Vanessa Libertad Garcia(1983-2013)

Vanessa Libertad Garcia is a Cuban - American filmmaker born in Los Angeles who has lived throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University in May of 2005. During and after which she has worked on a variety of film projects, which tackle both the documentary and fiction film worlds. While living in Germany from 2003 - 2004 Ms. Garcia completed a rigorous film program and made her first short documentary, Parental Discretion Advised, in which she explores the underground world of schmoozing and the fine line between selling oneself and selling out. In the summer of 04' she arrived back in the United States and worked as Associate Producer on a documentary by Anayansi Prado, Maid In America, which explores the trials and tribulations of Latina domestic workers in the United States. Maid in America has toured the film festival circuit screening at top venues such as Cinequest, the Habana Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Film Festival. The documentary was bought by PBS and debuted on its network in fall 2005. In spring of 05' she wrote, produced, directed, and edited her short musical film, A Two Woman One Act, which explores the destruction of a lesbian relationship between two repressed gangsters from a rough Los Angeles ghetto. It is screening at top film festivals such as The International Film Festival of Cinema and Technology 07', Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 07', and Fusion: LGBT People of Color Film Festival 07.' She also produced, directed, and edited a short documentary filmed in India in winter of 04/05. The film, Little Statistics, travels through India's poorest neighborhoods setting up elementary schools with the Ninash Foundation for the neglected children of India's lowest caste, the untouchable class. The film takes a personal look at the impoverished children attending the Ninash schools and how education has affected their lives.

Ms. Garcia recently finished writing her first feature film, Deity, about a lonely Cuban-American dreamer determined to become an award-winning photojournalist who struggles to survive LA's worst demons - temp gigs at tabloid rags, hipster nightclubs, and the ruthless 101 freeway - only to be consumed by her own. She is also co-producing a documentary, Synthnation, about the revolutionary impact underground industrial music has had on club and youth culture by investigating music geniuses such as VNV nation, Front 242, and others. Vanessa Libertad Garcia is a director, writer, and editor who seeks to make films that experiment with style, grapple unique issues, and always challenge convention. Inspired by the plight of existence she investigates its many concepts by delving into the conflicts and dilemmas that comprise life/the human condition through the artistic medium of film.