Professional Development
A history of workshops, mentorships, and educational initiatives
Past Workshops
2025

Cumbia Algoritmica Workshop
- •Organizer: Southern Currents / aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival
- •Facilitator: Luis Navarro Del Ángel
- •Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 • 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- •Location: Lokaal, 142 Westmount Ave, 2nd Fl, Toronto
- •Language: Spanish • Limited to 20 participants
This hands-on workshop introduced participants to Seis8s, an accessible live-coding environment for creating Latin dance music. Participants composed a cumbia using digital tools while reflecting on music, language, and culture. The session included collaborative listening, technical demos, and collective performance.
Participants explored the intersection of algorithmic music and Latin dance music through the creation of an algorithmic cumbia, using Seis8s — a web-based live coding language featuring Spanish-language commands inspired by Latin dance music, developed by workshop facilitator Luis Navarro Del Ángel.
2019

LowBudget Lighting Workshop
- •Interior Low Budget Lighting Workshop by Camilo Constain
- •Dates: September 27, 28, and 29 • 1PM–5PM
- •Location: Arcadia Coop
- •Open to the general public – Beginners and Professionals welcome
- •Optional $40 CAD donation • Limited participation
2017

Sensitive Maps
- •Organizer: Southern Currents / aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival
- •Sound Workshop with Uruguayan artist Brian Mackern
This Sound Workshop deals with the city as an artistic interface and presents sonic approaches in an urban context. Participants worked on personal and collective projects exploring all phases of a creative project in development within an area defined by crossing between digital and spatial environments.
2016
Image n' Action Film Mentorship Project 2016
- •WHEN: July 2016
- •WHERE: Peach Youth, 127 Eddystone Ave. North York, ON M3N 1H6
Image n' Action Film Mentorship Project is a community based art education project- a one-month film production and mentoring project offered to Latin Canadian youth and new comers interested in filmmaking. Under the direction of a professional mentor, the learners will be able to participate in all aspects of film production.
Image n' Action Film Mentorship Project provides equipment, production facilities, and mentorship from professional Latino artists over one month to youth and newcomers to make their first film. Not only are participants provided with a safe space to be themselves and be creative with the latest camera and editing technology, but they are also given a guaranteed platform for their stories and a large, receptive audience. Completed works are screened at the festival and many go on to other film festivals internationally. Annually compiled, their films are requested by and distributed to organizations for support, education and awareness throughout Toronto and around the world.
Participants will be taught how to conceptualize, plan, pitch, and produce a short film project. Sessions will have an initial focus on pre-production stages guiding participants to find available resources for creating their work. An opportunity will be provided to explore works created by other artists and writing professional artist statements. As the workshop progresses, participants will be assigned to specific roles in the production process, such as writing, lighting, camera, acting, etc.
2015

Talleres de cine super 8 / Super 8 Workshop
- •Organizer: The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto and aluCine Latin Film+Media Arts Festival
- •Instructor: legendary Argentinian filmmaker Claudio Caldini.
- •Participants: 10
2014

OUT N' LOUD (Supported by the Ontario Arts Council)
- •Organizer: 14th aluCine Film+Media Arts Festival
- •Instructor: Alexandra Gelis
- •Participants: Women (5)
2013

Tradition Meets Modern (Music Workshop)
- •Toronto Free Gallery • 1277 Bloor Street West
- •Saturday, March 23 • 4–6 PM • FREE
- •Instructor: Lalo Porto, Luciano Porto and Sergio Elmir
- •Participants: General (23) Beginner
An audio-visual exploration of the African influence in Latin American music contrasting traditional and contemporary. Discussion panel will be supported by vinyl tracks video samples and live demonstrations. Presented by Sergio Elmir, Luciano Porto and Lalo Porto.

PASO-A-PASO/STEP BY STEP (Supported by the Ontario Arts Council)
- •Organizer: 13thaluCine Film + Media Arts Festival
- •Instructor: Alejandro Valbuena
- •Participants: Youth (8)
2012

Young Video Makers
- •Organizer: Southern Currents in collaboration with Humewood School (TDSB)
- •Instructors: Clara Macia and Sinara Rozo
- •Participants: Kids (24) – Beginner
2011

Is There a Latin In This Room? Thirty Years of “Latinidad” in Canadian Cinema
- •Organizer: aluCine Latin Film +Media Arts Festival
- •Instructors: Elena Feder
- •Participants: Youth (20) – Intermediate/Advanced
The Art of Low-Budget Lighting
- •Organizer: 10th AluCine Latin Film & Media Arts Festival
- •Instructors: Mary J. Daniel
- •Participants: Youth (12) – Beginners/Intermediate
Documentary,Dramatic and Experimental Production Workshop
- •Organizer: 10th aluCine Latin Film & Media Arts Festival
- •Instructors: Mary J.Daniel
- •Participants: Youth (20) – Intermediate

The Latin-American Artist Centre Symposium,Toronto
- •Organizer: Southern Currents + LACAP
- •Instructors: Several
- •Participants: General (72)
- •3 Sessions- Advanced

Humewood School Cluster Activities
- •Organizer: Southern Currents
- •Instructors: Clara Macia and Sinara Rozo
- •Participants: Kids (24) – Beginner
2010
Image-N-Accion and conSECUENCIAS (Supported by the Ontario Arts Council)
- •Financed by the Canada Council for the Arts aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival
- •Facilitators: Jorge Lozano and Alexandra Gelis
- •Participants: Youth (12) – Beginner

Pocket Video Workshop
- •Facilitators: Julià Carboneras Girgas, Nacho Durán and Fernando Velázquez
- •Presenters: Fluid New Media Lab and aluCine Latin Film+Media Arts Festival
- •Participants: 20 – Advanced
A practical workshop where students learned how to maximize the image use of their cell phones and other portable devices that record video.
2009

VIDEOnACTION Creativity Through Self-Representation
- •Supported by the Ontario Arts Council, Social Investment Fund of Toronto Community Housing
- •Sponsored by Elmbank Community Centre
- •Organizer: aluCine Latin Film+Media Arts Festival
- •Instructors: Jorge Lozano and Alexandra Gelis
- •Assistants: Josue Maya, Oriana Oarbato, Mariana Jerez
- •Participants: 12 – Beginner

Huellas – Intermediate Video Editing
- •Organizer: Hispanic Council
- •Facilitated and sponsored by: aluCine Latin Film+Media Arts Festival
- •Instructors: Sinara Rozo and Guillermina Buzio
- •Partners: Hispanic Council
- •Participants: 8 – Intermediate
2008
Grant writing for Spanish Speakers
- •Facilitators: Juana Awad & Jorge Lozano
- •Participants: 20 – Intermediate
Activist Blogging Workshop
- •Organizers: OCIC
- •Facilitator: Sinara Rozo
- •Participants: 40 – Beginner / Intermediate
Art & Technology, The Modern Alchemy
- •Facilitator: Jorge Castro
- •Participants: 12 – Intermediate
The Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge
- •Organizer: OCIC – Video Challenge
- •Coordinator: Kris Orantes Migoya
- •Facilitator: Sinara Rozo
- •Participants: 45 – Beginner
2006-2007

Self-Representation Video Workshops for Marginalized Latin Youth and the Queer Latin Community
- •Supported by the Ontario Arts Council
- •Organizer: aluCine Latin Film & Media Arts Festival
- •Instructors: Jorge Lozano and Guillermina Buzio
- •Partners: The Spanish Speaking Centre
- •Participants: Latin Youth (11) / Queer (9) – Beginner
2006

Video Production Workshop (Supported by the Ontario Arts Council)
- •Organizers: 8th aluCine Latin Film+Media Festival
- •Facilitator: Jorge Lozano and Guillermina Buzio
- •Participants: Youth (10) – Beginner/Intermediate
2005
“Street is a Mutha” Video Production Workshop
- •Organizers: 8th Alucine Toronto Latin Media Festival
- •Facilitator: Lalo Lorza
- •Participants: Latin Youth (6) – Beginner/Intermediate
2004
Youth Video Production Workshops
- •Organizers: Southern Currents
- •Facilitator: Jorge Lozano and Juana Awad
- •Participants: Latin Youth (6) – Intermediate
2000
“The Winter Garden” Video Production Workshop
- •Organizers: Southern Currents
- •Facilitator: Sinara Rozo in collaboration with Marlon Moreno
- •Participants: 5 – Intermediate
1998
“Papi” Video Production Workshop
- •Organizers: Southern Currents
- •Facilitator: Sinara Rozo in collaboration with Gricel Severino
- •Participants: 6 – Intermediate/Advance
1996
“Samuel y Samantha” Video Production Workshop
- •Organizers: Southern Currents
- •Facilitator: Samuel Lopez
- •Participants: 5 – Beginner/Intermediate