Ahuatl is a queer, Latinx-Indígena screenwriter and comedian. He studied English, Theater and Performance Studies at Georgetown University and earned a Certificate in Television Writing from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he is working on a Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting at the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory.
My name is Alyssa but you can call me Lyss for short. I just got my Associates in Film, Television, and Media and am looking to expand my knowledge in the film industry. I currently attend CalState LA and just moved out here to start my new journey. When I’m not at school or work, you can find me at home either writing new material or watching the latest tv shows out there.
Hi, I am Celine Gudino, a 19 year old Mexican-American filmmaker from Los Angeles, CA. Film has always remained prevalent in my life as it provided an escape from reality. Now I want to recreate the same magical experience for others, especially those that haven’t been so equally represented. I want people of color of all ages to see themselves on screen and know they’re the heroes of their own stories. We need to uplift one another’s voices especially in a medium that’s accessible to hundreds of audience members. Either through directing or screenwriting I want to achieve this goal and make the industry a more inclusive space.
My name is Cesar Barillas I'm a Digital Media Producer based in Los Angeles, I enjoy drawing, painting and making digital. Best role in my life is being a fan dad to 2 amazing girls during Volleyball games, when they are off the court you may find us at the beach skating, swimming or sitting around a bonfire watching the sunset!
My name is Chloe Caudillo, a Mexican-American filmmaker and a graduate of The Second City Film School. I write and direct heightened stories that “flip the script” and feature unconventional characters as agents of powerful change. My experience as a bicultural woman who's bounced across several socio-economic circles is very much infused in my storytelling. I love making worlds collide and using genre for social commentary. Themes of identity and classism are prominent in my work, and my stories often contain elements of comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, and surrealism. Short films that I’ve written, directed, and produced have been Official Selections at the Latino Film Market, Portland Film Festival, Chicago International Genre Film Festival, CineSol Film Festival, Official Latino Short Film Festival, Cleveland Concoction, and Brownsville Latino Comics Expo Film Festival.
Christian Tejeda is an United States Air Force Veteran currently attending Loyola Marymount University for Film & Television Production. Christian owns a production company and is a member of seven honor societies. After transitioning out of the military, Christian continued to pursue higher education to learn the ins and outs of film production.
When Deane Gonzalez is not Writing/Directing my web series, commercials, or short films, he's volunteering for Reading Partners LA, bicycling, boxing or holed up in his room watching bad daytime television (Maury).
Denise recently graduated from MSMU with her MFA in Film, Television, and Photography with a specialization in Producing. She was born and raised in Los Angeles. Her goal is to produce films that highlight Latinx and minority voices. She hopes the younger generation will be able to see themselves represented on screen. She aims to produce a body of work that she is proud of. As a producer, her goal is to help artists achieve their vision and make things happen.
Emilia Cuevas Diaz - Currently pursuing my B.F.A. in Television Writing and Production at Chapman University, I’m an aspiring writer and editor who wants to turn my passions into a career. I believe that everyone deserves a chance to see themselves represented, and I hope to be able to make that happen with my work. I see a change happening in having more Latine people represented on screen and having our voices heard behind the scenes, and I want to be a part of that change. I believe that we can achieve great things, but a very important aspect of doing so is to keep our community in mind, which is why I hope that someday I’ll be able not just to be part of the movement but help lift others up so they can participate as well.
Estela Avalos - I’d love to work with others and collaborate so that we get our diverse stories and voices onscreen. Our perspectives are vital to the creative space. I’ve performed, written and directed stories before with diverse talent and I’d love to continue this work!
Gabriel Jesse Medina is a Mexican-American writer, producer, and director known for his documentary Painter of Dreams and narrative short films Lurker, Service with a Smile, and Disposable.
Gabriel began his film career in high school when asked to join his school’s Video Academy program where he developed his skills in short narrative and documentary filmmaking. After, Gabriel attended UCLA for undergraduate study, where he Interned at several companies and grew his skill in film producing and studied Latinx, Chicana/o/e literature, and filmmaking. After graduating, Gabriel returned home and developed a short filmmaking program through the non-profit organization the Digital NEST. In 2020, Gabriel established Calavera Media where he is currently developing projects in magical realism, horror, and the drama genre while centering Latino and Indigenous voices.
Gabriel is an active MFA Candidate in the Peter Stark Producing program at USC and a recipient of the George Lucas Foundation scholarship.
Gilbert Salazar is a first generation Queer Chicano educator and artist whose work lies in community and culture, storytelling and story development, and ritual and writing for healing and liberation. Gilbert has applied embodied storytelling and applied theater techniques in his educational work and his liberatory coaching with educators, artists and practitioners. He has been produced by Josefina Lopez at Casa 0101 and he co-produced his second full length play as a workshop production. The screenplay from this play became an official selection of the LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival in 2020. Gilbert has just produced his first short film, adapted from a short play entitled, “Sippin,’” a story where, four women of color create a ritual of tears for celebration and healing. https://unmaskededucation.com/sippin
Heidi Itzep-Poroj - I'm a third year studying film at CSULA and minoring in Creative Writing.
Jaime Torres - I am an aspiring director and cinematographer, and I value strong commitment to telling stories based on social issues, and individual stories that are oppressed. I love to collaborate and build communities among filmmakers, and to establish, quality driven stories that deal with stories from people who are often unseen. I have won several awards for three short films. Among them was Mojave Shadows, which I not only directed by served as a cinematographer as well.
Jen worked for years as a therapist for federal probationers. She now writes Latine focused, darkly funny dramas about complicated, bold and undeniable people.
My name is Joseph Barbagallo Jr. and I am a Film & Media Studies major at the University of California - Irvine. Coming from a military family, the values of hard work and respect have been ingrained in me throughout my life. I brought these values to the field when my dream was professional football. Now with a different dream of becoming a director of photography, I still carry them with me. I constantly have a desire to try new things and make my best attempt at mastering them. I want to learn how to master a set, knowing a camera like the back of my hand and how every angle of light looks through it. I look forward to meeting those who took the time to read this, and hopefully after doing so, you look forward to meeting me as well.
Josué Emmanuel Muñoz - SoCal-based Xicanx transmedia storyteller and mindful media educator from West Chicago: writes, creates, and edu-tains to decolonize media on the way home.
K. Broch (like the old ladies pin) is an imaginative only child raised by a single Chicana mother in Michigan. Being mixed and bisexual, she often tells dark, comedic stories of complex women in an identity crisis. Despite dabbling in crime as a teen, she got her ankle tether off just in time to graduate from Michigan State University and have her very own redemption story, becoming successful in the world of marketing. A bit of a renaissance woman, she's worked in music, production, and beauty as a blogger and makeup artist. She moved from Chicago to LA after a near-death experience, and after many classes her teachers encouraged her to adapt her nonfiction into TV comedies. Her brand Only Child Syndrome has expanded from a memoir, to a TV series and a production company. She’s a cohost of the, She Said…Let’s! podcast, with the goal of empowering women in film & TV.
Karina Lipe - I am a Guatemalan adoptee who loves expressing my experiences and imagination through writing and performance. Lately, I have discovered that I can educate myself and others through my hobbies and entertainment. After writing a short film based on my adoption experience, many people told me that they learned a lot from it and are now trying to change their perspectives and be more open-minded about possible experiences like mine, and many others. This inspired me to keep sharing my experiences through writing and reviews and continuing my expression through acting.
Hi, my name is Karolina, and I'm an international student from Poland, studying Media Studies & Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) at Scripps College in Claremont, California. I have 5+ years of experience in film production in the US as well as in Europe; recently I've served as an associate producer for Oscar-nominated director Matia Karrell at her company, The Red Door Films. In the future, I want to focus on feature film development and/or international productions.
Lada Egorova has a master’s degree in film from the University Paris Saint Denis. She did an exchange program at the California State University from 2021 to 2022. After working at production companies, she has written, directed and produced eight short films and directed three short documentaries.
Marc Andrew Sanchez is a Mexican-American Storyboard Artist, Animator and Writer raised in Yuma Arizona, and a proud Scholar of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts. A recent Graduate of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television, Marc has served as an advocate for Latino Animators. He is an award winning Director for his short animated film "Sombras," which was produced at the UCLA Animation Workshop under the supervision of Charles Sheetz and Kate Isenberg. During his time at UCLA, he worked with Jorge Gutierrez and Elvia de Olivas, two of his mentors. He is currently continuing a successful festival circuit with his short film "Sombras" and is working to pitch cartoon series and become a professional storyboard artist, as well as working with AdAstra Media under Doctor Jose Morey. Marc will also be the first adjunct professor to teach Latinx Animation History this summer 2023 in the Chicana/Central American Studies department the University of California Los Angeles.
Maria Valdez is an award-winning filmmaker from Los Angeles. She was one of eighteen students selected into the prestigious UCLA film school and is a recent graduate of the MFA Writing/Directing program. She is also a Cal State University, Fullerton graduate, having received two B.A.’s, one in Journalism and the other in Cinema & Television Studies. Maria is currently participating in two mentoring programs, Women in Film and Unlock Her Potential. She is a recipient of The Hollywood Foreign Press Association Directing Fellowship, The Gerald Hughes Comedy Directing Fellowship, The Motion Picture Association of America Award. Maria has a great passion for storytelling, and her goal as a filmmaker is to tell stories that reflect the diversity of the human spirit; she wants to specialize in bringing human interest stories to life from the Latino perspective. She’s currently developing a feature film projects, entitled HOME. Her short comedy “Camping” is currently playing at several film festivals across the country.
Marinthia Gutiérrez is a writer, director, from Tijuana, Mexico.
Max Luque is a gay and trans writer from Sonoma County who wants to bring more gay and trans-centered narratives to the screen.
Michael Macias - Director/Writer from the Inland Empire I am third Generation Mexican American I want to make movies that showcase people that are from assimilated families and from personal lens. Growing up I wanted to be a filmmaker but it wasn't until I started shooting and making stuff that I knew this was the path I want for myself.
Miguel Cavadas - Aspiring TV writer seeking to approach storytelling from a subversive, bilingual, and queer perspective. Writing about the idea of masculinity, the immigrant experience, and being a gay kid in a devotedly Catholic place.
Miguel del Campo is a filmmaker born and raised in Mexico who grew up fascinated by Hollywood and its film industry. His love and passion for storytelling led him to study filmmaking at the college UPAEP in Puebla, Mexico and at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, California. He has worked in multiple production companies and on multiple productions including commercials, music videos, short and feature films. Most recently, he started working for Lionsgate as a Coordinator for the Marketing and Home Entertainment departments. He has written, produced, edited, and directed multiple short films in both Mexico and the US since he started his studies in 2011, but he’s mostly known for writing and directing horror/drama films.
Originally from Querétaro, Mexico and raised in San Diego; Nahyr recently received her M.F.A in Screenwriting & Directing from Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles. Nahyr also holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts & Dance from CSU, Los Angeles. Nahyr is passionate about using all art forms, including her background in Dance and Choreography, in a collaboration to raise our Latine voices. Nahyr ardently believes that art is the vehicle by which we convey truth, and strives to write and create from a place of truth.
Omar Lopex helms Standard Fantastic Pictures, an artist-run production studio emerging from the front lines of cross-border politics, intersectionality, and late capitalism. Standard Fantastic’s projects are process-driven with the goal of replacing the exploitative US/Mexico border relationship with a new collaborative form of production that values Cultural Capital, not just Economic Capital. By centering Transborder experiences, Standard Fantastic disrupts an existing system of marginalization and cultivates a community of inclusion; providing the resources, care, and support for projects the Hollywood film industry ignores. Lopex's debut feature Ana, Who They Pulled Out of the River premiered at the Mingei International Museum in 2021. In 2022, Lopex established the inaugural Standard Fantastic Transborder Film Fellowship providing materials, equipment, and mentorship for two teams of young filmmakers to produce narrative films about the border. Lopex serves on the Advisory Council for the Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts at the University of California San Diego.
Oscar Ramos is a first generation Mexican-American director/ cinematographer currently pursuing his MFA at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Having discovered his passion for filmmaking at an early age, Oscar spent the majority of his teenage years shooting small short films in and around his hometown of Fairfield, California before moving out to Los Angeles to continue pursuing his passion. Raised as the eldest son of two undocumented immigrants, Oscar tries to gravitate towards projects that allow him to tell stories that both empower and advance underrepresented Latinx communities in hopes of helping to create a more diverse and inclusive space within the motion picture industry. This Fall, Oscar was selected to direct one of three capstone short films funded by USC, one of the highest achievements possible within the school’s program. Currently in its production stage, the film is currently on track for a December 2022 release date.
Paola Sandoval is an assistant editor and associate producer from La Ceiba, Honduras, currently residing in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. She is an upcoming independent filmmaker looking for her next story to tell. Paola recently graduated with a BA in Media and Entertainment Arts (Film) with a minor in Business Administration. Having produced two of her own short films as a student, she was also an Honors Scholar where she wrote an undergraduate thesis titled “The Underrepresentation of Women in Filmmaking,” which became published in May 2022. She draws inspiration from spending time with her friends and family and always wants to hear their stories. For her future endeavors, Paola would like to connect more with her Latino culture by collaborating with others who share the same passions. Her ultimate goal is to work on bringing more female and Latin representation in front of and behind the camera.
I’m Paul and I’m a touring documentarian. I’ve been inspired to develop my role as a filmmaker and desire to create visually striking projects!
Paulina Gamiz - I am a female filmmaker, raised in Mexico. I stared dancing and performing since age 5. When I finished high school I moved to NYC to study acting at Stella Adler , after graduation I moved to LA to continue my studies and audition here. I slowly started creating my own projects and opportunities, I have a production company “ Cultura Contrabando”our latest project is a feature documentary about Mexican coffee.
Rebecca Avalos is a multimedia artist from Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from University of California – Davis. She specializes in illustration and concept art and is currently pursuing entry-level work as an intern, apprentice, trainee, or freelance worker in the animation and comics industries. Rebecca has diverse experience with traditional art (painting, drawing, ceramics sculpting, etc.), digital painting in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, and some experience in 3D character modeling in Autodesk Maya. In addition to illustrating and storyboarding for student, personal, and collaborative projects, she has experience with live action filmmaking, camera operation, video editing, and post production (motion graphics, compositing, color grading) for short films in Adobe Premiere Pro. With her creative expression and processes often inspired by mixed landscapes and the experimental and cinematic qualities of animation and film, she wants to tell stories that find beauty in the mundane and magic in unexpected places.
Richard Sharrah is an award-winning Latino writer/director best known for co-creating and directing Bored Shorts TV’s award winning series which has garnered brand integration/collaborations with Disney, Mattel, Lucasfilm, Nintendo, Grammy nominated artist Josh Groban, and Emmy Award winner Wayne Brady to name a few. An alumni of the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts and currently earning his masters from the distinguished USC School of Cinematic Arts, his passion is to utilize the powerful art of filmmaking to addresses issues within often marginalized communities to create dialogue and action towards positive change.
Rubyll Banuelos was born in Long Beach, CA, and raised between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. During her High School years, she had to commute across the border from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego to go to school. Soon her love for movies led her to move to Los Angeles, where Rubyll pursued a career in film production. With her experience and perseverance, she became an award winner with her first short film for best LGBTQ in several festivals, such as the Cannes World Film Festival and the Montreal film festival. She is currently interning at a talent agency, where she is drawing a pathway towards becoming an executive at a major production company.
Hi my name is Sara Monsalve and I come from Colombia. I studied at NYU Abu Dhabi and double majored in Film and Psychology. My goal in the industry is to become a development or production executive for TV, and more specifically, to help develop multicultural and global shows. I am a huge fan of TV and watch TV daily. Moreover, as someone, who studied in one of the most diverse schools in the world, I’m passionate about inclusive content that represents different points of view.
From the Brazilian Amazonia, Savana Vagueiro da Fonseca is a writer-producer residing in LA. Savana was raised by activists and visual artists who defended indigenous civil rights and the rain forest from deforestation. This early introduction to art and activism continues to inspire her creative pursuits today. Savana has several genre film and TV projects in development, all of which center Latine characters who find emotional healing in unexpected ways, within heightened worlds. Her mission is to produce stories that amplifies the range of cultures, races, and experiences within the Latine community. Savana’s films were present at SXSW, New York Latino Film Festival, and LA Shorts. She has an original series, in association with 3Pas and Gina Rodriguez, that is currently in negotiations with a major studio. Savana holds an M.F.A from UCLA’s Producers Program and is a Warner Bros. Discovery Access Fellow.
Stephany is first generation American and college graduate. As a child, she was mesmerized by the illustrations and narratives that brought films to life. Animation took a special place in her heart because it was a form of escapism and a medium that ultimately taught me how to speak English. After high school, she wanted to pursue higher education. After completing a surgical technology program she was left unfulfilled for many years. She, finally, decided to enter community college and start on my path towards the arts. She graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) in the fall of 2021. She has her Associates of Arts Degree in Studio Arts and Bachelor's of Arts degree in Cinematic Arts and Technology. Stephany started the Master's in Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing at Dodge College in order to become knowledgeable in the craft of Creative Producing. Her ultimate goal is to be a part of producing Horror films that feature female protagonists and antagonists. As a former Research and Scholar, she hopes to find more women to work behind the scenes and bring forth important issues in the Latinx community to a broader target audience. By incorporating horror with the female gaze, Stephany believes she will be able to weave narratives that capture an audience.
Tanisha Caple is an actress, and writer from Cleveland, Ohio. Caple moved to Los Angeles after receiving her Bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University, where she studied Communications, Theatre, and Women Studies. Recently, the actress used her theatrical background to help voice the Transformers Autobots as an off-screen reader for the upcoming film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. In 2017, Tanisha’s short story The Friend Zone was selected and performed for the ABC Discovers Talent Showcase. Since then, the multi-talented artist has continued continued creating content, including her first book, SELF-REFLECTION: Monologues from Someone Like You, a book dedicated to providing actresses of color a chance to use their authentic voices. Inspired by her personal experience in the business, Tanisha has founded What Women Watch, a website, and organization dedicated to uplifting women in all fields of entertainment.
Tatis Iolani is a bilingual Mexican-American. She currently received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Broadcast.
Thea Rodgers is an actor and writer most recently known for her work on the Emmy-winning TwitchTV series Artificial:Factions and performance in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Cristina García's Dreaming in Cuban. When she's not on set she can be found teaching astrophysics to fifth graders at the Griffith Observatory.
My name is Victor Adame, I'm a Chicano actor and screenwriter from Riverside, California. I'm currently a Screenwriting MFA student at Chapman University.
Vivian Ip is a Singaporean-Chinese filmmaker based in Los Angeles. After working as a corporate lawyer at Dentons Rodyk for four years, she received her Film and Television Production M.F.A. at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts on an Entertainment Partners Producing Scholarship and became a member of the BAFTA Newcomers Program. Her short film An Island Drifts was the inaugural grant recipient of the ARRI Support and Education (ARRIse) Program in Asia and participated in the Short Film Clinic by the Singapore Film Commission. It premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Urbanworld Film Festival and is in the midst of its festival run, with official selections by LA Shorts, SeriesFest, Diversity in Cannes, amongst others. The film picked up Best Drama Film and Best Directing at the USC 2022 First Look Awards, as well as both Juried and Audience Choice awards at the 2022 Cine Gear Expo. In addition, Vivian produced Headlock, a Student Academy Awards–Oscars® finalist which screened at Dances with Films, Outfest Los Angeles, and won Best Social Change Film and Best Producing at the USC 2021 First Look Awards. She most recently developed her feature project Ashes of the Summer Heat in the Cine Qua Non Storylines Lab, and directed another short film At the Water’s Edge. Vivian’s filmmaking practice is centered on exploring the human condition, by capturing intimate moments and universal truths with a cinematic edge.
My name is Wendy Medina Herrera. I am the proud daughter of two Mexican immigrants. I am a senior at Chapman University double majoring in Film Production and Latinx/Latin American Studies. My love for film can be traced back to middle school when I was in a news broadcast class. My school was low-income with majority Latino population, and it was when we would participate in film festivals that I realized the disparities between us and the more affluent schools. My passion for directing stemmed from my desire to collaborate with all other roles and the ability to lead everyone towards a collective vision. Since then, it has become my goal to advocate for Latino representation through directing. As Latino creators, we have to pave the path for ourselves and for other future creators.