Join us for a conversation on the evolving role of women in cinema, featuring a panel of directors who are redefining storytelling and representation in the film industry. Led by acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Natalia Beristáin, this discussion will explore storytelling innovations, industry challenges, and the rise of diverse voices shaping the future of film.

The panel will feature three emerging filmmakers: Sofía Ayerdi, a Mexican director exploring femininity and identity through magical realism; Miranda Montenegro, a filmmaker and producer from California with experience at Disney, Lucasfilm, and Sony; and Yanely “Nelly” Castellanos, a Chicago-based filmmaker amplifying Queer BIPOC voices. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from visionary creatives at the forefront of filmmaking today.

About Sofia Ayerdi
Sofía Ayerdi is a writer and film director from Guerrero, Mexico. Her work explores femininity and the search for identity, incorporating elements of magical realism. She was selected for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Gold Rising program, where she had the opportunity to serve as a trophy presenter at the 94th Academy Awards.

With her short film Na Savi, she was one of the filmmakers chosen for Netflix and LALIFF’s Inclusion Fellowship Program, in addition to being part of the Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today program at the Hola Mexico Film Festival. Recently, she was selected for the Filmmaker Mentorship Program by mitú and Walmart with her short film Aguamadre. Her latest project, Flutter, was produced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About Miranda Montenegro
Miranda Montenegro is an award-winning Latina filmmaker whose work is deeply influenced by her upbringing in Imperial Valley, California, a rural swath of low desert land in Southern California along the U.S.-Mexico border. With a B.A. in English from UCLA and an M.F.A. in Film and Television Production from USC, she has garnered multiple awards, including the George Lucas Family Foundation Scholarship. Her directorial debut, U.S. vs. Beltran, premiered at the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival in 2023, and she has since written, directed and produced projects such as the mitú x Walmart-produced film, Queso Bueno and USC’s first-ever live-action virtual production thesis, Dr. Supernova’s Evil Plan. Her career includes stints at major studios like The Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilm, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Montenegro is currently producing two feature documentaries for Maestra Productions: one focused on the activist Paulo Freire and another exploring a pivotal chapter in the Latino Civil Rights Movement. With her character-driven stories, she seeks to broaden the lens of how people of color, especially Latinos, are depicted in media, reconciling the “real” with the “reel.”

About Yanely Castellanos
Yanely “Nelly” Castellanos (they/them, 20) is a junior studying Film & Television at Columbia College Chicago with a concentration in Producing and Screenwriting. Dedicated to the art of filmmaking, their work amplifies diverse voices and representation of Queer BIPOC. Beyond film, they are actively involved with nonprofits, channeling their passion for community involvement through event organizing and youth outreach. In line with their commitment to both filmmaking and community building, they interned with the International Children’s Media Center as a Film Selection Committee member, gaining valuable insight into the operations of film festivals while enjoying new and inspiring films. Their first short film, Daydreamers, was an official selection for CineYouth, the Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival, and earned the “Audience Choice Award” at the Cariño Festival de Cine in its 2024 festival run.