Sophie Garcia
life fest 2022
life fest 2022
Have you ever taken a chance on something and it worked out even better than you could have imagined? That’s what happened to me when my documentary, Otro Mundo Es Posible (Another World Is Possible), was accepted into the LIFE Fest film festival in Los Angeles and awarded Best Youth Film.
“I didn’t even plan on making it a documentary, I was mostly just capturing footage of the event, but when conflict arose, so did the story.”
My documentary is about my experience attending a gathering for revolutionary women put on by some of the most culturally iconic women and Indigenous revolutionaries, the Zapatistas. I didn’t even plan on making it a documentary, I was mostly just capturing footage of the event, but when conflict arose, so did the story. It took me a year to even face the footage because of the pain and cringe it made me feel but with funding and support from BAVC Media film fellowship BRIDGES and In Honor Of Our Roots, I developed it.
My teachers at BAVC Media submitted my film for me, as they do with all youth films. When they first told me they submit our films to festivals for up to a year after our graduation I thought it to be far-fetched to even consider a possibility. Then, about one year later I heard from BAVC that it got placed into LIFE! The first festival to focus on Latina Directors, with decade-old roots in Boyle Heights.
Although I can’t say much about the submission process because BAVC submitted on my behalf, being shown at the festival and winning Best Youth Film was an incredibly surreal experience. To see the photograph of my great-grandfather in full Zapatista gear on a huge screen brought tears to my eyes.
Through this, I learned that it’s absolutely worth it to shoot your shot, especially with more intimate festivals such as LIFE. The application fees on submissions go towards creating memorable experiences to celebrate directors with little “detallitos” like goodie bags and free tacos and tunes for all guests, all night.
One of the highlights of LIFE Fest was the opportunity to attend three workshops. One of them was “The Ethics of Editing” with a Latina editor where I learned the value of hiring an editor, and the power and politics of editing a final cut. Another was a fundraising workshop hosted by Fanny Grande, CEO of Avenida Studios, where she shared about her new fundraising platform, Support Our Story, and the pros of fundraising and creating your own lane and audience base. Finally, the founder of LIFE Fest Josefina Lopez hosted a workshop: Making Yourself Unforgettable, where she helped us embrace the vulnerability of sharing our backgrounds as a testament to our power as we polish our brand titles and elevator pitches.
At LIFE Fest, I also had the chance to meet some amazing people, including Elizabeth Avellan, the renowned producer of Spy Kids and Machete, who spoke passionately about the importance of diversity and representation in the film industry. As a fellow Latina, I was inspired by her success and proud of the way she used her platform to elevate underrepresented voices. She recounted stories of being the only woman in the room with industry giants such as Quentin Tarantino and Bob Weinstein, and how she had to advocate to be heard and respected. Her message of perseverance and staying true to oneself when it comes to choosing projects to work on has stuck with me, and I felt honored to have the opportunity to connect with her and take a photo together. It was a powerful reminder that as a young filmmaker, my voice and my identity matter, and that I too can make an impact in this industry.
“It was a surreal moment of pure joy and freedom that perfectly captured the magic of the entire festival experience.”
I’d also like to mention a great memory where the director of the film festival Iris Almaraz drove a fellow filmmaker home and brought me with her in her convertible. As we cruised around the glittering streets of Los Angeles at night, our hair whipping wildly in the wind, we listened to a Donna Summers CD. From East Los to Broadway, we soaked in the beauty of the city at every red light. Its people waved, even dancing with us and it felt like we were in a movie. I felt grateful to be in such good company with such amazing people. It was a surreal moment of pure joy and freedom that perfectly captured the magic of the entire festival experience.
Flying in from San Francisco, one of the things that made LIFE Fest truly special was the gracious hospitality extended to me which included the opportunity to stay at the beautiful home of Josefina Lopez in the heart of Boyle Heights. During my stay, I had the opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of Boyle Heights, from the bustling Mariachi Plaza, to Josefina’s own restaurant Casa Fina, where I enjoyed delicious food and drink with new friends. I even stumbled upon a free library where I found a book that captured my interest, next door to La Monarca Cafe. I never drink coffee unless I’m in Mexico so to have found a place that served Café De Olla, and baked goods and new drinks featuring African and Latin American flavors was such a motivating place for me to get some remote work done at. My first time in Los Angeles (not counting the day trips on the way home from Disneyland) was a truly immersive experience, and I felt so grateful to be welcomed into Josefina’s home and neighborhood with open arms.
All in all, LIFE Fest was an incredible experience for me, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have had my documentary showcased there. If you’re a Latina filmmaker looking to submit your work to a festival, I highly recommend taking a chance and submitting to festivals like LIFE Fest. You never know what opportunities may arise.
