Hispanicize 2013 Conference Kicks Off in Miami Beach

The Hispanicize conference will take place in Miami from April 9 to 13. It will bring together Latino filmmakers, bloggers, advertisers, musicians, public relations and journalists.

Latino bloggers, musicians, filmmakers and others are gathering this week in Miami Beach for the annual Hispanicize conference.

The conference kicks off Tuesday and runs until April 13.

“We’re doing it because of all of these industries are colliding and converging in different ways,” Manny Ruiz, the founder and creative director of Hispanicize, told NBC Latino. “So they say I have to be pretty crazy to try this,” he adds, laughing.

The conference, now in its fourth year, includes panel discussions, contests, films, performances, information sessions and plenty of social networking.

But the event will also shine a light on Miami, its innovators and its Latino influences.

“Miami doesn’t get to shine,” Andrew Quarrie, who will debut a new app for journalists, told NBC Latino. “But this has a chance to help the startup community down here.”

The event will bring together guest speakers from across the United States.

“It’s about having all these influencers, putting them in the right setting and having them amplify their voices,” Ruiz said. “It is the time and the place for anyone with talent, for anybody who can produce content, to be their own outlet. Brands, organizations, individuals — if you put your time to use producing content with a coherent approach you will be able to make a living.”

Guide to Hispanicize 2013: Performances, films and what you can’t miss:

NBC Latino spoke to Ruiz, founder of Hispanicize to analyze the schedule of the conference and create a guide to the events you can't miss.

Tuesday, April 9

  • 1:00 pm: Diversity Tech Leaders & Social Media Entrepreneurs Summit (4 hr program)
  • 2:00 pm: Gringo Latinos: How Hispanic Culture & Flavors are Steadily Transforming ‘American’ Lifestyles & Tastes
  • 6:45 pm: Departing to film premiere of “Filly Brown” with Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gina Rodriguez, Youssef Delara and Michael Olmos

Wednesday, April 10

  • 9:00 am: Total Annihilation of the Crabs: Part Deux
  • 12:00 pm: Carlos Ponce, Latinovator award
  • 7:50 pm: Red Carpet Night at Regal Cinemas South Beach for “Blaze You Out” and “Dreamer” with actors and other celebrities followed by movie

Thursday, April 11

  • 11:20 am: Latinovator: Creator of Zumba, Beto Perez
  • 2:00 pm: Coca-Cola’s Adelante Tour with Nely Galan and Her Wise Celebrity Latinas (3 hr program)
  • 8:00 pm: ‘Biggest Night of Music’ Concert at South Beach’s New World Center sponsored by Pandora

Friday, April 12

  • 11:50 am: Latinovator: Chilean director Nicolás Lopéz
  • 7:00 pm: Movimiento Music Night at Bongo’s Cuban Cafe
  • 8:00 pm: “After Shock” and “Mission Park” film premieres; Q&A with filmmakers at Regal Cinemas

Saturday, April 13

  • 12:00 pm: Latinovator: Soledad O’Brien
  • 1:00 pm: Searching for Cesar Chavez National Town Hall (3 hr livestreamed program) by the American Latino Museum  

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