filmmaking awards & recognition
depaul SENIOR THESISStruggling to come to terms with her abuela's dementia, Isa impulsively gets a haircut she regrets so much it might just kill her. Directed, written, and edited by Cookie Estés. Winner of the Best Producing award at DePaul’s 17th annual Premiere showcase. Opened for a Guillermo del Toro retrospective at the Gene Siskel Film Center's Cine Latine showcase. Official selection at Chicago International’s Cineyouth and the 38th annual Chicago Latino Film Festival.
“SPLIT ENDS” - best produced
Director
Writer
Editor
2022
Chicago INT'L film festival“DIRTBAG” - best comedy
Harold has been given a bag of dirt and needs to get rid of it immediately. Directed by Karsten Runquist, shot by Nicholas Emmanuele and colored by Sam Howells. Winner of the Best Comedy Short award at Midwest Weirdfest and Best Short at the 2022 Chattanooga Film Festival. Official selection at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival and 2022 Athens International Film + Video Festival.
Editor
2021
DAVIS PROJECTS FOR PEACE The Talk: Sex Miseducation as an American Crisis is a multimedia documentary webseries + online toolkit that explores the complex and fractured landscape of sex education across America. Co-created by Mia Margita Neumann and Grae Wallach. Selected as one of 2019’s Davis Projects for Peace grant recipients.
“THE TALK” - grant recipient
Post-Production Supervisor
2020
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive“EXPIRED” - honorable mention
Director
Shooter
Editor
2019
Created with Regina Madanguit for the Ryuichi Sakamoto async international short film competition, this Eisner Prize honorable mention screened at BAMPFA in Berkeley, CA in May of 2019.
Art Institute Design Competition Re:Imagine24 is a night-at-the-museum design competition hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago. 100 artists and filmmakers were asked to create video art that emboldened teens to have an enjoyable + informative experience at a museum. Created with Regina Madanguit and animated by Mia Margita Neumann, this film won first place and premiered on the Art Institute's website.
“GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
& IN THE MUSEUM” - 1st place
Director
Shooter
Editor
Starring
2016
Vimeo Weekend Challenge “CASH ONLY” - runner up
Highlighting cash-only taco spots around Chicago, this runner up in the Tasty Tour Vimeo Weekend Challenge was co-directed, shot, and edited with Regina Madanguit in less than 24 hours.
Director
Shooter
Editor
Starring
2015