BY MELISSA BEATRIZ  ON JUNE 10, 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact communities in the United States, in early March 2020, it became clear that the arts sector was being gravely economically affected. This is a timeline of what the arts had to face during the pandemic, from budget cuts, closed offices, emerging media, canceled grants to a refunding budget allocation.

BY MELISSA BEATRIZ ON NOVEMBER 25, 2020

This year, the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival and Symposium (DX) was held virtually from Oct. 14 to 18. DX is the first and sole film festival in the United States that focuses its programming on the intersection of film and investigative reporting.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON NOVEMBER 10, 2020

New Order (Nuevo Orden) by Mexican director Michel Franco is a suspenseful dystopian film that depicts the frustration of the widening wealth gap. It’s the perfect film to depict the complicated social dynamics between the ruling and the lower class and the misinformation of the general public.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON NOVEMBER 5, 2020

The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) is one of the city's premiere destinations for films and storytelling from the Asian diaspora. With over 80 films to watch at PAAFF, we are sharing three films from the program that are available to audiences in the United States and Canada.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON OCTOBER 13, 2020

This Hispanic Heritage Month, a selection of ten films from the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival (PHLAFF) are available on Xfinity On Demand Latino destination on X1 until October 15.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR AND NADINE PATTERSON ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

In Regina King’s directorial debut of One Night in Miami, she re-imagines a fictional friendship between Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke. Set in a Miami hotel room in February 1964, the four protagonists meet up to celebrate Clay’s “Heavyweight Championship of the World” win.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 | PUBLISHER: cinéSPEAK

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is the largest publicly attended film festival in the world, and one of the most internationally recognized festivals. With the spread of the pandemic, film festivals globally have shifted to virtual screenings and socially-distanced, in-person screenings. The 45th edition of TIFF combines both online and in-person events to keep the spirit of the festival alive.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

A Suitable Boy directed by Mira Nair is set in 1950s India after the country’s independence, transition to democracy, and the partition of India and Pakistan. The miniseries follows university student Lata Mehra, portrayed by Tanya Maniktala.

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

J Balvin is one of best-selling Latin music artists in the globe. He was the most streamed artist worldwide on Spotify in 2018. He was the first reggaetonero to perform on Saturday Night Live. Singing primarily in Spanish, J Balvin has been able to cross over to non-Spanish speaking markets which is a huge feat for Latin American artists, gaining him the title "Prince of Reggaeton."

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Sonia Kennebeck is a Malaysian independent documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist with over 15 years of experience. Enemies of the State, combines Kennebeck's investigative reporting background with a cinematic visual style reminiscent of that of executive producer Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line).

BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

My name is Kristal Sotomayor and I am co-founder of ¡Presente! Media. I am a filmmaker, festival programmer, and film critic. This year, I will be covering the online edition of the 45th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) running from September 10 to 19, 2020. As part of my coverage, I aim to be a representative of Philadelphia during the online film festival.

PRODUCED BY GABRIELLA WATSON-BURKETT

PRODUCED FOR PHILLYCAM/ATRÉVETE

Interview with Dr. Sharelle Barber, director of the documentary I, Black Women Resist on Marielle Franco's legacy. The segment also features an interview with Vashti DuBois, Founder of the Colored Girls Museum. Marielle Franco was an Afro-Brazilian Activist who fought for racial and social inequality murdered in 2018.