Lady Zen at Luton UK Phoenix Rising Film Festival

WHAT´S IN A NAME 2022

My name is Alzenira Quezada (aka LADY ZEN) and I wrote a short movie that was directed by Jon Tracy of Berkley, California. As a commissioned work for TheartreFirst, as part of in 2021 season at the height of the pandemic What´s in a Name became one of the most talked-about independent films of the 2021/22 film festival season.

Who knew that an unnamed Patron of the Arts and a small grant would give a group of talented artists such an opportunity. It turned all of us into multi-award-winning artists with the snap of a magic finger.

Often Unexpected Changes Lead to the Best Blessings

Initially, the script was slated to be a one-person play, but when the shutdown closed every theater in the world, we decided to make an art film and the rest is history. There is no way that this play would have been seen by so many people had our initial plan been activated.

TheatreFirst has a mission of giving marginalized voices in the arts a place to tell their stories and practice their art as professional actors and storytelling. What's in a Name has proven to be one of the commissioned pieces from the season with high visibility and proven the success of supporting voices like mine in our current global community.

Our team represents FIVE countries. This international collaboration of filmmakers, audio engineers, editors, acting coaches, and colleagues focused on putting this art film into festivals to see how it would do-- we entered 36 and have won 18 which include Singapore, Malaysia, San Francisco, New York and we still have London on our radar.

London Bridges Opportunities and Wishes

When it was announced that we were an Official First Selection for the Lift-Off Global Network in the London 2021 Film Festival, I began dreaming about winning in the UK. Then we got word we were chosen again in London, this time for a SCREENING!

I was overcome with emotion. Being chosen not once--but to be selected twice in a country--that for whatever reason rang bells in my head that resonate that this is the beginning of something really big. And refuse to set limitations on what that could mean by second-guessing the feeling with a, what if. This desire to find out why LONDON, is a small nugget in the beautiful reality of a wish spoken out loud.

This is the first festival that we have been selected for that is open to the public as covid restrictions are being lifted.

An LGBTQ Documentary Winning Big Catagories

Since its release in July 2021, WHAT´S IN A NAME has inspired conversation and captured the attention of very powerful people, organizations, and festivals around the world; and we just got started--the movie is waiting in the selection process for other festivals in 2022. Not to mention the wonderful offers we have received to take the film beyond festivals.

WHY it is Important for Me to Go

Luton, England and the Phoenix Rising Film Festival are special. The organizers are special and this singular opportunity is filled with symbolism--especially in the month of May (5/10). To top it off, this is the first time we have been invited to screen at a festival and at least one of us deserves the opportunity

Often I forget to be proud of my accomplishments and often let things go barely celebrated or honored. I think this is ok, I can celebrate this later or it's not that big a deal.

How often I have done this in my career because I didn't take the time to appreciate the moment and truly be proud of what I have done. Not often, these moments don't happen every day, and I will do my best to be there to support this work any time it is celebrated.

Be part of this with me. I am reminded of the story of stone soup.

Little by Little.

Are you with me?