By Maria Esteves – April 22, 2012

The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) Latin America Media Arts Fund Ceremony was held during 2012 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF 2012) at Tenjune, New York, Saturday, April 21, 7:00 PM. Sponsored by Heineken, TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund acknowledge and support innovative filmmakers and video artists from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. TFI seek projects that push the boundaries of conventional fiction or non-fiction work. In addition, the Heineken Voces Grant in partnership with TFI supports emerging filmmakers of Latin American descent focused on Latino perspectives in the U.S.

Since 2010, TFI increased services to schools in NYC and direct-service grants to filmmakers from approximately $300,000 to $1 million per year.

This year’s recipient of the Heineken Voces Grant for a narrative feature went to Diego Araujo for FERIADO (Holiday).

TFI Latin American Media Arts Fund were presented to the following recipients:

* Director/Producer Francisco Herve for CITY OF THE CAESARS (Chile)

* Director Claudio Araya Silva, co-producers Claudio Araya Silva and Yara Morales Rivera for CUANDO LOS MUERTOS ESTAN MAS SECO (When the Dead are Drier) (Bolivia)

* Director/Producer Ana Petra Costa for ELENA (Brazil)

* Director Alejo Hoijman, and producer Gema Juarez Allen for THE SHARK’S EYE (Argentina)

TFF2012 TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund: director of programming
Genna Terranova, TFF, right, and TFI award presenter Fernando Rovzar,
LEMON FILMS.

TFF2012 TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund: TFI Latin America Media Arts
Fund Grantee director/co-producer Claudio Araya Silva, CUANDO LOS MUERTOS
ESTAN MAS SECOS (When the Dead are Drier), center, with TFI award presenters.

TFF2012 TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund: Heineken Voces Grant
Recipient Diego Araujo, FERIADO (Holiday), center, with Heineken
Voces Grant presenter Ryan Harrington, TFI directory of documentary
program.

TFF2012 TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund: TFI Latin
America Media Arts Fund Grantee director Alejo Hoijman,
THE SHARK’S EYE.

TFF2012 TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund: TFI Latin America Media
Arts Fund award presenters Jose Rodriquez, TFI program associate,
left, and Ryan Harrington, TFI director of documentary.