HITN Honors Young Filmmakers in National Middle School Contest
News > Technology News
Audio By Carbonatix
10:56 AM on Monday, November 3
The Associated Press
BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 3, 2025--
HITN continues to inspire middle school students to celebrate Puerto Rican Heritage Month through Cortitos, its national short-film competition. Presented for its third year, HITN ’s initiative Cortitos encourages student creativity, storytelling, and cultural exploration. The contest invites students to write a script and produce one-minute films highlighting one of HITN ’s five Puerto Rican Heritagehonorees.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103793663/en/
This year’s winners include two standout entries from Esperanza Academy Charter School in Philadelphia. One was written, directed and edited by 8th grader Alarberto Ortiz, and the other co-written, co-directed and co-edited by 14-year-olds Awildaliz Martinez Dejesus and My’Lan Baez. A cash prize was shared between both winners.
Reflecting on his piece, Alarberto shared, “I made my film about Roberto Clemente because I really admire him as a successful baseball player. He also did a lot for the Hispanic community, something I hope I can do when I grow up.”
“We chose to make this film about Sonia Manzano because she still became successful even if things were hard growing up. We liked the book she wrote, it was called ‘ Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx’,” said Awildaliz and My’Lan about their film’s inspiration.
At HITN, competition co-founder Luis Alejandro Molina commended the students’ creativity and dedication, noting, “Their work is truly inspiring, and we hope they continue sharing their talents with the world.”
Cortitos is more than a contest—it’s an educational experience that connects generations and fosters creativity, cultural awareness, and media literacy. Through hands-on activities, students explore identity, history, personal and cultural expression, and the art of filmmaking, all while honoring the legacies of influential Puerto Ricans.
About HITN
HITN-TV is the leading Spanish-language media company that offers educational and cultural programming for the whole family. It reaches more than 35 million homes in the US and Puerto Rico via DIRECTV, DIRECTV NOW, AT&T U-verse, AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now, DISH Network, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Mediacom, CenturyLink Prism, and Altice. Edye users can learn more about the platform at www.edye.com and download the Edye app through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
For more information:
Corporate Webpage: www. HITN.org
TV Webpage: www. hitn.tv
X: @ HITNtv
Facebook: @ HITNtv
Instagram: @ HITNtv
YouTube: @ HITNTelevision
Linkedin: @ HITN
View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103793663/en/
CONTACT: Fernando Cárdenas / (347) 243-6164
KEYWORD: LATIN AMERICA NORTH AMERICA UNITED STATES PUERTO RICO CARIBBEAN NEW YORK
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TV AND RADIO HISPANIC GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT FILM & MOTION PICTURES CONSUMER MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT ONLINE OTHER COMMUNICATIONS OTHER EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS EDUCATION OTHER CONSUMER TEENS PARENTING CHILDREN OTHER ENTERTAINMENT
SOURCE: HITN
Copyright Business Wire 2025.
PUB: 11/03/2025 11:56 AM/DISC: 11/03/2025 11:56 AM
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251103793663/en
