Hello! My name is Francesca Vidal :) I am a junior Film Production major at Loyola Marymount University ready to bring my junior thesis film to life! Born in Cali, Colombia, raised in Miami, FL and now living in Los Angeles, I want to use my background to bring my vision to life. With strengths in cinematography and lighting, I want to use my directorial voice/side to share this story. My passion for film stems from the group of people whose voices are often not heard in the film industry. As a Latin woman myself, I want to be able to be a role model for those who look just like me! My goal with this film is to incite the audience to find their passion through curiosity, exploration, and bravery.

Finalmente Bailando follows Magdalena, who is in a world where she feels stuck between cultures. Magdalena wrestles with her sense of identity. She’s grown up feeling disconnected from her heritage — too “foreign” to fully belong, too distant to claim it as her own. Her mother, Arianna, who is deeply rooted in tradition, has always tried to instill cultural pride, but their relationship is tense, layered with miscommunication, unmet expectations, and emotional distance.

Arianna sees the potential in her — not just in the person she could be, but in the connection to their shared culture that she fears is slipping away. When Arianna encourages (or even pushes) her daughter to attend a local salsa class, it’s met with resistance. To Magdalena, it feels like another forced attempt to fit into a mold she doesn’t recognize. But despite her hesitation, she shows up — and something unexpected happens.

Within the rhythm of the music and the movement of salsa, Magdalena begins to feel something she’s never experienced before: a genuine connection. Not just to the culture, but to herself. The dance becomes a mirror, revealing her strength, her vulnerability, and the parts of her identity that words never could. For the first time, she begins to feel like she’s not performing a version of who she should be — she’s becoming who she is.

By the end of the story, it’s not a perfect reconciliation — but it’s a meaningful one. Arianna, once skeptical and guarded, now looks at her daughter with pride. And Magdalena, once unsure and disconnected, begins to understand that embracing her culture doesn’t mean losing herself — it means finding herself in a deeper, more grounded way.

This is a story about identity, culture, and the familial relationships that impact one's life. It’s about the power of connection, a bridge between generations, between cultures, and ultimately, between people.

Your support helps power the real, behind-the-scenes magic: feeding our cast and crew, locking in great locations, covering permits, essential gear, and bringing the story to life through thoughtful production design. These are the essentials that turn an idea into a finished film — and you can help make that possible!

This is about building a community around creativity and storytelling. When you donate, you're helping us create a space for bold ideas, collaboration, and meaningful work.

Once the film is complete, we plan to submit it to film festivals in hopes of finding an audience and opening new doors for everyone involved. With your help, we can give this project the chance to reach the screen and maybe even something bigger.

Thank you for supporting Finalmente Bailando and the people who make it happen :)