Iris Almaraz(I)

Iris Almaraz is a bad-ass filmmaker who has been based out of East LA, CA for over two decades. Iris' formative years range from homelessness, missed schooling, time in Juvenile Hall to family vacations in Europe, and attendance at one of the most prestigious arts magnet schools in the country. At the LA County High School for the Arts Iris ditched one day of school just so she wouldn't receive the perfect attendance award two years in a row. After receiving her BFA in Cinema from San Francisco State Iris' first short film made its premiere at the top-tier international film Festival in Rotterdam. Her 30k feature film "Delusions of Grandeur" debuted at Cinequest with an encore sold-out screening. The LA premiere at the Mann's Chinese Theater sold out before the Dances With Films festival began (a festival first). In 2013 the film was listed as a top-five Latino film pick by festival programmers. This international award-winning filmmaker's unabashed embrace of urban feminine sexuality from a working-class woman of color's perspective is unique to her voice which doesn't apologize or attempt to educate. It merely illuminates.

Three of Iris' projects have been second-round finalists at the Sundance Writing Labs including her project "Rocket Ship". The short version of "Rocket Ship" is a 2023 recipient of The East Side Arts Initiative.

Iris is the Festival Director at L.I.F.E (Latina Independent Film Extravaganza). Her hope is that the festival continues to grow support for the Latina Directing community in order to help it thrive and prosper.