Meet Dominick Cura | Filmmaker and Photographer

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

Hi Dominick, how do you think about risk?
I think about risk a lot! There’s all sorts of risks in filmmaking. One thought that always sits in the back of my head is “am I taking the right risk in telling my story the right way?” I’m very passionate about all the work that I do and with that drive can come constant self-questioning. But over time, I’ve come to learn that risk taking is not only important, but essential to the filmmaking process. Pushing ourselves to try new things and experiment is how some of the most beautiful moments happen.

On my last short film, El Último Tramo, I had two major risks in telling this deeply emotional story about addiction recovery. First, we shot on location at a real rehab center in Argentina, adding the complexities of a cross-country production. Second, we casted a non-actor, my cousin, as the lead. Both decisions brought significant logistical and financial challenges, but they also brought a level of authenticity and emotional weight that couldn’t have been achieved any other way.

While it may seem like it all worked out by luck, it was actually the result of months of careful preparation and a deep understanding of the risks involved. My cousin, Lucas, had no prior acting experience, but he had lived a story similar to the one in the film, having spent years recovering from addiction in Argentina. Before production, I spent several months with him online, studying acting books, watching videos, and gradually preparing him for the emotional demands of the role. Once in Argentina, I made it a top priority to cast supporting actors who were not only talented but committed to mentoring and collaborating with him throughout the process.

Naturally, my co-collaborators Jeremiah, Johnny and Christian from L61 Productions were hesitant at first. Casting someone with no previous acting experience as the lead in an emotionally intense film could have easily gone wrong. But in the end, we knew it was exactly the right choice. Lucas’ performance elevated the story and brought a deeper sense of reality to the character.

El Último Tramo is a project I’m incredibly proud of, not just for the story we told but for how my team and I took bold risks that paid off. It taught me to trust my intuition, to prepare relentlessly, and to surround myself with collaborators who believe in the process. As an artist, I know there’s always more to learn, but I’ve come to believe that the real craft lies in knowing when to trust your instincts and having the confidence to trust your creative choices in the moment, no matter the risk.

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.
Identity plays a vital role in my storytelling. To me, filmmaking is an intimately personal reflection of one’s own life experiences and identity. As a queer filmmaker of Argentine and Italian heritage, I’m devoted to telling both queer and cross-cultural stories, often exploring themes of belonging, self-discovery and cultural duality. My work highlights the nuances of these identities, often through a documentary-like visual style, striving to tell genuine, grounded stories on often overlooked perspectives.

My passion for storytelling began with photography. Growing up in Washington State, surrounded by mountains, I fell in love with nature on countless hikes and backpacking trips with my dad. From exploring the lush valleys of the Olympic Peninsula, to the rocky peaks of the North Cascades, I discovered a love for visual storytelling and a desire to capture the quiet beauty of these places and adventures. That passion soon evolved into filmmaking, leading me to study Cinema & Photography at Ithaca College.

My desire for exploration and adventure only deepened when I took a gap year before starting college, working and backpacking solo through Europe and Asia. Along the way, I learned the value of human connection, resourcefulness, and problem-solving and gained an ever-growing curiosity to learn about other cultures. I became fascinated by the languages, traditions and the foods that shape a place and people, and I carry that curiosity into my creative work today. I later studied Italian and Arabic in college, and now I see language as just another tool to utilize in authentic, layered storytelling.

After graduation, I returned home to Seattle and began working in the film industry as a production assistant and assistant director on projects for Netflix, Prime Video, and National Geographic as well as many indie projects. Freelance work is often demanding and inconsistent, but each role sharpened my adaptability, attention to detail, and collaborative instincts. Working across departments gave me a holistic view of the filmmaking process, one that now informs my work as a director.

In 2024, I completed my most ambitious project to date: El Último Tramo, a short film several years in the making. The film explores addiction and recovery through a deeply human lens and premiered at the Portland Film Festival, where it won Best Latine Film. Inspired by my cousin Lucas’ story of addiction and recovery, the film was born from a 2022 trip to Argentina, where I reconnected with him and visited Vencer para Vivir, the rehabilitation center where he’d spent the last two years rebuilding his life.

Vencer para Vivir was unlike any place I’d imagined. It wasn’t hospital-like or institutional. It operated on four pillars: love, understanding, dialogue, and dedication and was a community of its own. Residents took on work roles as part of their recovery, fostering accountability, structure, and community. For Lucas, it wasn’t just a center, it was home.

Together, we decided to tell a story inspired by his experiences there. After a year of writing, we filmed on location in Buenos Aires, casting both professional actors and real residents, including Lucas in the lead role and his real-life son. It was Lucas’s first time acting, and his raw performance gave the film its emotional core. The result is a fictional story deeply rooted in truth, one that aims to humanize addiction and illuminate the emotional journey of recovery.

Today, I am developing my first feature-length film. A coming of age story of different generations. It follows an eighteen-year-old runaway and a middle-aged woman as they journey toward the Pacific Ocean, each searching for their own identities amidst past family traumas. Set against the diverse natural beauty of Washington State, the film draws from my own questions about identity and belonging, as well as a desire to spotlight a region that’s often the setting for stories but rarely used as a filming location.

As I continue to explore my voice as a filmmaker, I strive to create films rooted in empathy. I believe filmmaking gives us a powerful ability to illuminate a wide range of stories, both big and small, especially those centered on characters navigating life between cultures, identities, and expectations. My hope is to amplify underrepresented voices, explore cross-cultural experiences, and embrace the bittersweet dualities of everyday life. I want to create stories that help people feel seen and understood, films that resonate emotionally and linger long after the credits roll.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love discovering new places, whether it’s a brand-new restaurant or a hidden hiking trail. I always try to take friends not only to my favorite spots in town but also to places and experiences that are new for both of us!

There would no doubt be several visits to Thai Town, thinking of Ruen Pair, Siam Sunset, or dessert at Bhan Khanom Thai, among just a few of the amazing options! I’m a big wine person, so several nights on the itinerary would include a wine night, either at Bar Covell, Lolo Wine Bar, or Tabula Rasa.

One of the things I love most about LA is how much there is to do not just in the city, but just outside of it too. I grew up in Washington State, so I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors. I love taking friends hiking in places like the Angeles National Forest or Malibu, but when we have more time, we’ll go farther out to Bishop or Joshua Tree. Every time I drive up to Mt. Wilson, I’m amazed by how close it is to the city and how stunning the views are. I’m hoping to attend one of their concert series in the future!

What I love about LA is really how easy it is to stumble upon something new and fun. Whether it’s a new restaurant, pop-up, or coffee shop, I feel like I’m always finding something new just driving around the city!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shout out all the people who have hired me onto a project and believed in me along the way. It might sound cliché, but I’ve come to realize just how much my career has been shaped by the kindness and generosity of others, often when they didn’t have to help. Whether it’s someone going out of their way to hire me back on a project time and time again, or someone making an effort to teach me a new skill, it’s those gracious moments that have helped me grow tremendously.

Filmmaking is such a collaborative process and I believe kindness and paying it forward are essential values. Even today, as someone who is fairly early in my career, I actively look for ways to support those that are just starting out. I hope to continue doing so as I grow and gain more opportunities to uplift the people around me.

I want to give a special shoutout to my friends Jeremiah, Johnny and Christian from L61 Productions. After connecting through our shared Argentine roots, they came on board my short film, El Último Tramo and were essential in bringing it to life. They worked with me over several years to develop the project and ultimately shoot and edit the final film. It was their dedication to El Último Tramo that truly brought the story to life. There’s nothing more essential than finding the right people to trust with your vision!

And lastly, I’m incredibly thankful to my parents, who have supported me in my ambition of being a filmmaker since I was a kid. Their encouragement to pursue my passion has been a constant source of strength, and they’ve stood by me for every project, big or small.

Website: https://www.dominickcura.com

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

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