Our team works diligently throughout the year to bring our various programs and events to life for our community. 
These are our leaders, interns, and volunteers behind the Latino Media Fest and help see the NALIP mission to fruition.

Vannessa is an experienced marketing, communications & events professional from Los Angeles. She currently oversees NALIP's tentpole events and programs as the Program Director. Also a skillful & dynamic photographer, Vannessa's passion lies in her ability to tell stories and bring ideas to life through any avenue. Vannessa has a knack for seeing the bigger picture and can easily piece together various elements. With careful planning and the overall vision in mind, she ensures that each event or digital campaign is memorable and executed smoothly. In 2019, Vannessa founded Virago Creative, a Latina-led creative agency dedicated to authentic storytelling and creative design. And in 2022, Vannessa co-launched Virago Rising, a Latine-powered media platform utilizing innovative forms of storytelling and resource offerings to uplift nuestra comunidad. Vannessa has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Emory University, Goizueta Business School and a double bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California (USC).

Marilyn Mijares (they/them, she/hers) is the Programs Coordinator at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers where they work closely with the Programs Director to oversee annual NALIP programs, partnerships, and internal team structure. A graduate from UCLA with a degree in Gender and Film, they have an enthusiasm for inclusive media that thoughtfully explores the intersection of race, gender, and other overlapping identities. Marilyn joined the organization in September of 2020 and has since continued to support NALIP’s efforts to work towards a more equitable and inclusive entertainment industry. Their professional pursuits lie in diversity and inclusion efforts in the realm of film and television to continue providing programs, resources, and access to filmmakers from underserved communities. Marilyn looks forward to the future of the industry and the rising opportunities for diverse creatives that will flourish more than ever in the years to come.

Marcos James (he/they) is a queer writer from southeast Los Angeles. He began his artistic career as a spoken word poet where he traveled across the country performing at venues such as Warped Tour, Dodger Stadium, and various universities. His work has been recognized by the United Nations, the California Endowment for the Arts, and the Los Angeles Times. He shifted towards film as a writer, and Impact Campaign manager for the Sundance feature Summertime (2021).  Currently, they serve as the Event Specialist where they help curate programming ideas, and manage event logistics across all departments. He holds a B.A from the University of California Santa Barbara's Film and Media Studies program.

Ian Cabalo (he/him) is an aspiring unscripted story producer for television from the San Gabriel Valley. He produced multiple projects including a multicamera musical short, a reality television sketch, and a remotely-filmed episodic mini-series throughout his academic career. In 2021, he received BA in Television Production and Interactive Marketing from California State University, Northridge. During his time at NALIP, he has facilitated the 2022 NALIP Media Summit's ECCII workshop program and coordinated the Latino Media Fest. He is passionate about all-things reality competition shows and the initiative for accurate threading of BIPOC stories in unscripted mainstream media.

Martha Delgado is the Communications Team Lead at NALIP. She graduated from UC Riverside with a B.A. in Creative Writing and her background is in journalism and nonfiction writing.

Victoria Jael Boche is a Salvadorian/Guatemalan screenwriter volunteering for NALIP's communication team. As a contributor to the NALIP mission, her passion lies in expanding Latino representation within on-screen media. As a writer, her eye for creative avenues never ceases in breaking the mold for new and refreshing avenues of cinema. She has previously worked with the Newport Beach Film Festival, serving as a Features Programmer critiquing submitted films. During its 2021 run, she screened a riveting documentary, Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche, and held a live Q&A with survivor Anna Conrad.

Victoria has a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Arts with an emphasis in screenwriting from California State University, Fullerton. She also possesses a minor in Creative writing from Santa Ana College.

Yesenia Batres is a first-generation American working towards helping others find their voice. She is a firm believer in giving back and helping others for one main reason: to spread love and positivity. One day she hopes to use these beliefs in my career to break down walls that have shut people out.

Joshua Vazquez currently attends California State University, Los Angeles, studying film. With an entrepreneurial background, he continues to apply his craft, including working as an intern for NALIP, where he is improving his post-production skills.

Hi, my name is Ariana Deleon. I am originally from South TX but moved out to LA almost 8 years ago! I am pursuing a degree in digital media in hopes to become a film editor. For as long as I can remember, films have always been apart of my life. I strive to create art that inspired me to become an artist.

Avery Orta is currently finishing up his final semester at Cal State Fullerton where he will be receiving a B.F.A. in Graphic Design. He is a first generation college student from Fresno, California with a passion for art. He currently leads the graphic design team with NALIP where he helps bring the vision to life for different events. Avery plans to one day be a part of a design firm in the entertainment industry.

Desteny Cifuentes is a senior at Cal State Fullerton majoring in Graphic Design. She is also an artist, using both illustration and graphic skills to help bring NALIP’s message across. Currently she is part of the graphics team helping to create the vision for the events at NALIP. After graduation Desteny hopes to be part of the makeup or entertainment industry.

Louis Garcia is currently a student at , and Cal State Fullerton, and is planning on graduating with a B.F.A. with a concentration in graphic design. He is a first-generation college student from Costa Mesa and is now an intern for NALIP’s graphics team. He hopes to get experience in the industry to improve on his skills as a graphic designer, and as a part of a team. Louis plans to one day work for brand name companies as a freelance designer.

My name is Justin Bustamante and I’m a recent graduate at Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking Practices. I currently live in Southern California with a career goal of writing for half hour sitcoms. Two shows that had an impact on me growing up were The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and George Lopez. What gravitated me towards these shows was watching diverse storytelling being showcased on television. An aspect of my creative process is striving for inclusion in any project that I create. It’s important that the next generation of creatives aim for inclusive stories and characters to be at the forefront of entertainment.

Vero Kompalic is a Venezuelan filmmaker, programmer and painter. She focuses her scholarship work on postcolonial feminist discourse, with publications on the sexual transgression of Breillat’s work and the radical cinema of Mariana Rondon. She served as an AP and writer on SUMMERTIME, which premiered at SUNDANCE and was theatrically released in 2021. In 2020 she founded DISCORDIA, an independent production company, with her longtime collaborators.

Jose Medina Rodriguez is a multifaceted Mexican, writer, director and producer. Originally from Mexico City, he was introduced to the world of television through the lens of telenovelas, while sneaking into his fathers job as a camera operator. This coalesced working backstage on local theater productions, and soon after fell in love with screenwriting. All leading to writing and producing a four episode web series “Chef’s Kiss”. Jose focuses on narratives exploring intimate themes such as homelessness, LGBTQ+ struggles, domestic violence, and social justice from underrepresented perspectives. Jose joined the NALIP team in 2020 to be a part of the push for inclusion of diversity in the entertainment industry. He has worked on signature programs like, Latino Media Fest, Diverse Women in Media Forum, NALIP Media Summit, The Emerging Content Creators Inclusion Initiative, and most recently the Latino Media Market. Jose is Los Angeles-based working on the pilot for his next series. Jose holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Television Production from California State University, Northridge.