Latinos represent nearly 20% of the U.S. population, but their stories make up less than 1% of those told by Hollywood.1 Without mentorship, connections, and financial support, many Latino filmmakers struggle to produce films
On April 27th McDonald’s launched Spotlight Dorado, a new multi-year platform aimed at uplifting Latino talent with access to mentorship and resources to enhance their career in the film industry.
Through June 3rd, 2022 U.S. Based Latino directors, writers, and producers can participate in the Spotlight Dorado short film contest by submitting their screenplays and stories to SpotlightDorado.com. Participation in the contest is free.
Three finalists will be awarded a production budget of $75,000 to bring their short films to life. They will receive mentorship from industry leaders, including Beatriz and trailblazing Director Carlos López Estrada, among others. Starting this November, the public will have a chance to vote for their favorite short film to help determine the grand-prize winner. The talented winner will also be given a year-long opportunity to work with McDonald’s in 2023 on future creative initiatives and campaigns, and receive one year of industry-standard creative software subscription services.
“In the last year, there have been multiple milestones for thoughtful and authentic representations of Latinos in film. Though it’s important to celebrate these strides, there is still much more to be done, especially off-screen,” said Stephanie Beatriz, best known for her role as ‘Mirabel’ in Disney’s Academy Award-winning film, Encanto. “I’m very excited to partner with McDonald’s to give up-and-coming Latino storytellers the opportunity to accurately reflect the different perspectives that make up the Latino experience in the U.S.“
All contest entries are subject to terms and conditions.2 For more information about Spotlight Dorado, visit www.spotlightdorado.com. And be sure to submit short films by June 3, 2022.
ABOUT MCDONALD’S USA
McDonald’s has always been committed to the communities it serves and the people that make up those communities. Every day the brand takes steps to achieve a more equitable and inclusive future for our employees, franchisees, suppliers, customers, and the communities we serve and foster.
McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s, approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants, are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
1 USC Annenberg Initiative. September 2021. Hispanic and Latino Representation in Film: Erasure On-Screen & Behind the Camera Across 1,300 Popular Movies
2 Must be 18 and resident of 50 US/DC to enter. Enter by June 3, 2022. For Official Rules, prize details, and how to enter, visit www.spotlightdorado.com. Sponsored by McDonald’s USA
MEDIA CONTACT
Erick Morelos
erick.morelos@us.mcd.com
(708) 308-2963
SOURCE & DETAILS McDonald’s USA/ PRNewswire
