Femme Frontera is a Latine-led film organization composed of and founded by predominantly women and non-binary filmmakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region of El Paso, Texas, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, México.
Femme Frontera centers the experiences of women, non-binary people, and LGBTQIA+ communities from border regions around the world and generates resources and support for filmmakers whose lived border experiences inform their connection to those stories. We provide essential support for filmmakers from around the world, and expanded access for filmmakers in the Paso del Norte region, who are navigating and examining pervasive and perceived barriers globally, and especially at the US-Mexico border. Femme Frontera’s ecosystem offers filmmakers and communities opportunities for shared storytelling and discourse, exhibitions and showcases, project funding, peer-to-peer resources, mentorship, and film education, toward a world beyond and in defiance of borders and barriers.
Films to be Screened at the New Mexico History Museum:
CON VISTA AL RIO
The frustration of a rebellious border teenager will lead him and his younger sister to put themselves in grave danger, right along the wall that divides Mexico with the United States.
Narrative Short Directed by Persia Campbell Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
BAILARINA
Alicia only recognizes herself through her reflection in the mirror and the notes playing from her music box. Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s consumes the rest of her existence.
Narrative Short Directed by Verónica Palofox Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
AURORA AND THE HOUSE OF LIGHTS
Aurora is 25 years old. She plays frantically in an arcade in order to win a giant teddy bear. She can’t stop because that would bring her back to reality, to what happened the day before. If she wins the teddy bear, everything will be okay, she will heal and be safe. But denial is only the first stage.
Narrative Short Directed by Ángela Matiz, María Matiz
Colombia
US IN OCTAVES
In a hyper color summer nightmare, two lovers are haunted by their last act of love: saying goodbye.Us In Octaves is an official two part narrative music video for veteran producer Caural and told through an all Womxn & Non-Binary cast.
Music Video, Short Directed by Alex Mastoon
Rockaway Beach, NY
THE WORDS IN-BETWEEN
The film explores the intersection of language, identity, and belonging among mixed race, indigenous and immigrant members of Gen Z, who talk about the pain of diaspora and assimilation, but also the power of language to connect them to home.
Documentary Short Directed by Katia Kalei Barricklow
United States
THE LITTLE DEATH
A woman finds her sexual awakening and her near demise in one fell swoop.
Narrative Short Directed by Autumn Palen
United States
AS LEAVES IN THE WIND
A story of two transgender women who migrate from their home countries seeking asylum and opportunities in a new continent. Their lives go through structural changes when they meet and take part in a new support network. Made by them for them.
Documentary Short Directed by Sofia Luz
Spain
Speaker Bios
Ryan Rox, Artist Support Manager
Ryan Rox(she/they) is a queer, Latine Director, Writer, and Actor of Trans Non-Binary experience, living and working in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Rox also works as the Artist Support Manager at the film organization Femme Frontera, supporting marginalized Femme and Non-Binary filmmakers of color from border regions, with an emphasis on those in Las Cruces, El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Rox recently completed her first feature film, HIDDEN FLORA. Rox is grateful to have showcased her work at TRANSlations, the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, and many more. Rox and her work have been supported by Femme Frontera’s Filmmaker Grant with mentorship from Aitch Alberto; Film Fatales’ Fatales Forward: Trans Stories Fellowship with mentorship from Olivia Peace; and Daniella’s Guestbook. Her primary filmmaking focus is uplifting queer voices and narratives; carving out inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC employment and community building; and bringing awareness to and sparking empathy in those unfamiliar with or misinformed about the community.
Mariana Góngora, La Frontera Film Lab Representative
Mariana Góngora is a documentary filmmaker and video journalist from Chihuahua, Mexico, and is based between the U.S./Mexico border. She commercially works as a producer, editor, and assistant director. As a borderland and Mexican-American woman, Mariana explores the shapes and forms of identities that emerge from the duality of binational experiences. Mariana was a 2022 fellow recipient for Femme Frontera x Sundance Institute’s Film Laboratory and has earned five best documentary awards for her co-direction of La Bi-vencia. She is currently working on developing her interactive digital magazine The Doc Method. Mariana is passionate about the documentation through collective memory carried among those who grew up under the War On Drugs in Mexico, the borderland experience, and healing processes through filmmaking.
Eva Videla, Education Manager
Eva Videla was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico. During her childhood, she fell in love with reading and storytelling, influenced by her grandparent’s stories. Eva holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University and a B.A. in Communication and International Studies from The University of New Mexico. During her studies, she focused on the intersectionalities of the fronterizos and their cultural identity. She has experience in volunteer work and educational programming, but her most recent position is at the National Young Farmers Coalition in fundraising. She likes to travel, garden, and spend time with her family and pets during her free time.
Verónica Palafox, "Bailarina" Director, 2023 Femme Frontera Filmmaker 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.
