María Alvarez
Directing
Biography
María Alvarez is a Cuban-Dutch filmmaker and a USC Film Production graduate. A Rising Voices fellow (Hillman Grad/Indeed/271 Films), she co-directed and co-wrote the short film “Last Days of the Lab,” which premiered at Tribeca, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was Oscar-qualified for Best Live Action Short at the 2024 Academy Awards. María works as a freelance director and photographer in narrative, music videos, and commercials for clients like Nike and Netflix. As a Sundance Institute Latine Collab Scholar, she is developing “Guava Tree,” her feature film exploring themes of cultural identity, family, and belonging.
Known For
John J. is a seasoned hit man sent on a job to Argentina. When the General he's sent to kill delays his return to the country, John passes the time with Manuela, a beautiful dancer who becomes his teacher and guide into Argentina's sensual world of the tango.
Assassination Tango
A mother and daughter sift through old memories as they prepare to permanently close down their family's photo lab.
Last Days of the Lab
“did i look cuban then?” is an exploration into the intersectionalities of a Cuban-American upbringing and multigenerational womanhood through the lens of poetry, photography, cinematography, screen-printing, and found family footage.
did i look cuban then?
An unnerving incident begins to chip away at a young songwriter’s state of mind.
From the Top
A Cuban-American girl uses a school assignment to ask her dad about his upbringing. NALIP Official Selection.
Split Ends
A young writer struggles to connect with old friends while visiting his hometown for the first time since leaving for college.
Novembers & Embers in Amber
A young woman's suicide plans are put on hold after a night of self-discovery when she befriends another woman.