PROGRAMS

2022-2023 LFI SPARK ANIMATION FELLOWSHIP

Anthony Gallego

Anthony is an alumni from the School of Visual Arts, with a BFA in 2D Animation, and currently working as a compositor at Powerhouse Animation. He has a passion for writing and producing horror movies (despite being a big wimp). He uses a variety of techniques and experimentation that lend themselves to creating a unique style of writing not often seen in western animation.

Title of Project: Urie

Cecilia De Jesus

Cecilia De Jesus is a Filipina/Mexican-American designer, animator and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. She has worked on several title sequences for film and television, including Sonic the Hedgehog the Movie, Motherland: Fort Salem, Phantom Thread and The Hate U Give. She currently is a motion graphics artist at Trailer Park Group, where she designs and animates trailers for film, television and social content. She also contributes her animation skills towards projects for non-profit organizations such as Feeding America, the LA Regional Food Bank and WWF.

Title of Project: Back to Normal

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.