PROGRAMS

2024-2025 LFI SPARK ANIMATION FELLOWSHIP

Ana Ramírez González

Ana Ramírez González is an artist from Guanajuato, Mexico, with over a decade of storytelling magic at Pixar as a visual development and story artist. Her vibrant career has also included work with Google, DreamWorks, and Nickelodeon. Ana’s creative journey began in France, where she studied Fine Art, and continues in California, where she crafts narratives and picture books for publishers like Disney, Scholastic, Chronicle, and HarperCollins. A New York Times bestselling illustrator and dedicated figure skater, Ana brings heart and whimsy to everything she creates.

Title of Project: Agua Dulce

Juan Abdo

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Juan Abdo got immersed in Computer Animation at the age of 10 and began working professionally in 2014. He graduated as a Film Director at FUC (Fundación Universidad del Cine) in 2018. That same year he moved to the USA to work in the film and animation industry. As an animation generalist, he worked in many productions taking diverse roles from story development to post-production. In 2024 he was selected for the Latino Film Institute’s Animation Directors Fellowship for his short-film Remember the Rats.

Title of Project: Remember The Rats

Alex Z. Avila

Alex Z. Avila has eight years of experience in both live-action and animated television, he specializes in post-production and storyboarding. Alex served as a storyboard artist on Well Versed, a Nickelodeon short-form series that earned a Children and Family Emmy Award for Best Public Service Initiative. In 2024, Alex was awarded the Spark Animation Fellowship to produce his animated short film, The Apricot. Inspired by childhood memories of working on his late grandfather’s apricot farm, the film reflects his passion for personal, character-driven storytelling.

Title of Project: The Apricot

MORE NEWS

Milestone 25th Edition of LALIFF Confirms Opening Night Film Valentina, Unveils Artwork, Expands Ticket Model, and Names Nava Mau as Head of Features Jury

The Latino Film Institute (LFI) today unveiled the official artwork and expanded ticketing model for the milestone 25th edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), taking place May 27–31, 2026, in Hollywood at the historic TCL Chinese Theatres.

Marcella Ochoa: Interview

Filmmaker Marcella Ochoa, founder of 8A Entertainment, has built a career telling stories that center Latino voices and explore bold social themes through genre. From co-writing the Blumhouse feature Madres to mentoring emerging storytellers through LALIFF and the Youth Cinema Project, Ochoa is as committed to the next generation as she is to her own craft.

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.