To ensure that Hispanic filmmakers have a platform to network and promote their work, Jose Marquez, CEO of Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LIST), and Lance Robertson, CMO of the Black Latino Council, created the Georgia Latino Film Festival during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2012.

“In just one year our footprint has expanded exponentially,” says Robertson. “We have film submissions from Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and we see attendees from all over.”

To kick off the festival, Hispanicize HX, the regional Latino events platform of the annual Hispanicize event, held a special edition red carpet event, gathering the city’s top Latino influencers in journalism, blogging, marketing, technology and entertainment with “TED Talks”-type presentations, networking and a musical performance.

With the help of sponsors such as Coca Cola, Hispanicize Wire, OVN Latino, Being Latino and Sofrito for Your Soul, the festival provides an opportunity for corporations to target the fastest growing movie-going audience and promote their products and services. Companies and organizations were equipped with branded signage and banners, giveaways such as T-shirts, stickers and other marketing items to help consumers keep their brand front of mind.

Other sponsors for this year’s Georgia Latino Film Festival were PMPublicidad, Georgia Pacific, AeroMexico, Mundo Hispanico, SBC, Mi Amiga Magazine, InTouch Financials, Pase La Voz and Verizon. “We make 15, 30 and 60 second PSA audio, video and script in English and Spanish and provide local main stream, urban and Latino Media with content they can use,” says Robertson. “Plus we form media partnerships so the event will have great coverage and continue to grow.”

This year, several television channels, radio stations and newspapers picked up the story, including CBS News, Telemundo, OVNLatino, La Mega and Univision. GaLFF also set up a blogger lounge and promoted sponsors through social media channels Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and more. “Our HX events will bring greater media, social media and marketing recognition to talented presenters and Latino music artists that deserve to be better known,” said Manny Ruiz, founder of the Hispanicize platforms, in a press release. “Through the HX events and our Hispanicize Wire press release distribution platform we will change the game for influential thought leaders and Latin music artists.”