Filmmakers

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair with brown highlights, wearing a black leather jacket over a patterned shirt, against a dark background.

    Angelita Mendoza

    Angelita’s work finds the beauty in horror and the horrific in the mundane. Her films have screened at New York Film Festival, HollyShorts, Fantasia, Screamfest, and Urbanworld. You Deserve It won the Grand Prix at the Moët Moment Film Festival, and Great America won the Grand Prize at the Bridgeport Film Festival. Her latest short, The Blue Drum—developed through NALIP’s Women of Color Incubator—is now streaming on Netflix. She’s currently writing and directing Gravidarum and is the co-founder of Blank State.

  • A woman with long black hair, wearing a orange checkered button-up shirt, yellow flower-shaped earrings, a silver necklace with a large gemstone, and standing against a plain background.

    Becca Guzman

    A producer and content creator with over 50k followers, Becca makes her debut as a first-time narrative film director with Five Stars, where she steps into a darker, more unsettling tone. She produced the short films Odds and Partners, and brings ideas to life through Richie Rue Productions while amplifying Latina voices with authenticity and heart. Her work blends humor, warmth, and lived experience, creating stories that feel personal, joyful, and rooted in community—even when she ventures into the shadows.

  • A woman with red hair, glasses, wearing a black turtleneck, striped wide-leg pants, and black shoes, sitting cross-legged on the floor against a white wall.

    Jazmin Aguilar

    Jazmin blends whimsy, heart, and sharp craft to tell stories that feel universal and deeply personal. Her debut short, The Letter, screened at Academy Award and BAFTA-qualifying festivals and was licensed by HBO and Mitú. She went on to direct Kid Ugly through the McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado grant, earning Best Action/Adventure Short at San Diego Comic-Con. An alum of HBO’s Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today Fellowship, she continues creating ads and music videos while developing her debut coming-of-age feature.

  • A young man with dark hair sitting on the floor against a white wall, wearing a black leather racing jacket with patches and checkered details, black pants, and black boots, with a relaxed and slightly serious expression.

    Chris Carmona

    A filmmaker from Southeast Los Angeles, Chris stars in and creates Man-on-the-Street content for Remezcla and directs music videos. He created the rom-com series Instant Crush for Mitú and previously wrote, directed, and edited his debut feature Bad Labor, which premiered at LALIFF. An alum of HBO’s Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today Fellowship, he was also the youngest winner of The Academy’s Team Oscar competition and launched his career at 17 through a grant from Inner-City Filmmakers.

Producers

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    Ricardo G. Mendoza

    Co-owner of Engineering Solutions & Technology Applications Corp (ESTA), a multimillion-dollar engineering and technology firm, Ricardo has returned to his first love—filmmaking. As co-founder and production manager of Blank State Collective, he brings his business acumen and logistical expertise to independent film production. He produced Great America and The Last Light, both celebrated on the festival circuit, and continues to collaborate closely with VidiVici Films. Raised in his family’s video stores alongside his sister, filmmaker Angelita Mendoza, Ricardo’s lifelong connection to storytelling continues to drive his work.

  • Portrait of a woman with short curly dark hair against a blue background, wearing large blue earrings, a black necklace with a pendant, and a red blouse with puffed sleeves.

    Mariana Treviño

    A producer and Cannes Lions–winning creative, Mariana has over a decade of experience in film, television, and animation. She produced the Academy Award–eligible feature Jacir and has contributed to acclaimed projects including Netflix’s Halston, Sundance’s The Trade, TIFF’s The Boy from Medellín, and Life in a Day for YouTube. As one half of a producing duo with Jake Stafford, she bridges global brands and independent cinema through stories that inspire resilience and connection.

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    Jake Stafford

    An actor, casting professional, and sound specialist, Jake’s credits include Jacir, Americanish, Great America, Batshit Bride, and Legacy of Lies. Trained in acting, voiceover, and music production, he brings a multidimensional understanding of sound and performance to his work. As part of a producing duo with Mariana Treviño, he combines technical precision with creative insight to craft authentic, emotionally grounded stories.

Cinematographers

  • A man with dark hair styled back, wearing a black shirt and a sweater vest with a diamond pattern, sitting with crossed arms, looking at the camera, against a dark background.

    Victor Capiz

    A cinematographer and photographer from Tijuana now based in Los Angeles, Victor works across digital and S16mm film, shooting promos, commercials, and narrative projects for brands like Pepsi, HBO Multicultural, Heineken, and Jose Cuervo. His films have screened at New York Film Festival, Urbanworld, HollyShorts, San Diego Latino Film Festival, Fantasia, and more. You Deserve It won the Grand Prize at the Moët Moment Film Festival, and his work on Great America earned Best Cinematography at Female Voices Rock. His latest project, The Blue Drum, is now streaming on Netflix.

  • A man with dark hair, wearing glasses, a light blue jacket over a white shirt, standing outdoors with a plain sky background.

    Riccardo Mejia

    Riccardo is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer whose work spans narrative, documentary, and music videos. Known for his meticulous eye and versatility, he’s shot projects for Vogue, Google, Giro Cycling, GQ, and Key TV. His latest work includes Dread Manor with Keke Palmer, further solidifying his range as a visual storyteller. He approaches every project as an opportunity to explore new perspectives, adapting to each director’s style while keeping the heart of the story in focus.