efile Public Visual Render
Submission Date - 2013-08-15
TIN: 27-4273918
Form
990-EZ
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 black lung benefit trust or private foundation)
Sponsoring organizations of donor advised funds, organizations that operate one or more hospital facilities, and certain controlling organizations as defined in section 512(b)(13) must file Form 990 (see instructions).
All other organizations with gross receipts less than $200,000 and total assets less than $500,000 at the end of the year may use this form.
The organization may have to use a copy of this return to satisfy state reporting requirements.
OMB No. 1545-1150
20
12
Open to Public
Inspection
A
For the 2012 calendar year, or tax year beginning
01-01-2012
, and ending
12-31-2012
B
Check if applicable:
Address change
Name change
Initial 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)
19 Marble Avenue
Room/suite
City or town, state or country, and ZIP + 4
Burlington
,
VT
05401
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
Check
if the organization is not a section 509(a)(3) supporting organization or a section 527 organization
and
its gross receipts are normally
not
more than $50,000.
A Form 990-EZ or Form 990 return is not required though Form 990-N (e-postcard) may be required (see instructions). But if the organization chooses to file a return, be sure to file a complete return.
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, line 25,
column (B) below) are $500,000 or more, file Form 990 instead of Form 990-EZ
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
$
111,216
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
89,632
2
Program service revenue including government fees and contracts
............
2
6,052
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
15,532
b
Less: cost of goods sold
.................
7b
6,520
c
Gross profit or (loss) from sales of inventory (Subtract line 7b from line 7a)
.........
7c
9,012
8
Other revenue (describe in Schedule O)
.....................
8
9
Total revenue.
Add lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5c, 6d, 7c, and 8
..............
9
104,696
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
45,963
13
Professional fees and other payments to independent contractors
............
13
19,374
14
Occupancy, rent, utilities, and maintenance
...................
14
4,515
15
Printing, publications, postage, and shipping
...................
15
3,483
16
Other expenses (describe in Schedule O)
....................
16
27,839
17
Total expenses.
Add lines 10 through 16
.................
17
101,174
18
Excess or (deficit) for the year (Subtract line 17 from line 9)
............
18
3,522
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 years return)
................
19
2,419
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
5,941
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions.
Cat. No. 10642I
Form
990-EZ
(2012)
Form 990-EZ (2012)
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
................
5,169
22
5,993
23
Land and buildings
....................
23
24
Other assets (describe in Schedule O)
..........
949
24
3,564
25
Total assets
......................
6,118
25
9,557
26
Total liabilities
(describe in Schedule O)
.............
3,699
26
3,616
27
Net assets or fund balances
(line 27 of column (B)
must
agree with line 21)
..
2,419
27
5,941
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 and section 4947(a)(1) trusts; 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 organizations 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
TouringIn 2012 we launched our pioneering Closing Distances/Cerrando Distancias U.S. Documentary Shorts Program with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. This program brought four documentaries and one animation to Cuba. Closing Distances engaged in Q&A sessions with Cuban audiences in Cienfuegos, Camaguey, Holguin, and Havana. Interviews and portions of our presentations were broadcast on Cuban National Television, reaching millions of Cubans throughout the island. This was the first time that Cuba allowed a traveling film festival of this kind from the U.S. and the first time that the MoMA did an official program in Cuba.In June, AMI assisted the New York based Flaherty Documentary Seminar in bringing, for the first time, three Cuban Filmmaker Fellows: Gloria Rolando, Gustavo Prez and Gilliam de la Torre. For many of the Flaherty attendees this was the first time they came in contact with Cuban filmmakers living in Cuba. The Cuban filmmakers were able to network with university professors, filmmakers and curators and made many new contacts that will help facilitate future invitations to the U.S. and continue strengthening cultural dialogue between these two nations.In October we organized a U.S. university tour for Afro-Cuban filmmaker Karel Ducasse. AMI is distributing Ducasses documentary, Zone of Silence, about artistic censorship in Cuba. By organizing the tour for Ducasse, AMI is recognizing the importance of helping to make a space in the U.S. for emergent, critical Cuban voices in the arts. The tour is visiting the Hamilton College, the University of Vermont, Champlain College and the Vermont International Film Festival.
(Grants $
41,357
)
If this amount includes foreign grants, check here
...
28a
29
DistributionIn 2012 we entered into two new genres; animation and fiction, and released three new DVDs. Our New Comedy Shorts from Cuba is a compilation of animation shorts; Danny and the Nerds Club, directed by Victor Alfonso, and Committee 666 a fiction short, directed by Arturo Infante. Cuban Animations from the Young Directors Festival was the second release. We also released a feature documentary by Gustavo Prez, They would all be Queens, that tells the stories of several Soviet women who married Cuban men in the 1980s and relocated to Cuba with their husbands.We will also attend the Young Directors Festival in April to review new work to add to our distribution. At this years Young Directors Festival in Havana we received over 30 DVDs from filmmakers who requested us to view their work.
(Grants $
20,982
)
If this amount includes foreign grants, check here
...
29a
30
(Grants $
)
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
62,339
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
Deb Ellis
Director
0
0
Catherine Murphy
Treasurer
0
0
Clemencia Rodriguez
Secretary
2.00
0
Diana Coryat
Director
2.00
0
Alexandra Halkin
Executive Dir.
40.00
33,841
Form
990-EZ
(2012)
Form 990-EZ (2012)
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 organizations 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) and 501(c)(4) 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) and 501(c)(4) 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) and 501(c)(4) 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.
42a
The organization's books are in care of
Alex Halkin
Telephone no.
(312) 282-0135
Located at
19 Marble Avenue
Burlington
,
VT
ZIP + 4
05401
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)?
Yes
No
42b
No
If Yes, enter the name of the foreign country:
See the instructions for exceptions and filing requirements for
Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.
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
(2012)
Form 990-EZ (2012)
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 paid more than $100,000
(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 address of each independent contractor paid more than $100,000
(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 and 4947(a)(1)
nonexempt charitable trusts must attach a completed Schedule A
...............
Yes
No
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.
Sign Here
2013-08-15
Signature of officer
Date
Alex Halkin
Executive Dir.
Type or print name and title
Paid Preparer Use Only
Print/Type preparer's name
Preparer's signature
Colleen L Montgomery CPA
Date
Check
if
self-employed
PTIN
P00038392
Firm's name
Montgomery & Merrill PC
Firm's EIN
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
(2012)
Form 990-EZ, Special Condition Description:
Special Condition Description
Additional Data
Software ID:
12000229
Software Version:
2012v2.0