Kaila Gutierrez is a Mexican-American writer and director from the Coachella Valley, now based in LA. She has a passion for telling stories about young women of color grappling with identity, desire, and self-worth. She received her M.F.A. in Film Directing from Chapman University and has since participated in various programs such as LFI’s Inclusion Fellowship Program, sponsored by the Netflix Creative Fund; the Mitu x Walmart Filmmaker Mentorship Program; and Hola Mexico’s Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today program. Her work has screened at Palm Springs International ShortFest, BOGOSHORTS, and the Mexican American Film and Television Awards, where she was awarded “Best Director.” Her films explore the ever-changing dynamics of personal relationships through generational, cultural, and familial divides.
Awards & Recognitions
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Kaila is one of 4 selected filmmakers to take part in Season 2 of the mentorhip program and was mentored by Oz Rodriguez and Justina Machado. Here she wrote and directed "Nana Carmen", which played at LALIFF and Bentonvile Film Festival.
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Kaila was one of 5 selected filmmakers to represent the Latino Filmmakers Network at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2DwDaDvXfi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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Kaila is one of 10 selected filmmakers to take part in the 2025 Latino Film Institute Fellowship sponsored by the Netflix Creative Fund. Here she wrote and directed "HIGH BEAM”.
https://about.netflix.com/en/news/latino-film-institute-announces-2025-lfi-inclusion-fellows
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Kaila's films have played at :
Palm Springs International ShortFest
BOGOSHORTS
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF)
New York International Children’s Film Festival - Audience Award Finalist
The New York Latino Film Festival
Bentonvile Film Festival
Mexican American Film and Television Awards - Winner Best Director, Finalist for Best Short Film & Best Screenplay
Singapore International Children’s Film Festival
Hola Mexico - Tomorrows Filmmakers Today
Fear No Film Festival
The Valley Film Festival
San Antonio CineFestival
And Streaming on Avenida Plus TV
The Hollywood Reporter Interview
In this interview Kaila discusses her time in the mitú x Walmart Filmmaker Mentorship Program, and her identity as a Latina in film.
“Nana Carmen” Written and Directed by Kaila Gutierrez, made through the Mitú x Walmart Filmmaker Mentorship Program.
Contact Kaila
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