Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcelo De Stefano.
Hi Marcelo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Without going into too much detail, my story essentially began in the north of Mexico. My cradle is the border state of Coahuila, where I was born in the former capital city of Texas, Saltillo. For the last 7 years of my life, I have been living Austin, here I became an ex-alumni of the University of Texas, majored in the field of Radio-Television & Film at the Moody College of Communication.
Since the year 2013, I have had different opportunities which have gradually contributed into my artistic formation. That same year, I became the columnist for the renowned film and arts magazine “Picnic” where I was their youngest collaborator for my writings in the section of “The Future of Cinema”. Forward ahead into 2017, I had my first entry into major film feature productions when I worked inside the production management team of the Ariel-nominated film “Death to Summer” by director Sebastian Padilla-Padilla. Slowly getting my foot into learning the different roles inside the industry has led me into garnishing a sense of what it takes to coordinate the complex stages of building up a film from start to finish. The year 2019 is when my film language finally started to build some complexity, my presence in the 72nd Cannes Film Festival working alongside L.A production and distribution company XYZ FILMS was fundamental in my present-day understanding of film exhibition and sales management. Watching these both sides of the coin, creation and reception gathered me the strength to become a visual channel for those messages that might perhaps never have been seen without me.
From 2019 – 2022, my creative expression made its initial burst. During these past three years, I have been taking the role of film director, where I’ve had the opportunity to work with distinguished Colombian Jazz/Rock group “FatsO” in the creation of their latest music videos – “One by One” & “When They Fall”. Both music films were selected and nominated for festivals such as the “6th Annual Austin Music Video Fest 2021”, “6th Annual Bogota Music Video Fest” & “Buenos Aires International Film Festival”. 2021 was also the year when I directed my first Documentary Film “TOYAH”, where since its completion, the film has reached a wide range of audiences and accolades both in the United States as well as in Europe. The documentary initially premiered in the Czech Republic at The National Gallery in Prague, where it was bestowed the Audience Award at Vertifilms 2021 film festival. Subsequently, thanks to its foreign reception, it became part of SXSW 2022 in Austin, Texas where it was showcased in cinemas at the prestigious Austin Film Society. And most recently, in October 2022, the film had the opportunity to head back to Europe again, where the 27th Linea D’ombra film festival brought it into its Official Selection and showcased it at the Renaissance era basilica of Chiesa Dell’Addolorata in Salerno, Italy.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No road is ever really “smooth”, certain privileges might sometimes play a role in finding short-term pathways. But the struggles for creation and finding a public are the same for everyone. Where the people you place in front and behind the camera go first before oneself, this is where human dignity comes in. The difficulty of finding a balance between the creation of your own language and the affection of the people you involve and look forward to inspire.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a film director and cinematographer, or better said a “film-worker” I can’t really say I’m an artist even thought what I do is an artistic expression. That label of someone as an “artist” comes from the people who receive your work as time pass, not really for me to decide. Time is really the only judge here.
So far, I’m certain of only one thing, which is my sensibility towards human emotion. This journey of filmmaking, despite all its hardships, is about coming to the realization that, at its core, cinema is a human experience/adventure. Once you touch base with that reality, everything else will come naturally.
Most recently, part of that journey has led me to direct documentary films, where this past October, my latest piece, “VALLE” (2022) was bestowed the Texas Water Foundation Award for Best Documentary by the respected Texan filmmaker – Richard Linklater.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To be ready for the unknown, to embrace that feeling of not fully knowing what you’re doing or what is happening next. That has enabled me to find beauty in mystery as a path forward. If you decide to control and plan too much ahead, you will never find yourself surprised by what life can give you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/marcelo.de.stefano
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelo.destefano/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9754007/?ref_=rvi_nm
Image Credits
Tori Gene McCarthy
Marcelo De Stefano
