Meet Anali Cabrera | Writer, Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anali Cabrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anali, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
This question really struck me since I have recently struggled to commit to pursuing a career in film directing, despite spending the past ten years of my life devoting my talents to filmmaking. In a world that praises financial stability and capitalist “grinding” it is difficult to choose a life of instability and un-guaranteed success. However, I’ve realized by committing to a career of creating I am putting my aspirations first and not allowing the pressure of money-making to distract that.

This all to say that I realized pursuing an artistic career is the right choice because the world NEEDS stories to stay afloat from all the chaos. Stories profoundly speak on relevant issues and unite communities to connect with the human experience. If creatives don’t commit to the risky path of storytelling then who will? Especially as a Latina, I know that I want to contribute to the diversification of cinema. The pool still sits shallow when it comes to immersing Latinx storytellers at the forefront of filmmaking. We need more BIPOC producers, writers, editors, directors, designers, etc. to unapologetically run the hard path of being a creative so that we can one day see a world of diversity both in front and behind the film screen.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
These are all very heavy questions that I am still trying to answer as I pursue directing. To start from the beginning, I sought out nonprofit entertainment organizations at a young age to gain hands-on experience in the film industry. After partaking in organizations like Ghetto Film School, Youth Cinema Project, NALIP and Outfest, I realized I was in filmmaking for the long haul. I enjoyed the successes and stresses of filmmaking — even when I was frantically troubleshooting a problem on set, or nearing a deadline to complete a project, I enjoyed the work I was doing knowing that I was contributing to a story important to me.

This journey has been far from easy. I’ve experienced many discouraging situations where I was either advised I should give up, or realized that I didn’t have the financial resources to make films. The nonprofits mentioned helped me tremendously in overcoming these challenges and reaffirmed my confidence that I could one day find success in this industry. I also accredit my motivation to my family. I have an immigrant mother who, since day one, has set an example on what it looks like to never give up, and to wake up every morning accomplishing the next goal. She has been unfailingly supportive in my creative journey, providing me the trust and space to seek out my dreams as I wish. These experiences alone I feel set me apart from the rest — there was never an easy route for me, a powerful mom or dad to give me a freebie entertainment position. I applied, persevered, and worked for every opportunity I’ve received, and I truly believe its molded me into someone who will never give up. No matter how difficult the road may be, we underdogs will succeed if we remain unafraid of the struggle and stay committed to our aspirations.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oooh, my immediate answer is East LA. I would take my best friend to Whittier Blvd, where East LA and Commerce meet. Dozens of Mexican food trucks sit at the boulevard, serving delicious plates of tacos, fresh churros, and stacked tortas. Once we’ve had some food and we’ve probably unbuttoned our pants for comfort, we’d drive to Downtown LA to see the sparkling skyscrapers against the golden sunset sky. Throughout the week, we’d grab drinks at loud cantinas in the East LA area. After a recovery nap, we’d go to a club playing Reggaeton and Rap music, dancing the night away. At some point in the week, we’d have to visit Hermosa beach if the weather is right. Drink mimosas, bar hop, walk on the shoreline and absorb some California sun rays. These are the activities I know and love. I’ve met some of the most friendly people in the areas I’ve mentioned, but of course a city like LA leaves an endless amount of opportunities to have memorable fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without hesitation, I attribute my creative drive to A24, where I interned during my junior year of college. This experience revealed to me that the film industry is slowly changing for the better, especially for young, BIPOC storytellers. Despite the progress made, much more needs to be done to achieve true equity in the field. A24 is one of the rare studios at the forefront of providing historically underprivileged writers and directors with the chance to share their stories on a large scale. My time working in their Development, Acquisitions, and Production (ADP) department taught me a great deal about running a robust studio that champions the production of diverse, impactful stories. The team at A24 consists of hardworking, exceptional individuals who inspire me to mirror their work ethic daily. As an inexperienced and inquisitive intern, I am indebted to the company for taking me under their wing and preparing me to overcome the challenges of this competitive industry in the future.

Website: https://www.analicabrerafilms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cinemanali/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cabreraanali/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinemanali