Mónica Esmeralda León
Monica Esmeralda Leon at Black Ruby interview (2016)
Born
Michoacán, Mexico
CitizenshipMexican, American[1][2]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • director
Years active2013–present
Websitewww.avefenixpictures.com[2]

Mónica Esmeralda León (Michoacán, July 20th 1991[3]) is a Mexican film actress, producer and director. León is also the founder of Ave Fenix Pictures in Chicago and Los Angeles, and created La Raza filmmaking concept.[4][5]

León is multilingual and speaks Spanish, English and Italian.[1]

Early life

León was born in Michoacán, Mexico. She moved to Chicago at the age of 16, where she worked helping youth at risk.[1]

Career

León wanted to show the beauty but also the violence inside her neighborhood through the medium of film.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] The film was first to integrate a British and Mexican rock soundtrack over a Latino urbanized film.[9] 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.[10][11]

León founded the first Latino film studio in Chicago with Zachary Laoutides, called Ave Fenix Pictures.[4][1] 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.[1]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role
2016 Adios Vaya Con Dios[2] Producer
2017 Arise from Darkness[25] Jessica
2017 Black Ruby Producer
2024 Where Sweet Dreams Die (upcoming film[24]) Producer

Awards and nominations

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Adios Vaya Con DiosExecutive ProducerBel Air Film Festival Runner up Best Audience Feature
Bel Air Film Festival Nominated Best Jury Feature Film Directing
2016Arise from DarknessJessicaNominated Film Invasion L.A. Best Director
Nominated Film Invasion L.A. Best Narrative Feature
Also, Producer/Director
2017 Black Ruby Executive Producer /

Also, Producer/Director

 Nominated London Independent Film Awards Best Director

Nominated 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

2018 Black Ruby Executive Producer /

Also, Producer/Director

 Winner Los Angeles Film Forum Awards Best Feature Film

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo". Huellas. March 25, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Davies, Janet (August 10, 2016). "Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success". Chicago Tribune. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Chicagoland's own Latino film studio making its mark in cinema". WGN-TV. October 13, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  5. ↑ "EL AVE FÉNIX QUE CUMPLE EL SUEÑO AMERICANO". Entrepreneur mag21 (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ Davies, Janet (August 10, 2016). "Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora". ABC 7 News.
  7. ↑ ""Adios Vaya Con Dios"; The First-Ever Award Winning Film Made By Chicago Latino Gangs, Mexico & The UK – The Costa Rican Times". costaricantimes.com.
  8. ↑ Ryan Stabile. "Adios Vaya Con Dios Soundtrack as compelling as the movie". AXS. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Award–Winning Film Adios Vaya Con Dios Defining and Defying Soundtrack". The Music Reviews. February 6, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ Crosby, Denise. "Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  11. ↑ "La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo -" (in European Spanish). March 25, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  12. ↑ "La Revolución en las Calles de Zachary Loutides" (in Mexican Spanish). April 24, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The Oscars' New Diversity Rules Opening Doors, but how much?". Yahoo! News. November 7, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Entertainment Leaders Changing The Appearance of Film's Future". in.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  15. ↑ Ryan Stabile. "'When my Eyes go Dark' has a soundtrack that will keep you awake". AXS. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018.
  16. ↑ Crosby, Denise. "Fox Valley shooting for new film fest, more local movies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  17. ↑ "10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating". ScreenRant. September 16, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Production company joins forces Manchester, Glasgow, Chicago". Bdaily Business News. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Black ruby". Film Threat. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Black Review". Film Threat. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  21. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (September 10, 2020). "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". Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Where Sweet Dreams Die evoking inspirations of Taxi Driver and American History X – The Hollywood Reporter". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Oscars Release Clarifications in Diversity Rules Insider". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  24. 1 2 Tedfuel, Written in Partnership with (May 18, 2023). "Where Sweet Dreams Die an American Historical film - LA Weekly". www.laweekly.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Arise from Darkness (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
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