Mónica Esmeralda León Explained

Mónica Esmeralda León
Birth Place:Michoacán, Mexico
Citizenship:Mexican, American
Website:[1]
Yearsactive:2013–present

Mónica Esmeralda León (Michoacán, July 20, 1991[2]) is a Mexican film actress, producer and director. León is also the founder of Ave Fenix Pictures in Chicago and Los Angeles, and created the La Raza filmmaking concept.[3]

León is multilingual and speaks Spanish, English and Italian.

Early life

León was born in Michoacán, Mexico. She moved to Chicago at the age of 16, where she worked helping youth at risk.[4]

Career

León wanted to show the beauty and violence inside her neighborhood through the medium of film.[5] León became the executive producer of Adios Vaya Con Dios, which incorporated gang members and street artists into the filmmaking process. León dedicated the director title to the community using the term La raza.[6]

León worked as a music producer combining different artists from around the globe, including the United Kingdom and Mexico, incorporating them into the soundtrack of Adios Vaya Con Dios.[7] The film was first to integrate a British and Mexican rock soundtrack over a Latino urbanized film.[8] Adios Vaya Con Dios was the Official Selection at Bel Air Film Festival being Runner-up for Best Audience Feature Film, and nominations for Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Director. León also shared the nomination for Best Director with La raza.[9] [10]

León founded the first Latino film studio in Chicago with Zachary Laoutides, called Ave Fenix Pictures.[11] [4] She is also the first Latina and immigrant to found a film studio in Chicago.[12] [13] [14]

León's second film is Arise from Darkness. She served as the film's music supervisor and acted in the film.[15] [16] It was ranked number one in the 10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating.[17]

In 2017, León premiered the film Black Ruby at the London Independent Film Awards. The film earned nominations in London with Leon sharing in Best Director and Best Feature Film.[18] [19] She won Best Film at the Los Angeles Film Awards. The film was the first movie shot with the iPhone 7.[20]

In 2020, León's studio Ave Fenix Pictures announced the dramatic thriller Where Sweet Dreams Die, directed by Mirza Esho and featuring actors Zachary Laoutides, Jaime Zevallos, and Alexander James Rodriguez.[21] The film wrapped shooting in Chicago and New York in March 2022.[22] [23] [24]

Personal life

León is active in community outreach and continues higher education in languages and history.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRole
2016Adios Vaya Con Dios[25] Producer
2017Arise from Darkness[26] Jessica
2017Black RubyProducer
2024Where Sweet Dreams Die (upcoming film)Producer

Awards and nominations

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Adios Vaya Con Dios Executive Producer Bel Air Film Festival Runner up Best Audience Feature
Bel Air Film Festival Nominated Best Jury Feature Film Directing
2016 Arise from Darkness Jessica Nominated Film Invasion L.A. Best Director
Nominated Film Invasion L.A. Best Narrative Feature
Also, Producer/Director
2017Black RubyExecutive Producer /Also, Producer/DirectorNominated London Independent Film Awards Best DirectorNominated London Independent Film Awards Best Feature film

Nominated London Independent Film Awards Best Foreign Feature film

Nominated London Independent Film Awards Best Trailer

Also, Producer/Director

Nominated Rome Film Awards Best Feature Film

Nominated Rome Film Awards Best Director

Nominated Rome Film Awards Best International Film

2018Black RubyExecutive Producer /Also, Producer/DirectorWinner Los Angeles Film Forum Awards Best Feature Film

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Davies. Janet. Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora. ABC7 Chicago. 14 October 2016. 10 August 2016.
  2. Web site: 2016-06-28 . Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success . 2023-06-03 . Chicago Tribune.
  3. Web site: EL AVE FÉNIX QUE CUMPLE EL SUEÑO AMERICANO. 2021-03-08. Entrepreneur mag21. es-MX.
  4. Web site: La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo. Huellas. March 25, 2016.
  5. Web site: Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora. Janet. Davies. August 10, 2016. ABC 7 News.
  6. Web site: "Adios Vaya Con Dios"; The First-Ever Award Winning Film Made By Chicago Latino Gangs, Mexico & The UK – The Costa Rican Times. costaricantimes.com.
  7. Web site: Adios Vaya Con Dios Soundtrack as compelling as the movie. Ryan Stabile. AXS. https://web.archive.org/web/20181105001354/https://www.axs.com/adios-vaya-con-dios-soundtrack-as-compelling-as-the-movie-76238. November 5, 2018.
  8. Web site: 2016-02-06. Award–Winning Film Adios Vaya Con Dios Defining and Defying Soundtrack. 2021-05-24. The Music Reviews. en-US.
  9. News: Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success. Crosby. Denise. Chicago Tribune. 2017-10-26. en-US.
  10. News: La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo -. 2016-03-25. 2017-10-26. es-ES.
  11. Web site: Chicagoland's own Latino film studio making its mark in cinema. 2016-10-13. WGN-TV. 2017-01-07.
  12. News: La Revolución en las Calles de Zachary Loutides. 2016-04-24. 2020-11-17. es-MX.
  13. News: The Oscars' New Diversity Rules Opening Doors, but how much?. Yahoo! News. November 7, 2020. 2020-12-05. en-US.
  14. Web site: Entertainment Leaders Changing The Appearance of Film's Future. 2021-05-24. in.style.yahoo.com. April 16, 2021 . en-US.
  15. Web site: Ryan Stabile. 'When my Eyes go Dark' has a soundtrack that will keep you awake. live. AXS. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174915/http://www.axs.com/when-my-eyes-go-dark-has-a-soundtrack-that-will-keep-you-awake-81033. August 31, 2018.
  16. News: Fox Valley shooting for new film fest, more local movies. Crosby. Denise. Chicago Tribune. 2017-10-26. en-US.
  17. Web site: 2020-09-16. 10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating. 2021-10-01. ScreenRant. en-US.
  18. News: Production company joins forces Manchester, Glasgow, Chicago. Bdaily Business News. 2017-10-26. en.
  19. News: Black ruby. Film Threat. 2021-01-17. en.
  20. News: Black Review. Film Threat. 2020-12-05. en.
  21. News: Indie 'Where Sweet Dreams Die' Sets Cast; Rom-Com 'They/Them/Us' Wraps Shoot During COVID-19; Danny Trejo & More Star In 'The Shift' – Film Briefs. Patrick. Hipes. September 10, 2020. 2020-12-05. en-US.
  22. Web site: Where Sweet Dreams Die evoking inspirations of Taxi Driver and American History X – The Hollywood Reporter . 2022-03-19 . www.yahoo.com . en-US . March 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220319030912/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-sweet-dreams-die-evoking-085700039.html . dead .
  23. Web site: Oscars Release Clarifications in Diversity Rules Insider . 2022-09-06 . www.yahoo.com . August 31, 2022 . en-US.
  24. Web site: Tedfuel . Written in Partnership with . 2023-05-18 . Where Sweet Dreams Die an American Historical film - LA Weekly . 2023-06-03 . www.laweekly.com . en-US.
  25. Web site: Davies. Janet. Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora. ABC7 Chicago. 14 October 2016. 10 August 2016.
  26. Web site: Arise from Darkness (2017). Rotten Tomatoes. 2020-11-17.