PROGRAMS
LFI SPARK ANIMATION FELLOWSHIP
The second cohort of the LFI Spark Animation Fellowship have been chosen to receive the grant based on the artistic merit of their submissions and the originality of their voice and vision.
The LFI Spark Animation Fellowship, presented by the Latino Film Institute and sponsored by Netflix, is a program that supports emerging and independent animation filmmakers and artists towards the production of animated short films told from the Latino perspective.
This year the program will award five visionary artists a grant of $30,000 each. Fellows receive mentorship and strategic industry connections while working within a studio-like system that supports skill development and career advancement.
The completed films will have a special screening at the 2027 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF).
2025– 2026
Introducing our 5 selected fellows. Learn more about them and their upcoming projects.
MORE NEWS
Creating Spaces to Educate, Engage, and Empower: The Leadership of Dr. David Nieto
For nearly two decades, Dr. David Nieto has shaped a culture across Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. In his three years as principal at Sparks Middle School, he has built a community where students are seen, heard, and empowered to lift others. Through hands-on mentorship and programs like the Youth Cinema Project that connect students with their community, his leadership is rooted in guiding, listening, and giving back.
Latino Film Institute Launches Futuro XR: 360° Video Lab
The Latino Film Institute (LFI) today announced the launch of the LFI Futuro XR: 360° Video Lab, a five-month fellowship designed to train storytellers in the art and technology of immersive 360° filmmaking while amplifying stories rooted in the Latino experience.
How Simone Kirlew Mentors and Produces with Purpose
For the past couple of years, producer Simone Kirlew has been a steady creative force behind the Youth Cinema Project Alumni Fellowship films, serving as producer mentor for the program’s last two alumni productions while acting as a vital link between the Latino Film Institute and each production team. Beyond nurturing the fellows’ creative vision, she oversaw the coordination that allowed each film to come to life, managing logistics, schedules, and on-the-ground production needs with precision and care.
