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AFI and AGBO Announce 2020 Grant Recipient Marina Kato

AFI and Russo Brothers’ AGBO announced today this year’s recipient of the AGBO/AFI Conservatory Development Grant: AFI Conservatory alumna Marina Kato!

“Through its grants and mentorship, AGBO leads the way in supporting and championing diverse voices, an integral step in increasing inclusivity in the industry,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and EVP of AFI. “We are proud of our partnership with AGBO and can’t wait to see the results of their collaboration with Marina.”

The program, in its second year, awards $25,000 to a recent AFI Conservatory graduate to develop at least one project with a year-long mentorship from AGBO. Kato will receive the grant for her script “Dia de las Carpas,” a fairytale about a little girl who escapes deportation by becoming a mermaid.

“Marina spotlights injustice and inequality through a remarkable lens that brings both beauty and joy to her examinations of the struggles immigrants face,” said Angela Russo-Otstot, President of Creative at AGBO. “We are honored to guide her through our story process to help develop her short DIA DE LAS CARPAS into a feature-length screenplay that champions underdog heroes in the Latinx community through a commercial approach that speaks to broad audiences.”

 

DIA DE LAS CARPAS is a 2019 AFI Thesis film directed by João Dall’Stella. Watch the trailer now :