Lauren Flores

Born in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Lauren found solace and purpose through feminism, creative fulfillment through theater and ballet, and shared her voice by penning personal essays and short stories. Eventually, these various interests collided when she entered college. She was accepted into New Mexico State University’s Digital Film Making program, where she found that she was able to nurture each of her creative and personal ideals through film by producing and writing films from interesting and marginalized perspectives.

Lauren’s film, Clara Luz, will explore one young woman’s journey to redefine her artistic expression after an unexpected change to a fundamental part of herself - her eyesight. Likewise, our personal identities undergo consistent revisions based on our experiences.

Micaela Burgess

Micaela “Mica” Burgess is primarily a fiction writer from El Paso, Texas. Previously she's written an unpublished novella titled Los Invisibles, and Everything is Blue is her first short film. She is currently working on her MFA in Creative Writing at American University and hopes to continue writing for both the page and the screen.

Film synopsis: A young art curator discovers, to her horror, that she can only see the color blue.

Alejandra Arragon

Alejandra Aragon is a filmmaker from Ciudad Juárez, México. She was part of the Photography Production Seminar of Centro de la Imagen from México City in 2017. Between 2013-2020 she participated in several group exhibitions throughout North America and Europe. Her documentary film Invisible Nights was part of the "Coordenadas" program of the Ambulante Film Festival in 2018. In 2019 she was awarded the Mexican Arts Grant (FONCA) as well as production support for her documentary film Disrupted Borders from the Tribeca Film Institute If/Then Program. She was a member of the 2020 Joop Swart Masterclass of World Press Photo. Through a multidisciplinary process using video, audio, photography, performative strategies and found images, her work explores the intersections between gender, territory, and identity from a de-colonial intersectional perspective. Her short film, Skatas, is a story about two girls who go on an adventure across the border city of Juárez to reach a safe place to skateboard and explore life.

Persia Campbell

Persia Campbell’s photographic work explores female self-representation through color and production design. She works with stage design to reconstruct and represent the intimate border and Norteno aesthetic. Persia Campbell has a degree in Visual Arts with a specialty in Digital Media (Photography and Video) from the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez. She has trained in Art Direction with designer Salvador Parra through a workshop at the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos (CUEC) at UNAM. She concluded her Master's studies in the Creative Processes in Art and Design in 2018. Her short film Con Vista al Río focuses on the frustrations of a rebellious border teen that lead him and his younger sister into grave danger, right along the wall that divides Mexico with the United States.

Alicia Fernández

Alicia Fernández is a photojournalist, audiovisual producer and documentary maker from Juarez, she was part of the El Diario de Juárez team that was awarded the María Moors Cabot Prize in 2011. Her images and visual reports have appeared in media from Mexico, Asia, Europe and the United States. She has been a multimedia producer and editor of the audiovisual team of the Spanish newspaper El País in its Latin American version. She is a digital media manager and consultant as well as a fellow and contributor to the International Women in the Media Foundation (IWMF) and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) through the Border Hub project. Among her latest collaborations is the podcast 'The Red Note', where she worked as a researcher and interviewer.

Ethiene Dali

Molded by the busy yet beautiful Mexico city, Ethiene Dali’s passion for writing spawned from the inability to express.themselves. At age 10, they wrote their first Children’s book. Traveling the world and moving to la frontera rebirthed Ethiene’s love for storytelling. Unable to communicate with people because of the language and culture barrier, Ethiene decided to use film as a way to communicate with people and reconnect with their own culture. Their short script, Nobody's Got Time for You, is about a middle-aged Mexican food cart owner who is forced to cross the border in order to protect her dogs from being put down. Ethiene now works as an independent Filmmaker in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Maria Del Rosario Perez

Meet Maria del Rosario Perez, our official 2021 El Paso Screenwriting Grant Recipient! Maria is receiving support for her short script, The Tornillo Collective, a documentary highlighting the collective and creative process of women of color as they address the issue of human rights, social justice, and the detention of unaccompanied minors, and separations of families by the US government as they attempt to seek asylum while fleeing from the poverty, violence, and injustice in their various homelands south of Mexico.

Ryan Rox

Ryan (they/them) is a queer, non-binary filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. They were born and raised in El Paso, Texas, but currently reside in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Their debut film, “Crawl,” recently concluded a successful festival run, where it won the Gold Award for Best New Mexico Short at the 2021 Albuquerque Mindfield Film Festival.

Their new short film, “Shipping Them” tells the story of a non-binary day-dreamer who pines for the life of the girl next door, but soon finds out the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. ✨

¡Conoce a Ryan Rox, destinatarix de la beca de Producción Cinematográfica del 2022!

Ryan (elle) es cineasta, guionista y actxr queer, no binario. Nació y creció en El Paso, Texas, pero actualmente vive en Las Cruces, Nuevo México. Su película de debut, "Crawl," recientemente concluyó un exitoso recorrido en festivales, donde ganó el Premio de Oro al Mejor Cortometraje de Nuevo México en el Albuquerque Mindfield Film Festival 2021.

Su nuevo cortometraje, “Shipping Them” cuenta la historia de un soñadxr no binario que suspira por la vida del tropo de la chica de al lado, pero pronto descubre que el paso no siempre es más verde del otro lado.

Ciela Ávila

Meet Ciela Avila, 2022 Filmmaking Grant recipient!

Ciela Ávila was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (1997), she is a journalist, dreamer, photographer and storyteller.

Don Efraín Delgado is the last member of a family line dedicated to the two most important cultural traditions of Temósachic, Chihuahua: The artisanal production of the sotol and northern band music. On his ranch "La Ciénega", a space that seems suspended in time on the banks of the Papigochi River, he works to maintain the identity and traditions of his people against the passage of time, migration and cultural syncretism.

¡Conoce a Ciela Ávila, destinataria de la beca de cine de 2022!

Ciela Ávila nació en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (1997), es periodista-soñadora, fotógrafa y contadora de historias.

Don Efraín Delgado es el último miembro de una línea familiar dedicada a las dos tradiciones culturales más importantes de Temósachic, Chihuahua: la producción artesanal de sotol y la música de banda norteña. En su rancho “La Ciénega”, un espacio que parece suspendido en el tiempo a orillas del río Papigochi, trabaja para mantener la identidad y tradiciones de su pueblo, aún en contra del paso del tiempo, la migración y el sincretismo cultural.

Bella Luna

Bella (pronounced Beya) is a single mother to a beautiful 3 month old baby named Azul. She has written and directed several short films and music videos. In her spare time, Bella enjoys time with family and friends, playing video games, and hosting get-togethers.

Her film, Sabor is a very special and personal piece that is based on Bella’s lived experiences. Two people find friendship amidst their love for alcohol and partying. The main character must learn how to navigate the new friendship while resisting temptation.

Bella hopes to inspire and provoke conversation with this story regarding alcohol abuse and the importance of centering relationships with friends/community.

¡Conoce a Bella Luna, destinataria de la beca para la escritura de guión de 2022!

Bella es una madre soltera de un bebe hermoso de tres meses que su nombre es Azul. Ha escrito y dirigido varios cortometrajes y videos musicales. En su tiempo libre, Bella disfruta del tiempo con su familia y amigos, juega videojuegos y organiza reuniones.

Sabor es una pieza muy especial y personal que se basa en las experiencias vividas por Bella. Dos personas encuentran amistad en medio de su amor por el alcohol y la fiesta. El personaje principal debe aprender a navegar por la nueva amistad mientras resiste la tentación.

Bella espera inspirar y provocar una conversación con esta historia sobre el abuso del alcohol y la importancia de centrar las relaciones con amigos/comunidad.

Verónica Palafox

Meet Verónica Palafox, 2022 screenwriting grant recipient!

Verónica Palafox was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco where she studied Communications. Fifteen years ago, destiny brought her to this border. Her journalism specializes in giving a voice and presence to women’s stories. Seven years ago, Veronica began to write literature and five years ago, she entered cinema. Her life is to communicate and she wants to keep it so.

In her short film "Bailarina", the mirror tells us about Alicia, a woman with Alzheimers who has lived for dance. Her reflection allows us to get closer to her memories and the way she perceives herself, lost between forgetfulness and confusion. To look into Alicia's mirror is to find her, to feel her, before the Alzheimer's erases her completely.

¡Conoce a Veronica Palafox, destinataría de la beca de escritura de guion 2022!

Verónica Palafox nació en Guadalajara, Jalisco donde estudió Ciencias y Técnicas de la Comunicación. Hace 15 años, el destino la trajo a esta frontera. Su periodismo se ha especializado en darle voz y presencia a lo femenino.Hace 7 años, Veronica empezó a escribir literatura y hace 5, se adentro al cine. Su vida es comunicar y desea que así siga siendo.

En su cortometraje “Bailarina”, el espejo nos habla de Alicia, una mujer con Alzheimer quien ha vivido por la danza. Su reflejo nos permite acercarnos a sus recuerdos y a la forma en que se percibe a sí misma, perdida entre olvidos y confusiones. Mirar dentro del espejo de Alicia es encontrarla, sentirla, antes de que su Alzheimer la borre por completo.

Deana Lee Ortega

Deana Lee Ortega was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She is the author of two published books, “Forget Soldadera” and “My Derby Romance.” She is currently working on her third book, “Tasting My Own Medicine,” which will be released in May of ‘23. She is the creator and host of the podcast “My Derby Romance” on YouTube. For the last ten years, she has run her own business as a holistic hair stylist and has been farming in the Chihuahuan desert for two years learning ancestral methods of growing during these times of climate change. She is a single mother of two whom she enjoys spending time and space with.

Deana Lee Ortega nació y creció en El Paso, Texas. Es autora de dos libros publicados, “Forget Soldadera” y “My Derby Romance”. Actualmente está trabajando en su tercer libro, "Tasting My Own Medicine", que se publicará en Mayo 2023. Es la creadora y presentadora del podcast "My Derby Romance" en YouTube. Durante los últimos diez años, ha dirigido su propio negocio como estilista holística y ha estado cultivando en el desierto de Chihuahua durante dos años aprendiendo métodos ancestrales de cultivo en estos tiempos de cambio climático. Es madre soltera de dos hijos con quienes disfruta pasar tiempo y espacio.

Veronica Palafox

I am Veronica Palafox, Mexican, living in Ciudad Juarez since 2007, communicologist by profession. All my life I've been telling stories. Some from the eyes of the journalist, others from literature, through stories and short novels. Life on this frontier awakened in me the desire to expand my narrative universe, leading me to forge into the film world since 2018. I have written and directed, two documentaries, "The Grandmother of the Bathrooms" and "Rio Bravo Blues" and a fiction, "Family". Taking these three short films to the big screen, reaffirmed the conviction that I desire with my heart to continue narrating at 24fps. The pandemic allowed me to concentrate on online training of various film disciplines, through the Mexican Institute of Cinematography, IMCINE, bringing me closer with it tools to improve my projects and bring them to life. 2022 was a year of great development, as I was awarded the Femme Frontera Scholarship for script, for "Bailarina" and also received the Eka Tax Incentive, for
"The Bible of Gaspar," which I am currently working on and will be ready in April. I'm working hard to make 2023 a consolidation year, with the production of "Bailarina" and filming of the documentary "La Sirenita", which is currently in development. Femme Frontera has been a driving force in those projects. Knowing that there is a team of women and non-binary people with the spirit of solidarity and desire to help motivates me. The funding offered by this scholarship will be used for the payment of talent fees, as well as production costs and payment of music rights for this work.

Soy Verónica Palafox, mexicana, radicada en Ciudad Juárez desde 2007, comunicóloga de profesión. Toda la vida he contado historias. Algunas desde la mirada de la periodista, otras desde la literatura, a través de cuentos y novelas cortas. La vida en esta frontera despertó en mí el deseo de ampliar mi universo narrativo, lo que me lleva a incursionar desde 2018 en el mundo del cine. He escrito y dirigido, dos documentales, “La abuela de los baños” y “Río Bravo Blues” y una ficción, “Familia”. Llevar a la pantalla grande estos tres cortometrajes, reafirmó la convicción de que deseo con el corazón seguir narrando en 24fps. La pandemia me permitió concentrarme en la capacitación on line de las diversas disciplinas cinematográficas, mediante el Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía, IMCINE, acercándome con ello herramientas para mejorar mis proyectos y darles vida. 2022 fue un año de gran desarrollo, ya que fui beneficiada con la beca Femme Frontera para guion, para “Bailarina” y también recibí el Estímulo Fiscal Eká, para “La biblia de Gaspar”, en el que actualmente trabajo y estará listo el mes de abril. Estoy trabajando arduamente por que 2023 se convierta en un año de consolidación, con la producción de “Bailarina” y la filmación del documental “La Sirenita”, que actualmente está en desarrollo. Femme Frontera ha sido un motor de impulso en esos proyectos. Saber que existe un equipo de mujeres y personas no binarias con el espíritu de solidaridad y deseo de ayudar, me motiva. El financiamiento que esta beca ofrece será utilizado para el pago de honorarios del talento, así como gastos de producción y pago de derechos musicales de esta obra.

Ser Godoy Prieto

My name is Ser Godoy Prieto, I’m a trans lesbian and multidisciplinary artist from Colombia, and an immigrant living in El Paso. I’ve worked in documentary filmmaking, including the award winning documentary When the Guns Go Silent. I recently earned my masters in Creative Writing from UTEP, and have had several of my poems published by journals like the Windward Review and PluralPersonal. My mom would say that I have a gift for empathy, that I can make space for people’s individualities to flourish, which is something I intentionally do with the people I meet as one of the many ways I try to decolonize my body and my relationships. I’m also a decolonial pedagogue. I teach Creative Writing courses at UTEP with a decolonial lens where I’m trying to show my students new ways of being and doing art that diverges from the white literary canon they were raised with.

Mi nombre es Ser Godoy Prieto, soy una artista trans lesbiana y multidisciplinaria de Colombia, e inmigrante que vive en El Paso. He trabajado en la realización de documentales, incluido el premiado documental When the Guns Go Silent. Recientemente obtuve mi maestría en Escritura Creativa de UTEP, y he publicado varios de mis poemas en revistas como Windward Review y PluralPersonal. Mi mamá diría que tengo un don para la empatía, que puedo hacer espacio para que florezcan las individualidades de las personas, que es algo que hago intencionalmente con las personas que conozco como una de las muchas formas en que trato de descolonizar mi cuerpo y mis relaciones. También soy un pedagogo decolonial. Imparto cursos de Escritura Creativa en la UTEP con un lente decolonial donde trato de mostrar a mis alumnos nuevas formas de ser y hacer arte que divergen del canon literario blanco con el que fueron criados.