I'm starting a film column on cineSPEAK called 'Cine alzando voz'! 🎬 Thank you so much Sarah Mueller (Executive Director) for the opportunity to write for the film journal and spotlight the incredible Latinx cinema premiering this year! While Latinx stories and characters in cinema continue to be depicted through racist stereotypes, we take a deep dive into the [...]
Author: Kristal Sotomayor
Bilingual (Spanish & English) Filmmaker
Awarded the NALAC 2021 Advocacy Fellowship
I'm a NALAC 2021 Advocacy Fellow representing Philadelphia Latina Film Festival! The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures announces this year’s cohort of artists and cultural workers participating in its annual Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI). Since 2009, NALAC has traveled to Washington D.C. each year to advocate on behalf of artists and the nonprofit arts [...]
First Round Awardee of the ART IS ESSENTIAL Program
Expanding Sanctuary is a first round of awardee of the ART IS ESSENTIAL program run by the PHDC Public Art Committee and the Knight Foundation. ART IS ESSENTIAL: Philly Artists Connecting Communities is an initiative intended to put artists at the forefront of the conversation about the role of public art in communities. ART IS [...]
Awarded MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute Visiting Fellowship
I'm an 2021 MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute Visiting Fellow workshopping Expanding Sanctuary. We'll also be discussing collaborative filmmaking and community media practices. This hybrid artistic-academic experience combines the freedom and space to work on independent projects with the fulfillment of mentoring the next generation of practitioners in the beautiful setting of Saratoga Springs. The institute brings together professional artists, [...]
“Queering Latinx” Fireside Chat at the University of Pennsylvania
On March 24th at 6PM EST, I'll be in conversation with Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, author of The Undocumented Americans! The fireside chat titled "Queering Latinx: Imagining Inclusive Urban Space" is moderated by Kareli Lizarraga, Associate Director for the Center of Hispanic Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania. As part of the Transdisciplinary Urbanism in Times [...]
Juror/Curator for the 2021 Tri-Co Film Festival
I'm so excited to share that I will be a Juror/Curator for the 2021 Tri-Co Film Festival! Back in 2016, as a student at Bryn Mawr College, the first short film I ever produced was screened as part of the Tri-Co Film Festival, the first film festival I had ever attended at Bryn Mawr Film Institute. Now, [...]
PHLAFF Awarded the LIBERTA Awards – Quick Pivot Prize
The Philadelphia Latino Film Festival team was awarded the Philly Artblog LIBERTA Awards - Quick Pivot Prize! The award recognizes the PHLAFF 2020 team and our fearless leader Marangeli Mejia-Rabell for the quickest shift from in-person to an entirely digital Philadelphia Latino Film Festival when the Covid-19 restrictions began. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKg_5fEMCfr/
SXSW Press Credentials
Exciting news: I got SXSW Press Credentials! SXSW takes places virtually this year from March 16th to 20th. While I wish the festival was in-person, I'm glad to be spotlighting stories by Latinx, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC filmmakers. Hopefully I can finally attend the festival in-person next year! https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHl0QDnC2d/
Awarded Sundance Press Inclusion Initiative for Second Time
I’ve been awarded the Sundance Press Inclusion Initiative!For the second year, I’ll be covering Sundance Film Festival as part of the program. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to support Latinx and LGBTQIA+ stories and storytellers! https://www.instagram.com/p/CJHWIrulRAz/
Awarded Independence Public Media Foundation Grant
Expanding Sanctuary has been awarded a grant from the Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF)! The Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) announces a major investment in the local filmmaking community with grants totaling $1.3 million to filmmakers, festivals, and film organizations, with an emphasis on supporting artists from underrepresented communities, and films with a commitment to social [...]
