The Telly Awards recently announced the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Film Festival as one of this year’s silver winners in their general/ non-broadcast category. Cynthia Rivera, Field Operations Director and L. Alejandro Molina, Festival Director, have been instrumental in the success of this online film festival, which brings young Latino voices together to share their unique stories with the world.
Since its inception in 2021, the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest has served as a powerful springboard for emerging Hispanic storytellers, creatives, and filmmakers. The festival has opened doors and provided the opportunity for new and rising talent to showcase their work to a wider audience, earning well-deserved visibility and recognition. At a time when Hispanic voices continue to be underrepresented in the film and entertainment industry, ¡Tú Cuentas! has played a crucial role in amplifying their stories and breaking barriers.
“The caliber of the work this season coming from creators such as HITN truly has reflected the theme of breaking out and standing out,” said Tellys Executive Director Sabrina Dridje. “Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world’s most pressing issues, and companies big and small are turning to more sustainable practices to break the cycle of past production processes.”
The Telly Awards organization was founded in 1979 to honor excellence in local, regional, and cable television commercials. Non-broadcast video and television programming were added soon after, reflecting the industry’s changing landscape. Today, as digital video continues to evolve and rise, the Telly Awards celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image, both on and offline.
This year, the Telly Awards received over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents, showcasing the best work created within television and across video for all screens. The winners represent the outstanding achievements of respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies, and publishers from
around the world.
Luis Alejandro Molina, the Festival Director and also Puerto Rican Cultural Center Board Secretary, expressed his delight at receiving the Silver Telly Award:
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized by the Telly Awards. This accolade is a testament to the dedication and talent of the emerging Hispanic filmmakers who have contributed their unique stories to the ¡Tú Cuentas! platform. It is our collective mission to break barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and foster diversity in the film industry. This award affirms that we are making progress in achieving these goals, and we look forward to continuing to empower and uplift emerging talent in the years to come.”
HITN’s ¡Tú Cuentas! Film Festival continues to pave the way for inclusivity and representation in storytelling, promoting a vibrant and diverse cinematic landscape. As an organization committed to championing emerging voices, HITN remains dedicated to creating opportunities and platforms that empower underrepresented communities to tell their stories and share their perspectives with the world. HITN is a proud sponsor of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center’s Fiesta Boricua.
To find out more, visit us at cineyourthfest.org and submit your work.
