La Cocinera captures the suspense and pressure facing Daniela Soto-Innes, a 25-year old James Beard Award-winning chef tasked with running one of the hottest kitchens in New York City.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Emily Harrold

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I was hired to make this as a part of a series for #ActuallySheCan about young women succeeding and breaking glass ceilings in industries typically headed up by men.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It is a beautifully shot and inspiring story of a young woman moving to the United States and succeeding.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The themes of personal struggle and hard work, despite the odds, are very clear in La Cocinera. For that reason, I think this is a universal story that will connect with audiences.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

We were pretty clear with what we wanted the story to be from the start. The one major change is that originally the film was going to follow the launch of Lunch at Cosme. But in the course of editing we instead decided to focus in much more on Daniela and so that storyline does not appear in the film.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

We premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival at a private #ActuallySheCan screening. The film was very well received and has gotten a couple of very good reviews online.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The feedback has been great...it has shown me that people enjoy success stories and really want to be inspired by others.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I want as many people to see this film as possible.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We are already distributed through #ActuallySheCan so we just want more people to watch the film.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Considering the very vocal anti-immigration stance of our current administration, I think this film shows that having an inclusive country who invites immigrants in and who doesn't shut down the borders is a good thing. Daniela's story is just one of the millions that are out there.

Would you like to add anything else?

Thanks very much to Daniela Soto-Innes and the entire Cosme team for making this film possible.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Emily is working on a number of documentary projects, including her first feature documentary. This film is set in her home state of South Carolina.

Interview: February 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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La Cocinera

La Cocinera captures the suspense and pressure facing Daniela Soto-Innes, a 25-year old James Beard Award-winning chef tasked with running one of the hottest kitchens in New York City.

Length: 11min

Director: Emily Harrold

Producer: Emily Harrold

About the writer, director and producer:

Emily Harrold is a documentary filmmaker from Orangeburg, SC. Her films have played at festivals including Tribeca, Telluride, and Melbourne. She is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

Key cast: Daniela Soto-Innes

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):

Funders: Allegan

Made in association with: Tribeca Digital Studios and #ActuallySheCan

Where can I see it in the next month? On Youtube on #ActuallySheCan Channel