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ABOUT

Our mission is to exhibit and celebrate films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal that possess a high-level of artistry and are otherwise noteworthy for communicating a meaningful and powerful message of social impact.

IAFFM supports the education and creative development of local and Ibero-American filmmakers by providing access to training and networking opportunities.

TICKETS & EVENTS

HISTORY

The Ibero-American Film Festival Miami was created in 2016 under its previous name, Indie Pasión Festival. By 2019, this small but mighty one-day event grew into four full days packed with screenings, forums, special events and networking mixers.
Like many film festivals around the world, our 2020 festival was cancelled due to the global pandemic.
Our 2023 festival is being reinvented with a full hybrid program that is safe and also provides an easy way for Ibero-American and local filmmakers to showcase their work, gain a new audience and network with established filmmakers and executives.

THE TEAM

Fernando Arciniega

Founder & Executive Director

Colombia

Sergio
Cabrera

Honorary
Director

Colombia

Paulina
Montes

Co-Founder & Adviser

Chile

Alberto C. Rosende

Chief Operations
Officer

Cuba

Martha
Rosende

Financial
Director

Colombia

Brandon
del Toro

Operations
Director

México

Andrea
Lavagnini

Lead
Programmer

Italia

Arturo Pérez Navarro

Industry
Director

México

Mariella
Bruno

Art
Advisor

Uruguay

Jorge
Padron

Marketing
Director

Panamá

Christian
Ossa

Social Impact
Director

Colombia

Marco Rodriguez

Animation
Director

México

Fernando Calero

Audiovisual
Producer

Uruguay

Xenia
Marcinko

Production
Advisor

Venezuela

Ari
Becerril

Guest
Coordinator

México

Omara
García

Talent

Venezuela

María
Fuentes

Event
Planner

España

Verónica
Rodríguez

Business
Development

Uruguay

Carolina
Reyes

Business
Development

Colombia

Laura
Mejía

Public
Relations

Colombia

Victoria
Ferruccio

Events/Travel Consultant

Colombia

Linda
Rojas

Event
Producer

Venezuela

Pricila
Rojas

Event
Producer

Venezuela

Luís
Bond


Programmer

Venezuela

Paola
Ramos

Membership
Coodinator

Venezuela

Gabriela
Santos

Executive
Assistant

Colombia

Ángel
Castro

Transmedia
Designer

Colombia

Victoria Maldonado

Creative
Director

Venezuela

Erika
Contreras

Business
Development

Colombia

Ana
Valencia

Event
Coordinator

Colombia

Leandro Tripodi

Partnership
Director

Argentina

TICKETS & EVENTS

Fernando Arciniega

Founder & Executive Director

Fernando Arciniegas co-founded Arsi Care Group in 1997, and currently serves as its Vice President with responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operations. Arsi Care Group specializes in homecare services for infants, children, and the elderly, with a special focus on providing high-caliber care at Miami’s top five-star hotels and multinational companies. Fernando, who hails from Colombia, has been very involved in the South Florida Community, actively working with many community organizations, including the Hispanic Community Group, Daily Bread Food Bank, Alliance for Aging, Coalition on Hispanic Aging, Florida Council on Aging, Catholic Hospice, South Florida Case Management, and the South Florida Concierge Association. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. Fernando has a long standing relationship with the Colombia Project for Manos del Sur, serving as the Director for the past fifteen years. Manos del Sur focuses on the wellbeing, care, and education for young, underprivileged and orphan children. A life-long, avid movie and theater aficionado, Fernando had long desired to become active in the independent and foreign film scene. As a way to combine his love for cinema with his strong desire to help young artists, he developed and founded Indie Pasión in 2016. Indie Pasion is the only, independent film festival in Miami, where young, Ibero-American film makers have a vehicle to showcase their work. In three short years, Indie Pasion, has grown to a four-day event that includes documentaries and original short and long-feature films. The fourth annual event is scheduled for April 2020

Sergio Cabrera

Honorary Director

Is a Director, Screenwriter, Film and Television Producer. He has directed some of the most iconic movies and television series in Colombia in recent years.

He studied Philosophy at the University of Peking and as an amateur he made his first works in film. Later, he moved to England where he studied film at the London Polytechnic School and the London Film School.

Back in Colombia, in 1977, he directed his first short films and worked as a director of photography, among his credits are: “AMOR CIEGO” (1980) and “PADRE POR ACCIDENTE” (1981), and collaborated as a cameraman in “PURA SANGRE” (1982) by Luis Ospina y Condores and “CONDORES NO ENTIERRA TODOS LOS DÍAS” by Francisco Norden (1984).

In 1989 he premiered his feature film “TÉCNICAS DE DUELO”, which received the award for Best First Feature Film at the Cartagena de Indias International Film Festival, the Silver Makhila for Best First Feature at the International Iberian and Latin American Festival Film in Biarritz (France), the Special Jury Award at the New York Latino Film Festival, and the Best Film Award and Critics Award at the Gramado Latin and Brazilian Film Festival (Brazil).

Public recognition came with his second feature film, “LA ESTRATEGIA DEL CARACOL”, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 1993, becoming his first film commercially shown internationally and an icon of Colombian cinematography. It received, among other recognitions, the Audience Award and the Award of the Federation of Art at the Biarritz Festival (France), the Golden Spike for Best Film, the Audience Award and the Youth Award at SEMINCI in Valladolid (Spain).

Among his other credits are “ÁGUILAS NO CAZAN MOSCAS”1994), “ILONA LLEGA CON LLUVIA” (1996), “GOLPE DE ESTADIO” (1998) which gave César Mora a Special Mention for Best Actor at the Havana Festival; “PERDER ES CUESTION DE METODO” (2004), “TODOS SE VAN” (2015)

Since 1992 he has also directed television series in Colombia and Spain, among which are “LA MUJER DOBLE” (Caracol TV, 1992), “ESCALONA” (Caracol TV, 1992), “CANDELA” (Colombia, 1996), “SEVERO OCHOA” (Spain, 2001) , “CUÉNTAME COMO PASO” (Spain, 2004-2008), the most awarded Spanish series to date, the miniseries “ADOLFO SUÁREZ, EL PRESIDENTE” (Antena 3, Spain, 2010), “LA POLA” (RCN TV, 2010), “DR. MATA” ( RCN TV, 2014), and “GARZÓN VIVE”, (RCN TV, 2018) for each of these series he received the award for Best Series Director at the Catalina Awards of Colombian Television.

Mr. Cabrera has served as Head of the Department of Production at the International School of Film and Television of San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba (2000) and Professor of Cinematography at the Javeriana University of Bogotá (1992).

Paulina Montes

Co-Founder & Social Impact Director

Paulina Montes is co-founder of the Indie Pasion Film Festival and executive director of Fundación Manos del Sur, a nonprofit organization she founded in 1999.

Born in Chile, she grew up in Argentina and moved to Miami where she became part of a growing expat community. Concerned with the social issues she had seen all around Latin America, she focused in two main aspects: providing the children the essential educational opportunities they lacked and bringing awareness of the problematic and opportunities of Latin America. As Social Impact Resources Director of the Festival, Paulina will develop a program of films, shorts, documentaries and discussions, emphasizing the importance of bringing attention to all the social challenges of the Iberoamerican society and working to look for sustainable answers and solutions.

Fundación Manos del Sur will sponsor a “Social Impact Award” that will be presented each year to the winner of a student contest, focusing on different aspects of the Iberoamerican culture.

Alberto C. Rosende

Chief Operations Officer

Maj. Gen. (Ret) Alberto C. Rosende joins the team this year to support the IAFFM’s continued success. Alberto has had distinguished careers in both the civilian and military sectors, bringing a tremendous amount of practical experience in leading diverse teams and large organizations in challenging and complex environments. A life-long student and practitioner of leadership, he has developed a deeply rooted passion for developing organizations and growing leaders. Alberto’s lived experience includes extensive consulting and training engagements in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region, as well as senior Command and Staff positions in the US Army. Alberto retired from the U.S. Army at the rank of Major General after serving 37 years. Alberto will be focused on supporting the IAFFM’s continued growth, both in terms of the festival’s scope and reach, as well as its expanding structure and organization.

Alberto holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Learning from The George Washington University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, both schools located in Washington DC. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Alberto came to the U.S. as an infant from Cuba and grew up in New York and New Jersey. He moved to Florida to attend university, where he met his wife, Martha, who is from Colombia; they have two grown sons, Alberto and Diego, who both work in the Film and TV industry.

Martha Rosende

Financial Director

Martha Rosende worked 35 years in accounting and finance where she was Chief Financial Officer for a duty-free operator. She currently volunteers as the Command Senior Volunteer for the 63d Readiness División of the US Army Reserve in Mountain View, California. She also recently joined the Red Cross in Disaster Operations and the Latino Engagement Teams

Brandon Del Toro

Operations Director

Born in Mexico City, Brandon studied Industrial Engineering and Systems at the Tec de Monterrey Campus Santa Fe, contest and won first place in Shorts with Voice, and stood out for his participation in different events related to television in Mexico, completed a diploma in Philosophy in Barcelona and a course in Administration with the IESEG University in Lille, France.

After some time working in a Mexican financial institution based in Miami, he returned to Mexico to be part of the Mitsubishi Conciencia Cívica advertising campaign and FINTONIC launch campaign in 2019. He collaborated with the CDMX government for a campaign of “fitness motivation” where he worked with high-performance Mexican athletes.

He also dabbled in modeling, parading for different Mexican clothing brands and participated in different productions of feature films in Mexico and series on Netflix.

In 2019 he returned to Miami to be part of IAFFM.

Andrea Lavagnini

Lead Programmer

Originally from Italy, Andrea Lavagnini is a Film Programmer based in Mexico City. After a Master’s degree in Chemistry he started his career as Film Programmer and award coordinator for the Fondazione Cultural San Fedele. Besides nominating films for the prize, he curated retrospectives, silent film programmes and Q&A with directors. Since 2013 he is Senior Programmer and advisor of Latin American Cinema at
the Milano Film Festival as well as curator of its animation programme since 2012. As a film critic he has written for publications like Marie Claire, Esquire, The Towner, Filmidee, Cineforum and Duellanti. His knowledge of the independent movie theater business and latin-american cinema brought him to Mexico City where, under the management of the well- known producer Mónica Lozano, he has re-conceptualized and relaunched Cinemanía (an Arthouse movie theatre).
In almost ten years of experience, he has the know-how to ensure optimization of resources and sticking to a budget without compromising artistic vision. His scientific background influences his analytical approach to film programming for it complements his artistic judgement with the use of data and statistics to make the work more efficient.

Arturo Pérez Navarro

Industry Director

Co-founder of Vendo Cine, a sales agency and distributor focused on Ibero-American cinema with more than 10 years of experience since its inception. Host of the radio program El Septimo Vicio focused on cinematographic issues, since 2014. During the last 15 years he has participated in various selection committees of international festivals as well as their industry spaces.

Mariella Bruno

Art Advisor Uruguai

Born in Montevideo, based in Punta del Este, I studied a bachelor’s degree in
Languages ​​and Audiovisual Media specializing in Artistic Direction and
Production Design at the National School of Fine Arts of the University of the Republic. I have explored the different areas in audiovisual production
participating in photography, production, assembly and art direction in
Uruguayan, Argentine and North American productions.
From 2020 to July 2022, I mainly played the role of editor of music videos and television programs, later dedicating myself to the artistic direction and Production design of feature films. High-end interior designer and art consultant. Her philosophy on Interior design has more to do with preserving and incorporating existing objects into a new perspective, rather than replacing and populating spaces with new ones. Strongly influence by Zaha Hadid’s ideas of fragmentation and abstraction, she is passionate about deconstructing interiors, transforming daily spaces into extraordinary compositions. She believes proportions, create balance and beauty in everyday life

Christian Ossa

Social Impact Director

Colombian film director with a career of over 20 years in the film industry. With a background in film and audiovisual media, Ossa has directed numerous short films, documentaries, and feature films that have been showcased at film festivals in Colombia and abroad.
In addition to his work in film directing, Ossa is known for his work in promoting social cinema in Colombia. In 2010, he founded the Social Cinema Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to use cinema as a tool for social change and cultural transformation.

Marco Rodríguez

Animation Director

Marco Rodríguez, Mexican writer whose animated contributions span films and series for notable companies like Ikatoons and Anima, which will debut soon. He is a producer and writer for the preschool series Los cuentitos de Patylu; with his work exhibited at specialized fairs Animation festivals. With a deep passion for animation, Marco finds the greatest joy in watching
well-made movies.

Fernando Calero

Audiovisual Producer

Born in Montevideo, based in Punta del Este, I studied a bachelor’s degree in
Languages ​​and Audiovisual Media specializing in Artistic Direction and
Production Design at the National School of Fine Arts of the University of the Republic. I have explored the different areas in audiovisual production
participating in photography, production, assembly and art direction in
Uruguayan, Argentine and North American productions.
From 2020 to July 2022, I mainly played the role of editor of music videos and television programs, later dedicating myself to the artistic direction and
production design of feature films.

Xenia Marcinko

Production Advisor

Xenia is a visual producer. She graduated from the Andrés Bello Catholic University (Caracas-Venezuela) and has more than 12 years of experience in the advertising industry. She worked in more than 300 commercials with Latin American directors and with the most important advertising agencies and video production houses in Venezuela.

Since 2013 she has been part of The Magus Films team as the Executive Producer, creating stories that connect with audiences in a closer and more humane way.In 2017 she moved to Miami, USA where she opened the company’s branch and since then they have served important clients from Miami, New York and Caracas.

Ari Becerril

Cultural Manager

Cultural manager specialized in cinema. Was awarded a masters degree in Art History by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM); studied photography at the Academia de Artes Visuales (AAVI), and film restoration at the FIAF Restoration School de L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologne, Italy.
She specializes in research on film and photographic archives and has worked in different TV series and documentaries as film researcher. Was in charge of the research department at the Digital Restoration Laboratory in the Cineteca Nacional (National Cinematheque), in Mexico, and coordinator of the Digital Distribution Intensive created by Cinemania with the support from the Ibermedia Program and in collaboration with the Mexican Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences (AMACC).
She is currently the head coordinator for the education and industry branch of the non-fiction platform, DocsMX, and is also general coordinator of the German Film Week organized by the Goethe-Institut Mexico. She has been invited to participate as jury and evaluator by several distinguished institutions, festivals and national
and international encounters like the William Greaves Fund of research and development in the United States, DocsValencia in Valencia, Spain, Fondo para el Desarrollo Cinematográfico in Colombia and the Good Pitch in Mexico.

Omara García

Talent

Omara Fernanda García, Nació en el Estado Nueva Esparta (Isla de Margarita) Venezuela El 16 de Enero de 1993.

Tiene 24 años de edad y se gradúo de Publicidad, Mercadeo y Teatro en la Universidad de Miami en el año 2015.

Desde muy niña le encanta el Arte y el Modelaje. Concurso en concursos de belleza de niñas y siempre participaba en los Actos de fin de curso de su colegio.

Se graduó en la Universidad de Miami con un titulo en Publicidad y Teatro. De ahi incursiona en el mundo del Arte, a actuar en Obras de Teatro.
Realizo dos producciones Teatrales Americanas, tales como “Dinner with Friends” y “The Women”
Su primer debut en español lo realizo con “Staying Alive”, consecuente a eso vinieron “y Fueron Infelices Para Siempre” y “El Camerino de Chicago”.
En el 2016 hizo su primer debut en la pantalla grande con una pelicula Indipendiente llamada “The Complex” la cual esta en post produccion. Bajo la dirección del Director Frances, Georges Padey y la Productora Itziar Martinez.

Es Imagen de la Nueva Coleccion de TARBAY SS17 y del Diseñador Nicolas Felizola.

Acaba de Culminar la primera Temporada de “La Hija del General” Dirijida por la Primera Actriz Cubana Beatriz Valdez y los Escritores Juan Carlos Duque y Leonardo Padrón.

Su siguiente Reto será “Agonía” un short film Independiente bajo la dirección de Cesar Román Bolívar.

María Fuente

Event Planner

She was born in Madrid, Spain and studied Psychology atUCM. María started in world of event organization as a hobby that soon became part of his profession. For more than 8 years in collaboration with Berman events she was in charge of the creation and management of events in main cities of Spain and Europe.

In 2019 she changes his residences to Miami and it is from 2021 when she returns to evento management this time in Miami with M&L events.

Carolina Reyes

Business Development

Accomplished Art life with 20-year history of success in Art and financial planning.
Leverages analytical and communication skills and industry knowledge to help clients obtain financial goals and plan for the future.

Laura Mejía

Public Relations

Laura Mejia Cruz is the founder and chief executive officer of 11:11 Public Relations. She advises a wide range of entertainment, media and consumer product companies on all communication and marketing related issues including brand development, brand strategies, public relations, events and crisis management.

Hailing from Colombia, she started her career in entertainment in her early teens as the hostess of Telepacífico’s Teen TV show “Super Bien”. She went on to major in Communications and Journalism while simultaneously working as a DJ for several teen radio shows for Caracol Radio, Colombia’s number one communications network. While still in school and now in Miami, Mejia Cruz, an overachiever by nature, started working at Crescent Moon Records – the record label owned by Emilio Estefan in joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment Inc where she oversaw the stratospheric ascent in the careers of Gian Marco, Shalim, Rabanes, Jimena, Jon Secada, Arturo Sandoval, Gaitanes and MSM among others. She went on to work for Sony Music Norte as label manager for Latin superstars Ricardo Arjona, Sin Bandera, Ha-ash, Ednita Nazario, Victor Manuel and many others.

In 2004, Emilio Estefan tapped her as Estefan Enterprises’ Media Relations Director where she successfully led a variety of production, marketing and public relations functions for the company including all press and publicity activities for icon Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan himself while also helming the successful promotion of their many endeavors including book releases, restaurant and hotels launches and world tours. A known force behind the scenes, Mejia Cruz maintained a presence in front of the cameras as a regular contributor for “Showbiz”, the international entertainment TV show that aired on CNN en Español for nearly a decade and on the Colombian airwaves for the radio show “Oye Cali 96.5FM”.

In 2009, Laura Mejía Cruz joined forces with acclaimed publicist Susan Stipcianos and launched The Dream Team Agency (DTA); a boutique public relations company with focus on fashion, beauty and entertainment which quickly positioned itself as the premier agency in the US Latin/Crossover PR landscape. Clients under their purview included Estee Lauder, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, TRESEmmé, Clarins, Eva+Avo and Beauty Counter, to name a few. Longtime clients included Latin GRAMMY award winning songwriters & musicians Natalia Jiménez, Silvestre Dangond, Leonel García and Gian Marco as well as Mexican crooner Carlos Rivera, international star Ricardo Arjona and flamenco star Siudy Garrido. Top corporate clients included The Miami Marathon, Penguin Random House, Harper Collins and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The agency’s management beauty division handled several celebrity make-up and hair stylists for brands such as Tresemmé, Mary Kay, Garnier USA, Esika, L’oreal Paris USA & Neutrogena in the Hispanic market.

After decades of dominating the industry and to keep her sense of adventure afresh, Mejia Cruz decided in 2022 to launch a new venture: 11:11 Public Relations, a boutique PR agency – under her sole management. On board, her longtime clients: The Miami Marathon, Harper Collins, Natalia Jimenez, Gian Marco, Carlos Rivera, Siudy Garrido and Leonel García, and reunites once again with global superstar Gloria Estefan and music mogul Emilio Estefan. New up-and-coming artists Humbe, Ingratax and Brianda are along for the ride as are the beauty brand Eva+avo, TV personality Charytin and the iconic American instrument brand, Gibson Guitars.

Web: www.1111pr.net
Twitter: @1111pragency
Facebook @1111pragency
Instagram @1111pr.agency
Linktree https://linktr.ee/1111PublicRelations

Victoria Ferruccio

Events/Travel Consultant

Victoria’s broad experience in event/travel planning, logistics, and operations allows her to provide independent, tailor-made travel consultancy by managing clients’ interests, needs, and expectations.

Luis Bond

Programmer

Director, Screenwriter, and Editor at The Magus Films. College professor. Film Critic since 2011. Founding member of the Circle of Critics of Caracas. A reader who writes, a cinephile who makes movies. I believe in the power of good stories. Passionate about images, symbols, myths, and the psyche (with Jungian orientation)

Victoria Maldonado

Creative Director

Cultural Manager and Creative Producer based in Miami. Victoria’s practice involves Cultural Promotion, Curation, Event Production and Public Relations. In her current role as Assistant Manager at Juan Carlos Maldonado Collection, she manages art loans, exhibitions and event logistics having worked with institutions such as The Fundación Juan March, The Guggenheim Museum New York, The Perez Art Museum Miami, and The New World Symphony.

During her Undergraduate degree at University of the Arts London she specialized in luxury brand management and fashion styling for editorial publications, photoshoots, and film sets. At the same time, she directed The Latinxs Collective, a project incubator for students aiming to work in the creative industry. Through a series of educational events, she generated exhibitions, panel discussions and publications championing interdisciplinary collaborations and art promotion. Worked with Central Saint Martin’s College, The Arts Student Union, The UK Mexican Arts Society and Chelsea College of Art and Design. 

Through the execution of a diverse range of projects across different fields, she aims to stimulate opportunities for cultural development, connect different industries and engage communities.

Erika Contreras

Business Development

Erika Contreras is an accomplished professional and entrepreneur with a successful track record in business development and socially conscious initiatives. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia and has been living in Miami for over two decades. Erika’s twenty five years’ experience in management, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations has allowed her to build a solid network of relationships that she has the privilege to strategically activate in projects and activities aimed to add value to the local community. Her genuine interest in connecting with people and bringing talent together are some of her main core values.

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