Do you have any beauty tips for the red carpet at the Cannes Festival?
The biggest tip I think is that you have to go a little darker with your makeup because you’re in front of so many flashes that can really wash you out so when you’re doing a red carpet look, you’re going for a bold eye, a good cheek and good lip! Not strong, but good! In order to really show up in photos. I’m also a big fan of false lashes, so that’s my secret on a red carpet [laughs]!
Why are awards like L’Oréal Paris Lights on Women Award for female filmmakers still important in 2022? As a woman in the film industry, what does this award mean to you?
It’s so important! Women need all the help they can get when it comes to exhibiting their talent and so the light on women is an award that L’Oréal was created to amplify and celebrate and applause the women who are doing the work and we also offer them a grant as well to continue that work; so anytime that we can promote female filmmakers, I think it’s really an amazing thing because we’re so far from gender equity as far as female directors.
Are you working on any new projects?
I just directed my first feature called Flamin’ Hot which is the story of Richard Montanez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. It’s super inspirational, it’s so beautiful; We’re in post-production now and I can’t wait to see the work to see that! And I just directed a documentary called La Guerra Civil that just opened at Sundance and that was a documentary about the iconic rivalry between boxers Julio César Chávez and Oscar De La Hoya. It’s a really interesting exploration of identity.
I love directing, I have been doing it for 12 years so it comes very naturally to me and I’m good at it and I think it’s okay to say that. When you’re good at something, you wanna continue to do it and do it at the best level you can do it!