Cynthia Martinez is a Michigan-based, Latina filmmaker:
“First Voice Generation“ will be showing at the Capital City Film Festival in Lansing. Latinos are more likely to be first generation college students than any other racial or ethnic group. 44 percent of Latino students are the first in their family to attend college. Yet, Latinos receive the lowest average amount of aid when compared to all students. First Voice Generation, is a social justice film that brings awareness to first generation Latino students and the challenges they face when becoming the first in their families to attend college.
Film Synopsis
First Voice Generation follows the stories of three Latino high school students in Holland, Michigan, during an unprecedented global pandemic year. Each student struggles with their identity growing up in a historically Dutch community, feeling that they don’t belong because they are children of Mexican immigrants. They each dream of being the first in their family to go college, but a year of challenges ensue with virtual learning, and the realization that the cost of affording college seems impossible.
I started production of the film during the 2020 pandemic and when racial tensions were high across the country with the death of George Floyd. The Latino students in the film share their lived experiences with racism in their community and their schools during this time. I am attaching the trailer to the film, our movie poster, and a link to the Capital City Film festival for tickets. First Voice Generation recently won the jury award at the Central Michigan International Film Festival in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Please share with you organization, students, and networks.
You can follow us on IG @firstvoicegeneration or our FB page First Voice Generation https://m.facebook.com/groups/262539625430729/
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 12:00pm
Location: The Fledge Community Center 1300 Eureka St. Lansing, Michigan 48912
