Writer-Director Evelyn Lorena On Adding Nuance To Immigrant Stories Through Her Oscar-Qualifying Short Film ‘Gabriela’

deadline.com:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young person must decide between falling in line with the hopes and dreams placed upon them by their family or following their own desires for authentic self-expression.

Gabriela, a coming-of-age short film, written and directed by Evelyn Lorena, follows a young Latina immigrant woman (also played by Lorena) who dreams of becoming a great swimmer in the American South.

Even though she is undermined by her overprotective mother’s worries stemming from the looming insecurity of the family’s legal status and societal discrimination, Gabriela’s passionate tenacity sets her on a journey toward self-discovery.

Here, the filmmaker talks to Deadline about overcoming challenges, self-acceptance and subverting stereotypes for immigrant families. DEADLINE: Where do you think you got your passion for filmmaking?