Sometimes it’s hard for Latino adults to figure out what race box to check off on official forms and in life in general. Imagine how hard it must be for a Latino child to navigate a racial system that is pretty much divided into just black and white. If you’re having a hard time remembering what it felt like being in between as a Latino child in the U.S., Linda Nieves-Powell will remind you with her film, Mimi’s Portrait. The 8 minute digital short was written, produced, and directed by Nieves-Powell and is based on her own personal experiences of moving from the inner city to the suburbs of Long Island and having to choose between being either black or white.

The film will be featured today, Columbus Day observed, at 5 pm. as part of the Downtown Film Festival in Staten Island, NYC at Cargo Café, 120 Bay Street. It will also be featured in Miami as part of the 4th Annual Miami Short Film Festival from October 24th to October 29th 2005.

When Nieves-Powell isn’t making movies, she’s running Latino Flavored Productions Inc., an English language multimedia entertainment company. She was recently named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 Influential Hispanics. She is also the writer, director and producer of the hit play YO SOY LATINA! , now touring nationally across college campuses.

So if you’re still confused as to where you stand as a Latino living between two worlds, maybe Nieves-Powell and her powerful work will show you how to create your own space and discover yourself.

Latino Flavored Productions Inc.