Ben Lopez(VIII)
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Ben Lopez is an established leader and consultant in the global DEI space. In 2021, he consulted with Walt Disney Animation Studios on Encanto, the Academy award-winning animated musical.
Born in Mexico City, raised in Tucson and based in Los Angeles, Ben developed a deep expertise and data-driven solutions to help expand the talent pipeline and elevate Latine and BIPoC communities in the entertainment, media, and tech ecosystem. Ben's early entry into the industry was as a contributor to film festivals, labs and incubators, and as an independent producer, which gave him real-world insight into the challenges faced by Latine and BIPoC filmmakers. Via his work as a producer and as the leader of NALIP, he contributed to the growing viability of Latino stories in the United States and abroad. As a prominent thought leader with a specialization in LATAM and Latine-focused content as well as industry inclusion, he delivered speeches and talks at festivals and markets including: Cannes Lions, Outfest, SANFIC in Chile, MIP Cancún, Sundance, SXSW, FICG and European Film Market in Berlin. Ben has been featured on national and international publications and media such as Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and NBC Universal.
Awards for Ben's work include the African American Film Critics Association's Salute To Excellence Award, in recognition of his commitment to maximize diversity and inclusion for creators of color across the spectrum of entertainment over the last 20 years. In 2020, he received the Top #EverydayLeader recognition for his team-focused leadership of NALIP. He also provided strategic support to a series of entities including the Community Advisory Board for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story and Diverso, a nonprofit organization, by students and for students, dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the next generation of underrepresented storytellers. Ben served on the board of Veterans in Media & Entertainment, VME, a professional association of U.S. military veterans working in, or aspiring to work in, media and entertainment. He serves on the Western Council of the Entertainment Community Fund, a 501 charitable organization that supports performers and behind-the-scenes workers in performing arts and entertainment, helping more than 17,000 people directly each year.
In 2022, Ben launched L21 Consulting to help the Latine and BIPoC community thrive in an increasingly complex entertainment and media ecosystem. In the same year, L21 partnered with McDonald's Spotlight Dorado, a multi-year platform aimed at empowering and amplifying Latino voices across different industries, starting off with film. As producer and Founder/CEO of L21, Ben remains active in creating channels to fund, support, and drive content focused on diverse communities in Hollywood and beyond.
Born in Mexico City, raised in Tucson and based in Los Angeles, Ben developed a deep expertise and data-driven solutions to help expand the talent pipeline and elevate Latine and BIPoC communities in the entertainment, media, and tech ecosystem. Ben's early entry into the industry was as a contributor to film festivals, labs and incubators, and as an independent producer, which gave him real-world insight into the challenges faced by Latine and BIPoC filmmakers. Via his work as a producer and as the leader of NALIP, he contributed to the growing viability of Latino stories in the United States and abroad. As a prominent thought leader with a specialization in LATAM and Latine-focused content as well as industry inclusion, he delivered speeches and talks at festivals and markets including: Cannes Lions, Outfest, SANFIC in Chile, MIP Cancún, Sundance, SXSW, FICG and European Film Market in Berlin. Ben has been featured on national and international publications and media such as Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and NBC Universal.
Awards for Ben's work include the African American Film Critics Association's Salute To Excellence Award, in recognition of his commitment to maximize diversity and inclusion for creators of color across the spectrum of entertainment over the last 20 years. In 2020, he received the Top #EverydayLeader recognition for his team-focused leadership of NALIP. He also provided strategic support to a series of entities including the Community Advisory Board for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story and Diverso, a nonprofit organization, by students and for students, dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the next generation of underrepresented storytellers. Ben served on the board of Veterans in Media & Entertainment, VME, a professional association of U.S. military veterans working in, or aspiring to work in, media and entertainment. He serves on the Western Council of the Entertainment Community Fund, a 501 charitable organization that supports performers and behind-the-scenes workers in performing arts and entertainment, helping more than 17,000 people directly each year.
In 2022, Ben launched L21 Consulting to help the Latine and BIPoC community thrive in an increasingly complex entertainment and media ecosystem. In the same year, L21 partnered with McDonald's Spotlight Dorado, a multi-year platform aimed at empowering and amplifying Latino voices across different industries, starting off with film. As producer and Founder/CEO of L21, Ben remains active in creating channels to fund, support, and drive content focused on diverse communities in Hollywood and beyond.