Chiqui
It's 1987. Chiqui and Carlos immigrate from Colombia to New Jersey to find a better life for themselves and their unborn son. Upon their arrival, they quickly realize that the American dream is not as easy to achieve as they thought.
Interview with Writer/Director Carlos Cardona
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
"Chiqui" is based off the true life story of my parents coming from Colombia to the United States in 1987 so it is a very personal story for me.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
People should watch this film because it portrays Latin American immigrants, specifically Colombia immigrants, in a three dimensional way contrary to what is typically seen in popular media. "Chiqui" aims to shift the perception on how Latin American immigrants are viewed and to show a side that is not predicated on the circumstances surrounding why they left their country but rather their struggles with the English language, assimilation and the concept of the "American Dream"
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
"Chiqui" relates to not only children of Latino immigrants but immigrants and people from all walks off life and anyone who has ever tried to find their place in the complicated fabric of American society.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As the saying goes, there is the film your write, the film you shoot and the film you edit. Every stage of the process was difficult but had its illuminating moments that brought something unexpected to the project
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far the feedback from second generation Latino immigrant children has been overwhelmingly positive as they can relate so much to the characters and the circumstances that they find themselves in. People who are not Latino have also reacted very positively and have taken a liking to the main character because of her non traditional rendition as an anti-hero.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has surprised me with how positive it has been since this is such a personal story and very specific to a particular time and place.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking to get as much exposure as possible for our pilot "Chiqui"
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would really love to have producers, particularly LatinX producers involved that can bring us to a production company that can help us incubate our project and get it ready for series. We would also like to have journalists come on board that can get us to platforms that champion LatinX and diverse voices.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like "Chiqui" to make an impression on children of Latino immigrants like myself but also to have non Latino people understand that Latinos, specifically Colombians are much more than the stereotypes and cliches seen in popular television, film and media.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Conversations surrounding the anti-hero female characters and cliches that have historically made up the image of Latinos in media are the main points of conversation that I would like "Chiqui" to create.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Aside from developing "Chiqui" into a television series, I am currently working on a few feature film scripts that deal in the vein of autofiction similar to "Chiqui".
Interview: April 2022
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
Chiqui
Length:
30:00
Writer
CARLOS CARDONA is an award-winning Colombian American director and cinematographer from Southampton, New York. He has worked in narrative and documentary for over a decade. He has directed two feature films currently streaming on Amazon Prime: his first feature, Second Chance, a crime thriller set in New York City, and his second feature, Scenes From a Breakup, a Neo-mumblecore apartment drama and a work of autofiction. He is particularly interested in stories that deal with identity, race, and class and how they intersect with American culture. Carlos wrote and directed, Chiqui, which had it’s world premiere in the indie episodic program at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival
SOPHIA DE BAUN is a filmmaker with a background in writing and gender theory. She wrote, directed, produced, and edited her first short film, Sisters, in 2015, which premiered at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. In 2017, she wrote and produced her first feature, Scenes From a Breakup, which screened at Anthology Film Archives as part of NewFilmmakers NY, and can now be streamed on Amazon. Her latest directorial work, Out There, a comedy web series received a NYFA grant from the Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre in 2020. Sophia edited and co-wrote the short, Don’t Come Close which screened at Rooftop Films, LALIFF, and HBO NY Latino Film Festival. She also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her latest short film, Filling Holes, funded by the City Artist Corps Grant in 2021.
Director
CARLOS CARDONA is an award-winning Colombian American director and cinematographer from Southampton, New York. He has worked in narrative and documentary for over a decade. He has directed two feature films currently streaming on Amazon Prime: his first feature, Second Chance, a crime thriller set in New York City, and his second feature, Scenes From a Breakup, a Neo-mumblecore apartment drama and a work of autofiction. He is particularly interested in stories that deal with identity, race, and class and how they intersect with American culture. Carlos wrote and directed, Chiqui, which had it’s world premiere in the indie episodic program at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
Producer
DANIEL FERMíN PFEFFER is an award winning Mexican-American filmmaker. He earned a BFA from NYU's Tisch School and an MFA for Screenwriting and Directing from Columbia University. His short film, While I Was Gone screened at various festivals and won the Denver Film Festival Domestic Student Award. His first feature, I'll See You Around, premiered in 2019 at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. I'll See You Around has since been picked up for distribution by Breaking Glass Pictures.
SOPHIA DE BAUN is a filmmaker with a background in writing and gender theory. She wrote, directed, produced, and edited her first short film, Sisters, in 2015, which premiered at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. In 2017, she wrote and produced her first feature, Scenes From a Breakup, which screened at Anthology Film Archives as part of NewFilmmakers NY, and can now be streamed on Amazon. Her latest directorial work, Out There, a comedy web series received a NYFA grant from the Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre in 2020. Sophia edited and co-wrote the short, Don’t Come Close which screened at Rooftop Films, LALIFF, and HBO NY Latino Film Festival. She also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her latest short film, Filling Holes, funded by the City Artist Corps Grant in 2021.
Key cast:
Brigitte Silva, Sebastian Beltran, Catherine French, Gregg Prosser
Looking for:
producers, journalists
Where can I watch it?
05/05/2022 SERIES FEST/ Sie Film Center 2:45pm
05/06/2022 SERIES FEST/ Sie Film Center 3:30pm
06/05/2022 LALIFF/ TCL Chinese 6 Theaters 4:00pm