Grantees and Arts Foundation in the News.
Two Arts Foundation grantees, Oscar Rene Coronado (2025 ARPA Artist Grant) and Francisco Javier Landin Jr. (2024 stART Grant), were recently featured on national news for their work amplifying border and Indigenous stories through film.
Oscar Rene, director of the upcoming Nogales International Film Festival (NOGAIFF), taking place April 30-May 2, 2025, is spotlighted in IndieWire for his work creating a platform that reclaims border narratives through film. With NOGAIFF, he hopes to foster unity and cultural connection at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Art can break down the barriers we as humans build between ourselves,” Coronado told IndieWire, describing the novelty screening format as a kind of cross-cultural portal. “We’re talking about unity. We’re talking about community. We’re talking about bringing two places together that are separated, and the way we bring them together is by putting everybody in the middle of that separation, right where everything actually starts separating. It’s very impactful.”
Francisco Javier Landin Jr., filmmaker and coordinator of NOGAIFF, is also featured in the IndieWire article, where he speaks on shining a light on Nogales as a cultural hub and its potential to become a destination where people can make films without the border stigma.
Francisco also made an appearance in the in an article titled “Meet Navajo filmmaker David Aberle” published in the Navajo-Hopi Observer. In the article, Aberle mentions the impact that the Southern Arizona Film Positives Program (also funded by the Arts Foundation) had on his career. Through the Film Positives Program, Aberle has received mentorship, resources, and funding to bring his next vision to life: the dramatic short film Finding Fire- an Indigenous student’s journey to find connection outside their reservation.
“Filmmakers like David Aberle are invaluable in our community, and through this program, we aim to amplify his voice as well as the voices of other underrepresented filmmakers, providing real support, and creating a sustainable path for diverse artists to thrive,” said Francisco J. Landin Jr. to the Navajo-Hopi Observer. “We truly believe in the power of film to transform communities and further culture, and we’re honored to be part of that journey.”
Nogales International Film Festival
Dates: April 30 – May 2, 2025
All screenings are open and free to the public, but VIP passes include many exclusive activities and perks.
We’re proud to support artists like Oscar and Francisco whose work connects, uplifts, and transforms communities across borders.
Articles by Alison Foreman (IndieWire) and the Navajo-Hopi Observer.
