About
Camila Saldarriaga is an award-winning Colombian multifaceted filmmaker and human-centered designer who has spent her life traveling between Bogotá, Miami, and Los Angeles.
As a storyteller at heart, she focuses on depicting fundamental social topics that are overlooked. To challenge narratives that disempower the immigrant community, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. She has created documentaries, and short films and collaborated with LA non-profits such as Proyecto Pastoral, and brands like Nike and TV Networks on these topics. This has fostered her calling to discover, capture, and bring to light narratives that incite change and break out of entrenched stereotypes.
Her first self-directed-and-produced short film, ¡ Mais Duro !, an adaptation of Colombian writer, Amalia Andrade’s short story Calzones Amarillos — has been accepted to festivals worldwide, such as Oscar-qualifying OUTFEST. It won Best Narrative Short at the Nordic International Film Festival and garnered a Special Mention by juror Kim Yutani, Sundance Senior programmer, at the Provincetown Film Festival.
In association with The Inertia, one of the most recognized surfing channels in the United States, Camila launched the doc. "Las Shapers." A thoughtful glimpse into the lives of three women breaking the boundaries of traditionally gendered roles in the world of surfboard building. “Las Shapers” has won Best Screenplay at Lagoa Surfe Arte and has been selected for festivals worldwide.
As a Senior Mentor at the Latino Film Institute's Youth Cinema Project, she has demonstrated a commitment to empowering underprivileged youth through filmmaking and social justice education.
During her extensive production experience and as an educator, she grappled with a central question: How could she propel her creative pursuits to higher realms and support initiatives that drive tangible policy transformations? This is why in 2022 she pursued a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) at UC Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy which underscores her dedication to effecting tangible policy change. Through this endeavor, she has honed her skills in policy analysis, public-private partnerships, and community building, with a particular focus on issues of racial and gender justice.
Camila’s multicultural background informs her unwavering advocacy for social inclusion and the development of innovative, human-centered initiatives to foster meaningful change within communities.
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