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Visual artist | Printmaker<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Mentorship Program for Emerging Latin\/e\/x Film Programmers<\/strong>
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VLAFF\u2019s Emerging Film Programmers Mentorship provides early-career Latine curators with hands-on experience in festival programming, empowering them to shape which stories and voices are shared. Running from May 1\u2013July 3, 2024 (mentorship phase) and during the 22nd VLAFF, September 5\u201315, 2024, the cohort participated in workshops, film selection, curatorial writing, and public presentations. They developed Land Acknowledgements and Intro Speeches, while applying their learning to curate a thoughtful, diverse program. Their 2024 New Directors Program, \u201cMaybe Not Always Finding, But Never Not Looking,\u201d<\/em> included films from Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil, reflecting the ongoing journey of self-discovery and the ways relationships evolve over time and space.<\/p>

The program combined formal workshops, collaborative curation, and festival engagement. Through this mentorship, the cohort gained real-world experience while bringing fresh perspectives to Latin cinema. Audiences were invited to reflect on youth, self-discovery, and connection through the stories and aesthetics curated by the mentees, while the festival community benefited from their creativity and insights, helping make VLAFF a richer, more inclusive space for filmmakers and audiences alike.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Development coordinator position & Mentorship<\/b>\n\n2025\/26<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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VLAFF\u2019s Development Coordinator mentorship provides early-career arts administrators with hands-on experience in festival development, programming support, and public engagement. Running through 2026, the mentorship combines individualized guidance with collaborative projects, allowing the mentee to apply their skills in real-world contexts while contributing to meaningful festival initiatives. A highlight of this mentorship is the creation of El Rinconcito<\/em>, a Reading Nook in the festival courtyard celebrating local Indigenous creators, giving audiences a tangible and engaging way to explore Indigenous-centered work.<\/p>

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Throughout the mentorship, the mentee develops curatorial, archival, and programming skills while co-curating the New Directors Program and exploring ways to integrate Indigenous perspectives across VLAFF. This mentorship strengthens festival capacity, fosters community engagement, and provides a model for thoughtful, accountable arts leadership.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2nd Mentorship Program for Emerging Latin\/e\/x Film Programmers<\/span>
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The 2026 Emerging Film Programmers Mentorship offers early-career Latine curators a hands-on, immersive experience in festival programming, communications, and cultural engagement. Running from February through June 2026, the cohort participates in a workshop series covering Film Critique, Appreciation, Curatorial Perspectives, Land Acknowledgements, Communications, Zine-Making, and Queering Curation, guided by expert mentors from the festival and partner organizations. Mentees gain practical skills, and a robust ethical framework.<\/p>

Cohort members actively apply their learning through the co-curation of the shorts program, and the cultural programming for \u00a1As\u00ed Suena!<\/strong> and \u00a1As\u00ed Sabe!<\/strong>. Weekly check-ins, collaborative sessions, and field trips ensure that mentees develop confidence, professionalism, and a thoughtful, accountable approach to programming. The mentorship culminates in the Emerging Programmers Event in June 2026<\/strong>, where the cohort presents the shorts program, hosts live Q&As, delivers Land Acknowledgements, and engages audiences in meaningful festival experiences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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