red Light, Green Light g...
23/06/2025
Back to All News
Squid Game By the Numbers: How Player 456 Took Over the World
From left to right: Park Sung-hoon, Kang Ae-shim, Lee Jung-jae, Hwang Dong-hyuk...
22/06/2025
Back to All News
Fall For Me - Erotic Summer Drama by Sherry Hormann Starts August 21
Netflix / Julia Terjung
Entertainment
22 June 2025
GlobalGermany
L...
22/06/2025
Back to All News
Wall to Wall': Gripping Thriller Set in an Apartment Comp...
20/06/2025
Back to All News
Turn Your Netflix to "Fool" Volume: Vir Das Drops a New Special on July 18!
Entertainment
20 June 2025
GlobalIndia
Link copied to clipboar...
19/06/2025
Back to All News
A Father. Two Kids. And the Videos She Left Behind. Catalog to...
18/06/2025
Back to All News
F ria, the New Netflix Series Starring Vinicius Neri, Fabio La...
18/06/2025
Back to All News
One Man Against All Odds: Ziam' Trailer Teases Thrilling ...
17/06/2025
Back to All News
WIF Welcomes 2025 Fellowship Class
WIF 2025 Fellows Class Photo
Social Impact
17 June 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
Today,...
17/06/2025
Back to All News
My Brilliant Career Series Adaptation Now in Production in Sou...
17/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix and TF1 Group Join Forces to Bring TF1 to Netflix Members in France
Entertainment
17 June 2025
GlobalFrance
Link copied to clipbo...
17/06/2025
Back to All News
Two Graves Arrives on Netflix on August 29
Entertainment
17 June 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the first images
Net...
12/06/2025
Back to All News
Brick: No Way Out - Mystery Thriller With Matthias Schweigh fe...
12/06/2025
Back to All News
Irresistibly Cute Trailer for My Melody & Kuromi' Unveils...
12/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Gets Animated at Annecy!
Top row from left to right: Fixed (Film), In Your Dreams (Film), Long Story Short (Series)
Bottom row from ...
10/06/2025
Back to All News
La Puerta de Alcal Shines for Netflixs 10th Anniversary in Spain
Entertainment
10 June 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Downloa...
10/06/2025
Back to All News
Better Late Than Single': Unpredictable Dating Reality Sh...
10/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Will Invest More Than 1 Billion in Spain Between 2025 and 2028
Pedro S nchez and Ted Sarandos
Business
10 June 2025
GlobalSpain
...
09/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix ISP Speed Index for May 2025
Product
09 June 2025
Global
Link copied to clipboard
Two percent of Internet Service Providers (ISPs...
06/06/2025
Back to All News
Steampunk Anime Adaptation Leviathan' Takes Flight on July 10
Entertainment
06 June 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied to clipboard
From t...
06/06/2025
Back to All News
A Tender Tale Unfolds: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignit...
05/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Presents the Documentary The Many Deaths Of Nora DalmassoPlay Video
Play Video
Entertainment
05 June 2025
GlobalArgentina
Link co...
05/06/2025
Back to All News
Ginny & Georgia': Return to Wellsbury With Tudums Season ...
04/06/2025
Back to All News
Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay, Shailene Woodley, Annabelle Wal...
04/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Presents the Final Trailer of OlympoPlay Video
Play Video
Entertainment
04 June 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Discov...
04/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix presents the final trailer of OlympoPlay Video
Play Video
Entertainment
04 June 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Discov...
04/06/2025
Back to All News
Becoming Santi : The Thunder Express Leader Takes on Giants i...
03/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Acquires Shih-Ching Tsou's Cannes Critics' Wee...
03/06/2025
Back to All News
The Trap - New Psychological Thriller Series in Production
Friederike Becht as Lisa Konrad and Hans L w as Robert Lenzen / Netflix
Entert...
02/06/2025
Back to All News
Latino Film Institute Fellows Debut Short Films at the Egyptian Theatre
The Inclusion Fellowship and Spark Animation Grant uplifts 13 emergi...
02/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Announces the Production of My Sad Dead (Mis muertos t...
02/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unleashes the Trailer of Rana Naidu Season 2 More Fami...
02/06/2025
Back to All News
The Summer Hikaru Died' Set to Bring Eerie Anime Thrills on July 5Play Video
Play Video
Entertainment
02 June 2025
GlobalJapan
Link ...
02/06/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Begins Production of La desconocida With Candela Pe a,...
01/06/2025
Back to All News
Tudum 2025: The Live Event' Celebrates Our Biggest Fandom...
30/05/2025
Back to All News
Netflix and the Brazilian Tourism Board Announce Cooperation A...
30/05/2025
Back to All News
Netflix and the Brazilian Tourism Board Announce Cooperation A...
29/05/2025
Back to All News
Alex de la Iglesia, Carmen Maura and Blanca Suarez Together in...
29/05/2025
Back to All News
Literary Suspense Comes Alive in Korean Series Notes from the...