Kristal Sotomayor is a bilingual Latinx documentary filmmaker, festival programmer, and freelance journalist based in Philadelphia.
In Post-Production
Expanding Sanctuary
Video Production
RELEASED 2017
To My Motherland
EXPERTISE
Filmmaker
Kristal is in post-production on Expanding Sanctuary which began through the Film Scholars Fellowship with Scribe Video Center. They are a 2020 Justice For My Sister Sci-Fi Screenwriting Lab Fellow, 2019 Good Pitch Local: Philadelphia grantee, 2018 Leeway Foundation Art & Change grantee, and 2017 NeXtDoc Fellow.
Festival Programmer
They serve as the Programming Director of the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival and have assisted with curation for the “Spotlight on Documentaries” at IFP Week, Camden International Film Festival, Philadelphia Film Festival, and the award-winning PBS documentary series POV | American Documentary.
INVESTIGATIVE Journalist
They are a Co-Founder of ¡Presente! Media, a creative collective & production cooperative led by Latinx filmmakers that produce bilingual content focused on social justice. Kristal’s journalistic background includes having written for ITVS, AL DÍA, WHYY, Submittable and Documentary Magazine.
Film Critic
Kristal is an awardee of the Sundance Institute’s Press Inclusion Initiative, the inaugural International Documentary Association (IDA) Magazine Editorial Fellowship, and a Lenfest Next Generation Fund awardee. Kristal is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ).
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
WRITING
‘And She Could Be Next’: A New Look At Women of Color in Politics – Documentary Magazine
And She Could Be Next, is a two-part docuseries directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia, follows the campaigns of six women of color running for US public office. Read More
Meet The Creators of the Film Produced with ‘Mucho Mucho Amor’ – AL DÍA
Everyday, Walter Mercado would grace the screens of Latinx homes across the globe. Mucho Mucho Amor traces Mercado’s legacy and documents his final moments. Read More
The One-Child Policy Legacy on Women and Relationships in China – ITVS
The One-Child Policy was introduced to China in 1979 and ended in 2015. The films One Child Nation and Leftover Women both reflect and examine the policy and its legacy. Read More
Racists Teach Here – WHYY
“I’m not sure you’re capable of taking that class,” said my high school English teacher. My first year of high school, I was placed in the advanced courses in science and math but not in English. Read More
CONSULTATION
FILM CAREER CONSULTATION
Have questions about my filmmaking career? Here are a few tips and tricks. Get all of your questions answered about building a career, starting your film, and more.
FILM FESTIVAL PROCESS
Get your questions about distribution and film festival submissions from a professional programmer! I can help you with selecting the right festivals and marketing your film.
CROWDFUNDING AND FUNDRAISING TIPS
Having successfully crowdfunded over $10k and received over $16k in grants, learn best practices to fundraise for your film.
