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Moderator
Santiago Suarez Ruiz is a creative strategist, producer, and co-founder of Straybird Studios, a production company in Austin focused on emerging storytelling and innovative technology. Born in La Dorada, Colombia, he studied 3D animation & VFX at Full Sail University and went on to work on acclaimed series like gen:LOCK, RWBY, and Red vs. Blue. With 9+ years in digital media, he has helped launch and scale channels across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, driving hundreds of millions of views for brands like Warner Bros. Discovery and Crunchyroll. He also serves as a BRG Leader for Gallos Unidos, a community dedicated to elevating Latina/o/x professionals and underrepresented voices..
Panelist
Miguel Alvarez is a Chicano filmmaker from Texas whose work explores memory, loss, identity, and family across fiction and documentary. His films have earned honors from the Directors Guild of America, Panavision, the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, and NALAC. A Sundance/Cinefestival Latino Screenwriting Project Fellow for his sci-fi screenplay La Perdida, his documentaries The Giant Still Sleeps and Voto 2020 tackle Latino voting issues, while Mnemosyne Rising has amassed nearly 300,000 YouTube views. His films have screened internationally, from Tribeca to Russia. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Film Production at UT Austin.
Panelist
Monica A. Sosa (she/her) is a left-handed, segunda lovin’, rasquache tlachache artist rooted in resistance, care, and connection. A community arts administrator, grassroots organizer, and fronteriza de corazón, her work is shaped by her experience as a queer caregiver raised by women in the South Texas borderlands. She is a Worker-Owner at ENTRE Film Center & Regional Archive and Curatorial Manager for Boca Chica, Corazón Grande, a community archival project rooted in place, memory, and resistance. She is also the founder of Flower Friends, a mutual aid and floral exchange initiative celebrating community through art, culture, and floral practice.
Panelist
Yamel Thompson is a Mexico City-born Executive and Creative Producer based in Los Angeles, and co-founder of Agüita, a production company known for culturally resonant, visually sophisticated work. With a background spanning art history, film, and marketing, she bridges creative instinct with production precision across advertising, music, and original content. She began her career in long-form documentary and unscripted television, and has since produced work for leading global brands and artists. Agüita is recognized for its sharp cultural perspective and refined aesthetic, with coverage in Dazed, Billboard, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone.
Panelist
Yarisel Estrada is a Mexican transdisciplinary creative whose work bridges art, business, and storytelling. With a background in modeling and theater, she has both performed and produced dynamic stage works. In the music industry, she spearheads music video productions and live recording sessions with UP’ N UP Media, while Ópalo & Co. focuses on creative brand imagery, model scouting, and influencer marketing. A skilled marketer with a deep passion for fashion, Yarisel creates immersive experiences that celebrate culture, art, and community in Austin, Texas and beyond. She is also a collaborator on the Otra x Favor podcast, highlighting live culture, arts, and the vibrant spirit of Austin.
