efile Public Visual Render
ObjectId: 201931339349203603 - Submission: 2019-05-13
TIN: 27-4273918
Form
990EZ
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Short Form
Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax
Under section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (except private foundations)
Do not enter social security numbers on this form as it may be made public.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990EZ
for instructions and the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-1150
20
18
Open to Public
Inspection
A
For the 2018 calendar year, or tax year beginning
01-01-2018
, and ending
12-31-2018
B
Check if applicable:
Address change
Name change
Initial return
Final return/terminated
Amended return
Application pending
C
Name of organization
Americas Media Initiative NFP
Number and street (or P. O. box, if mail is not delivered to street address)
4750 N Sheridan Road
Room/suite
City or town, state or province, country, and ZIP or foreign postal code
Chicago
,
IL
60640
D Employer identification number
27-4273918
E
Telephone number
(312) 282-0135
F
Group Exemption
Number
G
Accounting Method:
Cash
Accrual
Other (specify)
H
Check
required to attach Schedule B
(Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF).
I Website:
www.americasmediainitiative.org
J Tax-exempt status
(check only one) -
501(c)(3)
501(c)
(
)
(insert no.)
4947(a)(1)
or
527
K
Form of organization:
Corporation
Trust
Association
Other
L
Add lines 5b, 6c, and 7b to line 9 to determine gross receipts. If gross receipts are $200,000 or more, or if total assets (Part II, column (B) below) are $500,000 or more, file Form 990 instead of Form 990-EZ
...........................
$
95,091
Part
Ⅰ
Revenue, Expenses, and Changes in Net Assets or Fund Balances
(see the instructions for Part I)
Check if the organization used Schedule O to respond to any question in this Part I
.....................
1
Contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts received
....................
1
82,297
2
Program service revenue including government fees and contracts
...............
2
9,871
3
Membership dues and assessments
...........................
3
4
Investment income
...........................
4
5a
Gross amount from sale of assets other than inventory
.....
5a
b
Less: cost or other basis and sales expenses
.......
5b
0
c
Gain or (loss) from sale of assets other than inventory (Subtract line 5b from line 5a)
......
5c
6
Gaming and fundraising events
a
Gross income from gaming (attach Schedule G if greater than $15,000)
6a
b
Gross income from fundraising events (not including $
of contributions from fundraising events reported on line 1) (attach Schedule G if the
sum of such gross income and contributions exceeds $15,000)
..
6b
0
c
Less: direct expenses from gaming and fundraising events
...
6c
0
d
Net income or (loss) from gaming and fundraising events (add lines 6a and 6b and subtract line 6c)
6d
7a
Gross sales of inventory, less returns and allowances
......
7a
2,923
b
Less: cost of goods sold
.............
7b
140
c
Gross profit or (loss) from sales of inventory (Subtract line 7b from line 7a)
.........
7c
2,783
8
Other revenue (describe in Schedule O)
..........
8
9
Total revenue.
Add lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5c, 6d, 7c, and 8
..............
9
94,951
10
Grants and similar amounts paid (list in Schedule O)
............
10
11
Benefits paid to or for members
................
11
12
Salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits
................
12
49,233
13
Professional fees and other payments to independent contractors
............
13
6,216
14
Occupancy, rent, utilities, and maintenance
...................
14
6,042
15
Printing, publications, postage, and shipping
..............
15
173
16
Other expenses (describe in Schedule O)
..............
16
25,154
17
Total expenses.
Add lines 10 through 16
..............
17
86,818
18
Excess or (deficit) for the year (Subtract line 17 from line 9)
............
18
8,133
19
Net assets or fund balances at beginning of year (from line 27, column (A)) (must agree with
end-of-year figure reported on prior year’s return)
............
19
12,466
20
Other changes in net assets or fund balances (explain in Schedule O)
..........
20
21
Net assets or fund balances at end of year. Combine lines 18 through 20
.......
21
20,599
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions.
Cat. No. 10642I
Form
990-EZ
(2018)
Page 2
Form 990-EZ (2018)
Page
2
Part
Ⅱ
Balance Sheets
(see the instructions for Part II)
Check if the organization used Schedule O to respond to any question in this Part II
.................
(A)
Beginning of year
(B)
End of year
22
Cash, savings, and investments
................
9,724
22
19,964
23
Land and buildings
....................
23
24
Other assets (describe in Schedule O)
..........
2,840
24
2,700
25
Total assets
......................
12,564
25
22,664
26
Total liabilities
(describe in Schedule O)
.............
98
26
2,065
27
Net assets or fund balances
(line 27 of column (B)
must
agree with line 21)
12,466
27
20,599
Part
Ⅲ
Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
(see the instructions for Part III)
Check if the organization used Schedule O to respond to any question in this Part III
.
.
Expenses
(Required for section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations; optional for others.)
What is the organization's primary exempt purpose?
AMI is focused on the distribution of independent and community media from Cuba and developing cultural exchange projects between Cuban and US citizens. AMI is playing an important role both in Cuba and the US. In Cuba AMI is providing young, emerging filmmakers with an educational distributor that is marketing their work in the US and providing them with an income from the sales. In the US, AMI is making this independent work available to universities and individuals who previously could only access this material through direct contact with the filmmakers or pirated copies.
Describe the organization’s program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. In a clear and concise manner, describe the services provided, the number of persons benefited, and other relevant information for each program title.
28
DistributionAMI now has 14 films in its Cuba DVD catalogue; a distribution collaboration with Icarus Films has increased our visibility in both cultural and academic spheres. Since we began our collaboration with Icarus Films in 2013, over 50 film festivals - both national and international - have requested screeners of films from the AMI Cuba catalogue.In 2018 AMI added two new Cuban documentaries to our catalogue with Icarus Films, LaSingular Historia de Juan sin nada (The Unique Story of Unlucky Juan), Directed byRicardo Figueredo and RETHINKING CUBAN CIVIL SOCIETY by Maria Isabel Alfonso.The Unique Story of Unlucky Juan is a comprehensive, accessible examination of theparticularities of the Cuban economy. Through a fictional worker named Juan, the film shows how the economy affects the daily lives of ordinary citizens, who lack access to hard currency. Last July we screened the film in Washington, DC in collaboration with the Center for Democracy in the Americas (CDA ). CDA is a D.C.-based non-profit working to normalize relations with Cuba. In attendance were some congressional aides, including an aide from Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office.In RETHINKING CUBAN CIVIL SOCIETY, Cuban academics, journalists and bloggers, andwriters and musicians grapple with what it means to encourage healthy publicparticipation and dissent in the context of Cuba: a country under embargo in whichforeign-funded dissidents seek to overthrow the government, and at the same time acountry in which the Communist Party has placed itself above the State. Thoughtful and engaging, the film is conveniently divided into chapters on class and activism, media,Internet and the blogosphere, political opposition, and Cuban civil society across international borders.
(Grants $
22,143
)
If this amount includes foreign grants, check here
...
28a
29
Touring2018 marked the 20th anniversary of the Chiapas Media Project/Promedios, an awardwinning, bi-national partnership that provided video equipment, computers and training to marginalized indigenous communities in Southern Mexico, so they could create their own media. AMI organized a West Coast tour with Paco Vazquez, Director of Promedios. The tour visited seven universities from Riverside, California to Seattle, Washington as well as two public cinemas. The tour reached close to 1000 people with engaged and lively post-screening discussions.In Spring and Summer 2018 AMI organized two screenings in Chicago of Cubandocumentaries, animations and fictions in the Pilsen neighborhood and at the ComfortStation in the Logan Square. Approximately 100 people attended these screenings andAMI Director Alexandra Halkin had an audience Q&A after the films.Fall 2018 we began organizing a Cuban film series, Cuban Visions(https://www.fullspectrumfeatures.com/cuban-visions) in collaboration with theChicago based non-profit Full Spectrum Features. Cuban Visions will take place everyother month throughout 2019 in the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago. Cuban Visions isinviting Cuban filmmakers and scholars and covers topics of interest to both Cuban and U.S. audiences such as racial inequity, LGBTQ rights, women filmmakers, etc.
(Grants $
22,758
)
If this amount includes foreign grants, check here
...
29a
30
ProductionFor the fourth year in a row, AMI gave a prize at the Muestra Joven (Young DirectorsFilm Festival) in Havana. The AMI Closing Distances cash prize went to support theproduction of the documentary film, Hacia la luz (Towards the Light) Directed bySantiago-based Aracelys Aviles, Towards the Light will look at the town of Bejuco, in Eastern Cuba. The residents of Bejuco still live in a very isolated way, without electricity or telephone service. They're famous for traveling to perform the Tumba Francesa, a late 18th-century dance created when French colonists and their slaves migrated to Cuba's Oriente Province during the Haitian Revolution. The current residents are tired of traveling to far-away towns to dance they want to perform in their own town. Towards the Light will follow several community members as they wrestle with their present circumstances and try to create a better life for themselves and their families.AMI continues to be the only U.S. based funder at the Muestra Joven and we are stillpermitted to award a cash prize for documentaries in production. In 2018 we werehappy to support a project with a female director being produced in Santiago becausethere are very few female documentary filmmakers and even less who reside in EasternCuba.In 2018, AMI partnered with Afro-Cuban queer documentary filmmaker Damian Sainzon Cuba's first Independent Queer (Cuir ) Cine Club. AMI purchased for the Club a video projector and sound system, and provided them with a computer donated last February. AMI was present last March for the Club's screening of Lizzie Borden's famous punk film,Born in Flames and the documentary short, Guanabacoa: Cronicas de mi familia (Guanabacoa: Chronicles of my Family) by renowned Cuban filmmaker, Sara Gomez. The packed screening took place at Clandestina, a trendy store in Old Havana. There was a lively and thought-provoking Q&A after the films with a diverse Cuban audience. There were seven screenings in 2018 reaching close to 500 people and the audiences have been inclusive in terms of age, gender identity and class. The Club was also covered in the Cuban press on-line in IPS (International Press Service ) , and OnCubaboth sites reach an international audience.Our collaboration and support of the open source website ENDAC.org (Cuban DigitalAudiovisual Encyclopedia) created by Afro-Cuban film critic and scholar, Juan Antonio Garcia Borrero is an enormous contribution to the cultural patrimony of Cuba in general and audiovisual knowledge in particular. Because ENDAC is open source filmmakers, film scholars and film enthusiasts worldwide are able to contribute text, images and videos to the website. ENDAC will eventually contain over 6000 entries, not only with information on Cuban films from the silent era up to the present, but also articles on documentaries, animations, short films, and more. Since announcing the site Juan Antonio has been active on social media promoting the new pages and looking for feedback from peers and Cuban filmmakers in the diaspora.2018 marks our fourth year working with the community media project, Camara Chica(Little Camera) based in La Conchita, Cuba. Many of the youth participating in Camara Chica come from at-risk homes experiencing domestic violence, or parents withsubstance abuse problems. Camara Chica is a vital outlet for these youth to expressthemselves and participate in a healthy community. They've produced a youth sportsprogram for television in their province, as well as short PSAs that have been screened on Cuban National Television. Over the past year AMI has connected Camara Chica with animators and journalists based in Havana who brought their skills to the community, amplifying the possibilities of creative expression for the young filmmakers. AMI was able to purchase another video camera, so the entire group isn't depending on just one camera
(Grants $
24,625
)
If this amount includes foreign grants, check here
...
30a
31
Other program services (describe in Schedule O)
................
(Grants $
)
If this amount includes foreign grants, check here
...
31a
32 Total program service expenses
(add lines 28a through 31a)
..........
32
69,526
Part
Ⅳ
List of Officers, Directors, Trustees, and Key Employees
(list each one even if not compensated see the instructions for Part IV)
Check if the organization used Schedule O to respond to any question in this Part IV
............
(a)
Name and title
(b)
Average
hours per week
devoted to position
(c)
Reportable compensation
(Forms W-2/1099-MISC)
(if not paid, enter -0-)
(d)
Health benefits, contributions to employee benefit plans, and
deferred compensation
(e)
Estimated amount
of other compensation
Alexandra Halkin
Pres/ED /Sec
40.00
42,350
3,642
Catherine Murphy
Treasurer
0
0
Deb Ellis
Director
0
0
Isabel Alfonso
Director
0
0
Andres Caballero
Director
0
0
Form
990-EZ
(2018)
Page 3
Form 990-EZ (2018)
Page
3
Part
Ⅴ
Other Information
(Note the Schedule A and personal benefit contract statement requirements in the
instructions for Part V.) Check if the organization used Schedule O to respond to any question in this Part V
.......
Yes
No
33
Did the organization engage in any significant activity not previously reported to the IRS? If "Yes," provide a
detailed description of each activity in Schedule O
...................
33
No
34
Were any significant changes made to the organizing or governing documents? If "Yes," attach a conformed copy
of the amended documents if they reflect a change to the organization’s name. Otherwise, explain the change
on Schedule O (see instructions)
..........................
34
No
35a
Did the organization have unrelated business gross income of $1,000 or more during the year from business
activities (such as those reported on lines 2, 6a, and 7a, among others)?
............
35a
No
b
If "Yes," to line 35a, has the organization filed a Form 990-T for the year? If "No," provide
an explanation in Schedule O
35b
No
c
Was the organization a section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organization subject to section 6033(e)
notice, reporting, and proxy tax requirements during the year? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part III
35c
No
36
Did the organization undergo a liquidation, dissolution, termination, or significant disposition of net assets during
the year? If “Yes," complete applicable parts of Schedule N
................
36
No
37a
Enter amount of political expenditures, direct or indirect, as described in the instructions.
37a
b
Did the organization file
Form 1120-POL
for this year?
...................
37b
No
38a
Did the organization borrow from, or make any loans to, any officer, director, trustee, or key employee
or
were
any such loans made in a prior year and still outstanding at the end of the tax year covered by this return?
..
38a
No
b
If “Yes," complete Schedule L, Part II and enter the total amount involved
.
38b
39
Section 501(c)(7) organizations. Enter:
a
Initiation fees and capital contributions included on line 9
.......
39a
0
b
Gross receipts, included on line 9, for public use of club facilities
.....
39b
0
40a
Section 501(c)(3) organizations. Enter amount of tax imposed on the organization during the year under:
section 4911
; section 4912
; section 4955
b
Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(29) organizations. Did the organization engage in any section 4958
excess benefit transaction during the year, or did it engage in an excess benefit transaction in a prior year that
has not been reported on any of its prior Forms 990 or 990-EZ? If “Yes," complete Schedule L, Part I
40b
No
c
Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(29) organizations. Enter amount of tax imposed on organization
managers or disqualified persons during the year under sections
4912, 4955, and 4958
d
Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(29) organizations. Enter amount of tax on line 40c reimbursed
by the organization
e
All organizations. At any time during the tax year, was the organization a party to a prohibited tax shelter
transaction? If "Yes," complete Form 8886-T
................
40e
No
41
List the states with which a copy of this return is filed.
IL
42a
The organization's books are in care of
Alex Halkin
Telephone no.
(312) 282-0135
Located at
4750 N Sheridan Road 379
Chicago
,
IL
ZIP + 4
60640
Yes
No
b
At any time during the calendar year, did the organization have an interest in or a signature or other authority over a financial account in a foreign country (such as a bank account, securities account, or other financial account)?
.
.
42b
No
If “Yes," enter the name of the foreign country:
See the instructions for exceptions and filing requirements for FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)
c
At any time during the calendar year, did the organization maintain an office outside the U.S.?
.
.
.
42c
No
If “Yes," enter the name of the foreign country:
43
Section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trusts filing Form 990-EZ in lieu of
Form 1041 -
Check here
......
and enter the amount of tax-exempt interest received or accrued during the tax year
....
43
Yes
No
44a
Did the organization maintain any donor advised funds during the year? If "Yes," Form 990 must be completed instead
of Form 990-EZ
.............................
44a
No
b
Did the organization operate one or more hospital facilities during the year? If "Yes," Form 990 must be completed
instead of Form 990-EZ
.............................
44b
No
c
Did the organization receive any payments for indoor tanning services during the year?
.........
44c
No
d
If "Yes," to line 44c, has the organization filed a Form 720 to report these payments?
If "No," provide an
explanation in Schedule O
............................
44d
No
45a
Did the organization have a controlled entity within the meaning of section 512(b)(13)?
.........
45a
No
45b
Did the organization receive any payment from or engage in any transaction with a controlled entity within the meaning of section 512(b)(13)? If "Yes," Form 990 and Schedule R may need to be completed instead of
Form 990-EZ (see instructions)
.........................
45b
No
Form
990-EZ
(2018)
Page 4
Form 990-EZ (2018)
Page
4
Yes
No
46
Did the organization engage, directly or indirectly, in political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to
candidates for public office? If “Yes," complete Schedule C, Part I.
...........
46
No
Part
Ⅵ
Section 501(c)(3) organizations only
All section 501(c)(3) organizations must answer questions 47- 49b and 52, and complete the tables for lines 50 and 51.
Check if the organization used Schedule O to respond to any question in this Part VI
..................
Yes
No
47
Did the organization engage in lobbying activities or have a section 501(h) election in effect during the tax year?
If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part II
.......................
47
No
48
Is the organization a school as described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)?
If "Yes," complete Schedule E
..
48
No
49a
Did the organization make any transfers to an exempt non-charitable related organization?
......
49a
No
b
If "Yes," was the related organization a section 527 organization?
................
49b
No
50
Complete this table for the organization's five highest compensated employees (other than officers, directors, trustees and key employees) who each received more than $100,000 of compensation from the organization. If there is none, enter "None."
(a)
Name and title of each employee
(b)
Average
hours per week
devoted to position
(c)
Reportable compensation
(Forms W-2/1099-MISC)
(d)
Health benefits, contributions to employee benefit plans, and deferred compensation
(e)
Estimated amount of other compensation
NONE
f
Total number of other employees paid over $100,000
.............
51
Complete this table for the organization's five highest compensated independent contractors who each received more than $100,000 of compensation from the organization. If there is none, enter "None."
(a)
Name and business address of each independent contractor
(b)
Type of service
(c)
Compensation
NONE
d
Total number of other independent contractors each receiving over $100,000
..........
52
Did the organization complete Schedule A?
NOTE.
All section 501(c)(3) organizations must attach a
completed Schedule A
........................................
Yes
No
Sign Here
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than officer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge.
2019-05-13
Signature of officer
Date
Alex Halkin
Executive Dir.
Type or print name and title
Paid Preparer Use Only
Print/Type preparer's name
Colleen L Montgomery CPA
Preparer's signature
Date
Check
if
self-employed
PTIN
P00038392
Firm's name
Montgomery & Granai PC
Firm's EIN
03-0360150
Firm's address
110 Main Street
Burlington
,
VT
054018451
Phone no.
(802) 864-6565
May the IRS discuss this return with the preparer shown above? See instructions
.........
Yes
No
Form
990-EZ
(2018)
Additional Data
Software ID:
18007218
Software Version:
2018v3.1
Form 990-EZ, Special Condition Description:
Special Condition Description