U.S. HISPANIC Versión en español
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort Of Director Incubator
22 de noviembre de 2025
This year’s Director Incubator class includes Alejandra Vazquez, Natalie Jasmine Harris, April Maxey, Valeria Contreras, and Lindsey Villarreal
The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) announced the fifth cohort of its Director Incubator (formerly known as the Women in Color Incubator).
Supported by Netflix, the program continues to amplify global voices in film and serve as a powerful entry point for emerging underrepresented storytellers whose visions challenge convention and reshape the narrative landscape.
This year’s Director Incubator class includes Alejandra Vazquez, Natalie Jasmine Harris, April Maxey, Valeria Contreras, and Lindsey Villarreal. They were selected from hundreds of submissions for their daring narratives and distinctive cinematic voices. Each filmmaker receives a US$35,000 production grant and tailored mentorship from leading NALIP and Netflix executives, guiding them through all stages of short film production, from idea to impact.
“The partnership between NALIP and Netflix continues to open doors for bold, world-class filmmakers whose stories transcend borders,” said Diana Luna, Executive Director of NALIP. “Many of our alumni have gone on to premiere at Cannes, Sundance, and Tribeca, and to secure major studio deals. This year’s cohort reflects the same creative fire–women and gender-expansive directors poised for breakthrough moments.”
The Director Incubator films will be showcased during the NALIP Media Summit 2026.
Alumni from the program have played their short films at American Black Film Festival, LALIFF, New York Latino Film Festival, Screamfest Horror Film Festival and other notable film festivals across the country. Additionally, four short films from the 2021 NALIP program are now available to stream globally on Netflix.
Frida Pérez, an alumna of the program’s second cohort, has found continued success as a showrunner and writer, with credits that include co-creating and writing the Apple TV+ series The Studio (2025), as well as earlier work as an assistant on the feature films Good Boys (2019) and An American Pickle (2020).
