Director's Statement
Finding a good script that evokes emotion is like finding gold. After my first reading of ABOVE THE DESERT WITH NO NAME, I felt deeply moved. I was stuck by its sense of inspiration and hope. The story is rooted in the brutal reality that so many illegally immigrated Latina women experience. From within this reality, the story shows the experience of enlightenment through the eyes of a 12 year old girl. I knew immediately I had to direct this important story and share it with the world.
Above the Desert With No Name is primarily a movie about a truth seeker, a child in no man's land who finds radiance - or does it find her? Young Silvia is thrust from a troubled past into a troubling future. At the center is a completely apolitical and disoriented antihero searching for love, stability, and self-empowerment.
I want to work as much as possible in the recesses of the plot to observe the characters carefully. The life experiences of the people surrounding our protagonist have caused them to exist in survival mode. They are removed from their divine nature and their connection to their inherent animal spirit in the natural world. But Silvia is still pure and curious and is able to observe divinity and use it as a superpower to avoid repeating a life of misery. She is able to awaken the power of her femininity and break the pattern of abuse for her life going forward.
During the violent, dramatic scenes of the film, I chose to avoid an invasive camera that would focus on the pain of each situation, allowing it to become a story unto itself. Instead, I had the the camera serve as a compassionate, personal gaze, focusing tightly on Silvia and her emotional journey of awakening; from darkness to light.
Crew
Sonia Sebastian – Director
Based in Los Angeles, award-winning Spanish director Sonia Sebastian has a vast experience spanning theater, television, and film. Her passion for telling stories involving diverse and dynamic characters is a common through-line while bringing a personal cultural perspective to her work.
Before settling in the United States, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Royal Academy of Drama in Spain and then studied film and television at the prestigious International School of Film & Television in Cuba, where she met many students from across Latin America. Sonia has co-directed more than fifteen multi-cam episodes for Spain’s TV networks Mediaset and TeleMadrid. She was the showrunner, writer, and director of the first online web series in Spain, GIRL SEEKS GIRL, produced by Movistar (Telefonica).
Her feature film THE KISS LIST for Marvista Entertainment has been released on HBO MAX. Her third film, THE VIRGIN OF HIGHLAND PARK, an inspirational coming-of-age story, recently premiered on Pluto TV. Her feature film FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS, produced by Full Spectrum Features in Chicago, was recognized by ReFrame and IMDbPro with the gender-parity stamp. Sonia’s first feature film DE CHICA EN CHICA, is available on Amazon Prime Video. Her commercial work includes Netflix, Google Pixel, Google Home, Disney, Tinder, Roomba, Walmart, Nature Made, and PayPal. Sonia has served as a juror for the International Emmy® Awards competition to recognize excellence in international television programming, among other Film and TV contests worldwide.
Director's Statement
Finding a good script that evokes emotion is like finding gold. After my first reading of ABOVE THE DESERT WITH NO NAME, I felt deeply moved. I was stuck by its sense of inspiration and hope. The story is rooted in the brutal reality that so many illegally immigrated Latina women experience. From within this reality, the story shows the experience of enlightenment through the eyes of a 12 year old girl. I knew immediately I had to direct this important story and share it with the world.
Above the Desert With No Name is primarily a movie about a truth seeker, a child in no man's land who finds radiance - or does it find her? Young Silvia is thrust from a troubled past into a troubling future. At the center is a completely apolitical and disoriented antihero searching for love, stability, and self-empowerment.
I want to work as much as possible in the recesses of the plot to observe the characters carefully. The life experiences of the people surrounding our protagonist have caused them to exist in survival mode. They are removed from their divine nature and their connection to their inherent animal spirit in the natural world. But Silvia is still pure and curious and is able to observe divinity and use it as a superpower to avoid repeating a life of misery. She is able to awaken the power of her femininity and break the pattern of abuse for her life going forward.
During the violent, dramatic scenes of the film, I chose to avoid an invasive camera that would focus on the pain of each situation, allowing it to become a story unto itself. Instead, I had the the camera serve as a compassionate, personal gaze, focusing tightly on Silvia and her emotional journey of awakening; from darkness to light.
Crew
Sonia Sebastian – Director
Based in Los Angeles, award-winning Spanish director Sonia Sebastian has a vast experience spanning theater, television, and film. Her passion for telling stories involving diverse and dynamic characters is a common through-line while bringing a personal cultural perspective to her work.
Before settling in the United States, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Royal Academy of Drama in Spain and then studied film and television at the prestigious International School of Film & Television in Cuba, where she met many students from across Latin America. Sonia has co-directed more than fifteen multi-cam episodes for Spain’s TV networks Mediaset and TeleMadrid. She was the showrunner, writer, and director of the first online web series in Spain, GIRL SEEKS GIRL, produced by Movistar (Telefonica).
Her feature film THE KISS LIST for Marvista Entertainment has been released on HBO MAX. Her third film, THE VIRGIN OF HIGHLAND PARK, an inspirational coming-of-age story, recently premiered on Pluto TV. Her feature film FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS, produced by Full Spectrum Features in Chicago, was recognized by ReFrame and IMDbPro with the gender-parity stamp. Sonia’s first feature film DE CHICA EN CHICA, is available on Amazon Prime Video. Her commercial work includes Netflix, Google Pixel, Google Home, Disney, Tinder, Roomba, Walmart, Nature Made, and PayPal. Sonia has served as a juror for the International Emmy® Awards competition to recognize excellence in international television programming, among other Film and TV contests worldwide.
