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. Kristal has served on the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Jury Committee for Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short.
INVESTIGATIVE Journalist
They are a Co-Founder and journalist for ¡Presente! Media, a creative collective and 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, Autostraddle, WHYY, The Points Guy, Submittable and Documentary Magazine. They are on the Editorial Board for the cinéSPEAK Film Journal.
Film Critic
Kristal is an awardee of the Sundance Institute’s Press Inclusion Initiative, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Press Inclusion Initiative, AARP Freelance Fellowship at NLGJA | The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, 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), NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, and TIME’S UP Critical Database.
Community Media
Drawing inspiration from their Peruvian heritage, Kristal’s community-based work practice focuses on Latinidad, immigration, and belonging. Formerly, Kristal was the Communications and Outreach Coordinator at the community media arts organization Scribe Video Center.
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
Pa’ Encima: Documentary Filmmaking En La Isla de Puerto Rico – Documentary Magazine
For filmmakers from Puerto Rico, access to funding is limited due to sovereignty—oftentimes unable to apply for funds in Latin American or the US. Read More
Growing Up With “Mucho Mucho Amor”: How Walter Mercado Defined My Life – Autostraddle
Growing up, there was always a magical wizard on primetime Latin American television. 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.
