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The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff) is set to showcase the powerful new short film I Fcking Hate You!* on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 7:45 Pm at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Directed by Gabriela Paciel and produced by Juliana Betancourth and Sofía Rovaletti of Fractory LLC, the film delves into the complexities of family dynamics, grief, and reconciliation.

The Latino Film Institute (Lfi) has named its 10 directors for its annual Lfi Inclusion Fellowship.

The program includes a $50,000 grant, personalized mentorships, and networking opportunities and is supported by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity. All of the fellows’ completed projects will be screened at the 2025 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff) taking place from May 28 to June 1.

“At Lfi we are cultivating voices and nurturing talent that will reshape the industry,” said Erika Sabel Flores, VP of Programs and Innovation. “With Netflix’s support, we’re creating groundbreaking Latino content that meets the highest artistic standards while authentically representing our communities. Our mission transcends traditional diversity initiatives and builds sustainable pathways for creative excellence.”

Stacey Pascal Gaspard, a 2023/2024 fellow, reflected on her experience on the program saying, “With this Fellowship, I got to explore a new genre, and with this movie, I felt the evolution of my voice...

Following the success achieved by the Alliance of Women Directors with its Black Directors Advancement Initiative, the organization has launched the Mentor Latina Director Fellowship. Their #MentorLatinaDirectors Initiative is a fellowship program for current directing members who are Latina/x/e-identifying.

The fellowship’s Class of 2024 includes Melissa Balint; Evelyn Belasco; Maria Gabriela Cardenas; Marissa Chibás; Sophia Costanzo; Fiorella Vescovi Garcia; Saray Guidetti; Bettina Hanna; Silvia Lara; Eunice Levis; Gabriela Revilla Lugo; Paulina Manseau; Luisa Novo; Marcella Ochoa; Gabriela Paciel; Jp Perez; Jessica Rae; Michelle Salcedo; Sacha Smith; Ann Valdés; Maria Valdez; Evette Vargas; and Donna Bonilla Wheeler.

“The program was created and developed in response to a pressing need for much higher levels of equality and inclusion, specifically for Latina/x/e-identifying female directors in our industry. We trust this Fellowship will help eliminate barriers to access and success that have systematically excluded such directors. With these goals in mind,...