UNITAS CENTER of Lowell, MA invites you to submit your short films as we set out on our second exciting production of "El Encuentro: The Latino Film Experience." Dates of the production will be October 13, 14, 2023, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. We request short films of 3 mins to 15 mins in length. This festival will take place in person at The Richard and Nancy Donahue Theater at Middlesex Community College located in downtown Lowell, MA. Last year went beyond all expectations, with 187 submissions of terrific short films highlighting Hispanic filmmakers. Award money was recently sent out in the categories of Audience Choice, Best Film, Best editing, Best Cinematography, Best Animated Feature, and Best Documentary feature, chosen by our judges. For more information, go to our website at http://www.Unitascenter.org
"Art is the Handmaid of Human Good" is written on the seal of our city, Lowell, MA; the home of Jack Kerouac, Bette Davis, and James O'Neil Whistler. We have received generous funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as well as support from local Merrimack Valley businesses.
Located just 45 minutes from Boston, MA on the banks of the Merrimack River, Lowell is a Mill City that has come alive with artistic zeal, and boasts one of the most diverse populations in all of Massachusetts. It is with great pride that we set out ion our second, and even bigger and better festival to highlight the achievements of Latino filmmakers, an underrepresented pool of talent that deserves to be seen and heard.
*All films in Spanish or Portuguese should be sub titled.
Congratulations to our 2022 Winners!!
Best Film $200 "Dreamer" Vergi Rodrguez
Best Documentary film $200. "Water, Land Air, Fire Kimberly Hernandez
Best Animated Film. $200 ""Crying En La Lavanderia". Clara Siliezar
Best Editing $150. "Sounds At Night" Aaron Garcia
Best Cinematography $150. "Helado: Ice Cream". Gabriel Duran
Audience Choice Award $200. "Silver Waters". Domenicca Isabella Botero