NEW YORK, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- HBO and the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) today announced Hugo Perez as the winner of the 3rd Annual HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition. Perez will receive a $15,000 grant from HBO to produce and direct a short film based on his original script "Betty La Flaca," which takes a humorous look at a young Latina's efforts to change her body image. The short will be completed in time for it to premiere during the NYILFF's 2006 festivities, July 25 to July 30.

"The HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition is quickly becoming a key festival event," said Adrion Porter, director, Market Development at HBO. "It's proving to be a great way to open doors for one filmmaker to showcase his or her talent as well as receive public recognition. We're very pleased to once again foster a new talent."

Perez is a filmmaker, producer and writer whose work has often focused on his Cuban heritage. These include the short "Julieta y Ramon" and the documentaries "Cuba: The Ecstasy," "The Old Man and Hemingway" and "Dance Cuba: Dreams of Flight." Additionally he's produced and directed two documentaries on the arts titled "In the Footsteps of Orpheus" and "Summer Sun, Winter Moon" as well as the PBS series "The Writer," a collaboration with The New York State Writer's Institute and Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy which spotlights contemporary writers and poets. His writing has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, Salon and the art book Cuba: On the Verge.

"One of the most exciting aspects of our festival is the HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition because it truly reflects our collective dedication to nurturing and providing opportunity for new filmmakers," said Calixto Chinchilla, executive director of New York International Latino Film Festival. "We're excited to see the results for Mr. Perez's hard work and creativity on opening night."

Launched in 1999, the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) is the nation's premier organization to showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent from the U.S. and Latin America. Its mission is to support these filmmakers, offer expansive images of the Latino experience and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. NYILFF presents over seventy works in the categories of Feature Film (in Spanish and English) and Vanguard Cinema, which includes experimental works, documentaries, student works and short films; NYILFF Family Weekend is a weekend of films along with indoor and outdoor activities the whole family can enjoy. Full details can be obtained on the festival's website, www.NYLatinoFilm.com.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television-programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach approximately 40 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 50 countries around the globe.

The festival is supported by The New York City Latin Media and Entertainment Commission and is presented by HBO.

Source: HBO

Web site: http://www.hbo.com/
http://www.nylatinofilm.com/