But his story and family come first for him, making him breathe. His perseverance and talent are reminiscent of what he inherited from his mother, Ernestina Carrera.
For Daniel Eduvijes Carrera, these weeks have been a roller coaster. His film, El Paisa, won Best Short Film The American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected in France to be presented at the historic American Library in Paris. An award at Cannes, presenting his new project at Laliff, Fiat Lux 5000, and now entering the national stage with his entry into the PBS Film Festival. But his grounded nature has made this Mexican one of the best new voices in cinema.
“When I came back from Cannes, I brought my mom a replica of the award I won. She has been having trouble with her leg and couldn’t walk. She told me, ‘Mi’jo, ponlo en la vitrina case so I can see it every day,'” says Dani, as many call him. But that humility also reflects in his art and determination.
“Cannes opened my eyes to the world of global and European cinema. I felt like I belong to the world of cinema, I don’t feel like an imposter,” says Carrera. He feels that Cannes was a test for him. “Being there, seeing how the world of cinema breathes all day is an incredible experience. Everything was totally new, but I wasn’t intimidated. I didn’t wear a tuxedo but carried the dignity of the Latino community of Los Angeles. Our way of making cinema is very similar to theirs, and that made me feel very good,” he says.
But his story and family come first for him, making him breathe. His perseverance and talent are reminiscent of what he inherited from his mother, Ernestina Carrera.
It wasn’t easy for Carrera to go Cannes to receive an award he didn’t expect to win at one of the world’s most important festivals. Financial resources were limited, and he had to turn to the filmmaking community to cover his expenses. “My colleagues in the production of El Paisa and Fiat Lux 500 told me, ‘You have to be there.’ They supported me in everything. I had the deadline for my latest production, and they said they would take care of it. It was difficult, but worth it. I slept very little, we had some production problems, and we had to solve them at the last minute,” he says.
“My colleagues in the production of El Paisa and Fiat Lux 500 told me, ‘You have to be there.’ They supported me in everything.”
And how did you feel being there and receiving the award? I asked him. “I teared up,” he says. “I met many people, many fellow filmmakers. But one thing is clear, I belong to my community. I want to continue making films here. We need to expand the opportunities to tell our people’s stories ourselves.”
“She (his mom) couldn´t walk. She has improved a lot, surprisingly,” he says, speaking of a family event they will have. Will she be able to dance with you? I asked.”Probably not yet, but she will be healthy and with us,” he says.
One of his new goals is to see the possibility of making El Paisa a feature film. “There are many stories to tell, many characters to develop. They stayed in my mind, and I have to see the possibility of making them,” he says.
“Daniel Eduvijes Carrera is among the most accomplished new voices in American Latino filmmaking. His work has screened at the Tribeca, Guadalajara, Morelia, Huesca, and Los Angeles Film Festivals, at numerous art museums, and on international television broadcasts. He is the winner of the Imagen Foundation Award, Top Prize winner in Ovation TV’s ‘Search for the Next Revolutionary Filmmaker,’ and was recognized as Best Latino Film Director by the Directors Guild of America Student Film Awards”… and many more.
But his story and family come first for him, making him breathe. His perseverance and talent are reminiscent of what he inherited from his mother, Ernestina Carrera.
“She could hardly walk. She has improved a lot, surprisingly,” he says, speaking of a family event they will have. Will she be able to dance with you? I asked.
“Probably not yet, but she will be healthy and with us,” he says.
Yes, he is not an imposter.
El Paisa: “Ay’mijo, I think you’re finally trying to tell me something.” Daniel Eduvijes
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