Latino Film Institute Founded By Actor and Activist Edward James Olmos Announces New CEO Axel Caballero
Industry leaders Ivette Rodriguez and Pete Corona invited to join the board.
LFI Founder and Chairman of the Board Edward James Olmos announced today the appointment of Axel Caballero to the post of CEO of Latino Film Institute, the leading Latino organization that houses industry pioneering programs such as The Youth Cinema Project, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and LatinX in Animation. The former Head of OneFifty Content & Innovation Studio and Artistic & Cultural Innovations at Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO was also previously the Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and creator and Executive Producer of Latino Lens. Axel comes to LFI at a pivotal moment of growth and expansion for the organization, returning to his roots and bringing his brand of vision and innovation.
Today, LFI is one of the most dynamic, fastest growing, and powerful Latino organizations in Hollywood. After the establishment of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) in 1997, the organization continued to take form and grow with the launch of its groundbreaking public school educational film program, the Youth Cinema Project in 2014, the addition of LatinX in Animation in 2018, a reworking and relaunching of LALIFF in 2018, and in 2021 institution of its LFI Scholar Award program.
The appointment of Caballero is a powerful step forward in the organization's pursuit of bridging the gap of opportunity between Hollywood and the Latino community and changing the trajectory of Latinos in entertainment particularly at a moment when the industry is fast changing through technology and innovation.
Mr. Olmos also announced the appointment of two new members to the board, industry leaders Ivette Rodriguez of AEM Marketing and LA Collab and Netflix’s Pete Corona will join Olmos (Chair), Bonifacio Bonny Garcia, (President), Dr. Ana-Christina Ramon, (Vice-President) and current members Jay Nomura, Steven Zubkoff, Pilar Flynn, Rafael Agustin, Judy Baca and returning member Dr. Richard L. “Rick” Miller.
“As our industry is rapidly changing with technology motoring, LFI is quickly adapting to new challenges and opportunities, Axel is uniquely poised with his background as a disruptor and innovator to bring LFI and our Latino community to the next level at this pivotal moment, ” said Olmos.
"I am incredibly honored to join the Latino Film Institute, embracing powerful creative mediums as well as the importance of forward-thinking skills training and education programs to amplify our voices, and narratives that resonate with our vibrant and rich cultural tapestry. Together, we'll illuminate untold stories and ignite a powerful and accurate portrayal of our community as industry leaders and innovators.” added Caballero.
About LFI
The Latino Film Institute (LFI) showcases, strengthens, and celebrates the richness of Latino lives by providing a pipeline, platform, and launching pad from our community into the entertainment industry. LFI houses a series of signature programs including The Youth Cinema Project (YCP), the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), and LatinX in Animation (LXiA).
