Mónica Esmeralda León
{{Short description|Mexican actress and filmmaker}}
{{COI|date=February 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Mónica Esmeralda León
|image = MonicaLeon.jpg
|caption = Monica Esmeralda Leon at Black Ruby interview (2016)
|birth_place = Michoacán, Mexico
|citizenship = Mexican, American
|occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actress
- producer
- director
}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.avefenixpictures.com/}}{{cite web|last1=Davies|first1=Janet|title=Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora|url=http://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/award-winning-latino-filmmakers-thrive-in-aurora/1464700/|website=ABC7 Chicago|accessdate=14 October 2016|date=10 August 2016}}
| yearsactive = 2013–present
}}
Mónica Esmeralda León (Michoacán, July 20, 1991{{Cite web |date=2016-06-28 |title=Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-aurora-movie-st-0629-20160629-column.html |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Chicago Tribune}}) 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.{{Cite web|title=EL AVE FÉNIX QUE CUMPLE EL SUEÑO AMERICANO|url=https://mag21.mx/entrepreneur/el-ave-fenix-que-cumple-el-sueno-americano/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Entrepreneur mag21|language=es-MX}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://huellas.mx/cultura/2016/03/25/la-actriz-productora-y-directora-monica-esmeralda-leon-unificando-artistas-alrededor-del-mundo/|title=La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo|work=Huellas|date=March 25, 2016}}
Career
León wanted to show the beauty and violence inside her neighborhood through the medium of film.{{cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/award-winning-latino-filmmakers-thrive-in-aurora/1464700/|title=Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora|first=Janet|last=Davies|date=August 10, 2016|work=ABC 7 News}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.costaricantimes.com/adios-vaya-con-dios-the-first-ever-award-winning-film-made-by-chicago-latino-gangs-mexico-the-uk/43916|title="Adios Vaya Con Dios"; The First-Ever Award Winning Film Made By Chicago Latino Gangs, Mexico & The UK – The Costa Rican Times|work=costaricantimes.com}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.axs.com/adios-vaya-con-dios-soundtrack-as-compelling-as-the-movie-76238|title=Adios Vaya Con Dios Soundtrack as compelling as the movie|author=Ryan Stabile|work=AXS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105001354/https://www.axs.com/adios-vaya-con-dios-soundtrack-as-compelling-as-the-movie-76238|archive-date=November 5, 2018}} The film was first to integrate a British and Mexican rock soundtrack over a Latino urbanized film.{{Cite web|date=2016-02-06|title=Award–Winning Film Adios Vaya Con Dios Defining and Defying Soundtrack|url=http://themusic.reviews/features/cover-stories/adios-vaya-con-dios-defining-and-defying-soundtrack/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=The Music Reviews|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-aurora-movie-st-0629-20160629-column.html|title=Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success|last=Crosby|first=Denise|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://huellas.mx/cultura/2016/03/25/la-actriz-productora-y-directora-monica-esmeralda-leon-unificando-artistas-alrededor-del-mundo/|title=La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo -|date=2016-03-25|access-date=2017-10-26|language=es-ES}}
León founded the first Latino film studio in Chicago with Zachary Laoutides, called Ave Fenix Pictures.{{Cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/2016/10/12/chicagolands-own-latino-film-studio-making-its-mark-in-cinema/|title=Chicagoland's own Latino film studio making its mark in cinema|date=2016-10-13|website=WGN-TV|access-date=2017-01-07}} She is also the first Latina and immigrant to found a film studio in Chicago.{{Cite news|url=http://huellas.mx/cultura/2016/04/24/la-revolucion-de-zachary-laotides/|title=La Revolución en las Calles de Zachary Loutides|date=2016-04-24|access-date=2020-11-17|language=es-MX}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/oscars-diversity-rules-opening-doors-082924469.html|title=The Oscars' New Diversity Rules Opening Doors, but how much?|work=Yahoo! News|date=November 7, 2020|access-date=2020-12-05|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Entertainment Leaders Changing The Appearance of Film's Future|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/entertainment-leaders-changing-appearance-film-120157047.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=in.style.yahoo.com|date=April 16, 2021 |language=en-US}}
León's second film is Arise from Darkness. She served as the film's music supervisor and acted in the film.{{cite web|author=Ryan Stabile|title='When my Eyes go Dark' has a soundtrack that will keep you awake|url=http://www.axs.com/when-my-eyes-go-dark-has-a-soundtrack-that-will-keep-you-awake-81033|url-status=live|work=AXS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174915/http://www.axs.com/when-my-eyes-go-dark-has-a-soundtrack-that-will-keep-you-awake-81033|archive-date=August 31, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-aurora-movie-st-0113-20170113-column.html|title=Fox Valley shooting for new film fest, more local movies|last=Crosby|first=Denise|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en-US}} It was ranked number one in the 10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating|url=https://screenrant.com/best-supernatural-horror-movies-films-last-decade-2010s-babadook-sinister/|access-date=2021-10-01|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2017/07/31/production-company-joins-forces-manchester-glasgow-chicago|title=Production company joins forces Manchester, Glasgow, Chicago|work=Bdaily Business News|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/black-ruby/|title=Black ruby|work=Film Threat|access-date=2021-01-17|language=en}} She won Best Film at the Los Angeles Film Awards. The film was the first movie shot with the iPhone 7.{{Cite news|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/black-ruby/|title=Black Review|work=Film Threat|access-date=2020-12-05|language=en}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/where-sweet-dreams-die-cast-they-them-us-movie-wraps-1234574141/|title=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|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=2020-12-05|language=en-US}} The film wrapped shooting in Chicago and New York in March 2022.{{Cite web |title=Where Sweet Dreams Die evoking inspirations of Taxi Driver and American History X – The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-sweet-dreams-die-evoking-085700039.html |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=www.yahoo.com |language=en-US |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319030912/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-sweet-dreams-die-evoking-085700039.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Oscars Release Clarifications in Diversity Rules Insider |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/oscars-release-clarifications-diversity-rules-001052092.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=www.yahoo.com |date=August 31, 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tedfuel |first=Written in Partnership with |date=2023-05-18 |title=Where Sweet Dreams Die an American Historical film - LA Weekly |url=https://www.laweekly.com/where-sweet-dreams-die-an-american-historical-film/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=www.laweekly.com |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" width="
! width=" rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year ! width=" rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title !Role |
| 2016
|Producer |
| 2017
| Arise from Darkness{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arise_from_darkness|title=Arise from Darkness (2017)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=2020-11-17}} |Jessica |
| 2017
| Black Ruby |Producer |
| 2024
|Where Sweet Dreams Die (upcoming film) |Producer |
= Awards and nominations =
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| 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 |
| 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 |
{{portal|Film}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote|Mónica Esmeralda León}}
- {{Official website|URL=http://www.avefenixpictures.com}}
- {{IMDb name|6160732}}
- [https://www.wbez.org/shows/morning-shift/aurora-home-to-only-latinaowned-movie-studio-in-midwest/f0e71eb9-ca0d-4f74-9960-605c42307e48 WBEZ91.5 Chicago interview]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leon, Monica Esmeralda}}
Category:21st-century Mexican actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Mexican film actresses
Category:American actresses of Mexican descent
Category:Mexican film producers
Category:Actresses from Michoacán