‘Mija’ Director Isabel Castro on Opening L.A. Latino Film Festival: ‘It Really Feels Like We’re Having Our Voice Heard’
variety.comWilson Chapman editorThe 21st edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival opened with “Mija,” a Disney original documentary film about Doris Muñoz and Jacks Haupt, two daughters of undocumented immigrants navigating the music industry.
For Isabel Castro, who makes her directorial debut with the film, opening the festival is a perfect reflection of the themes of her film.“The film is made for the community that LALIFF fosters,” Castro told Variety on the red carpet of the LALIFF opening. “It was filmed in L.A., it is about Latinos who are trying to make it in this city.
And to see it shown on such a public platform in this city, it just really feels like we’re having our voice heard in terms of what it means to try to make it as a Latina.” The opening screening of “Mija” took place at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday.
In attendance were many notable Latino actors and directors, including Xochitl Gómez from “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Jon Huertas from “This is Us” and Carlos López Estrada, director of “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Representatives of “Mija” that were at the opening for the festival included Muñoz and Haupt, as well as film producers Tabitha Breese and Yesenia Tlahuel.Filming for “Mija” began three years ago, when Castro contacted Muñoz, a manager who reps artists like Mexican American singer-songwriter Cuco, about making a documentary film about children of immigrants navigating the music industry.
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