A CSUN senior thesis short film about family, acceptance, and second chances!

After the recent death of her estranged daughter, an elderly Catholic woman finds herself plagued by hallucinations of the past, just as a teenage girl arrives at her doorstep claiming to be her granddaughter. 

QUERIDA is a short film that follows Rocio, a 70-year-old Mexican Catholic woman, as she grieves for her queer daughter, Itzel, twenty years after she cut her out of her life. On Mother’s Day, Rocio reminisces on the memory of her daughter by watching old home videos, but her buried guilt prompts her to hallucinate a younger Itzel around her home. The pressure to confront her past mistakes only grows when Amalia, Itzel’s teenage daughter, arrives at Rocio’s home. 

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WHY MAKE THIS FILM?

The phrase, “family always comes first,” is ingrained in Mexican culture down to the root, as it is in many others. But with such a commitment, there are always choices and sacrifices to be made. Growing up with this phrase in mind means finding a balance between living a life in service to your family and living a life in the pursuit of your own joy. When your joy is not only contradictory to your family’s expectations, but also shunned within your community and culture, this delicate balance of responsibility and freedom becomes even harder to maintain. It’s this relatable experience that lies at the heart of Querida, which means “beloved” or “to be loved” in Spanish. Everyone wants to be loved, especially by those who raised you, and for thousands of queer Latinx youth living in fear of losing their family, being loved is the most important thing they can be.

Our goal is to tell a story of grief and guilt that reminds the audience that it’s never too late to accept your loved ones as they are. While tragedy lies at the heart of this narrative, it’s the opportunity for a second chance that ultimately makes this film one of hope and healing for both queer audiences and their families. 

Not only does this film bring much needed representation to the screen, but also allows queer and Hispanic voices to shine behind the scenes. Stories like these are not commonly seen, even in our growing landscape of diverse inclusion in film and TV, and it is due to the lack of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals in writer’s rooms, crews, and studios everywhere. An opportunity to remedy this with one more film reflecting a significant issue in our communities would be an honor not taken lightly. After all, we only hope to reach the hearts and minds of as many audiences as we can and create a stepping stone for important conversations. 

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HOW CAN YOU HELP?

It's no secret that films take money to make. But how exactly will we use your contribution? 

Your donation will help us pay for:

- Locations & Filming Permits 

- Equipment (Camera, Lighting, Electric, Sound) 

- Actors Fees 

- Wardrobe & Makeup 

- Set Dressing & Props 

- Post-Production (video editing, color grading, music, SFX)

- Feeding our Cast & Crew on set

- Marketing & Distribution 

With your help, we can ensure all parts of this production run smoothly, safely, and efficiently. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! 

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS to "QUERIDA" are 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE. The California State University Northridge Foundation is a CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION 501 (C)(3) PUBLIC BENEFIT CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

ESTIMATED FILMING DATES: Nov 10 - Nov 16, 2025 !!!

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MEET OUR CREW

Writer/Director: Isa Resendiz

Producer: Amile Avetisyan 

Producer: Angel Gonzalez 

Producer: Theresa Biskup

1st A.D.: Bree Santa Cruz

2nd A.D.: Tessa Anderson

Script Supervisor: Olivia Sturkie

Cinematographer: Ethan Perez 

Camera Operator: Monet Sprague

1st A.C.: Abel Gutierrez

2nd A.C: Raymond Skinner

Sound Mixer: Adam Lent

Boom Operator: Zitlaly Ekoh

Gaffer: Jeremy Griblat

Key Grip: Cirrus Fuller

Production Designer: Andrea Leon 

Art Director: Ethan Mitchell Kay 

Propmaster: Bella Camacho

Costume Designer: Sophia Calcagno

Editor: Jackson Ritchie

Editor: Alex Bryant

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@querida_film