Hi! My name is Alicia Rosado, a first-generation Latina filmmaaker, and I am looking for your support on my upcoming coming-of-age short film, Sin Barreras, (Without Barriers).

Alicia Rosado, filmmaker, with a Panavision film camera.

The Story: Sin Barreras follows Emma, a 7-year-old girl, who needs help with her math homework the night before it's due. After attempting to solve it herself, she approaches her Spanish-only speaking uncle, Luis, for help. Luis, a former accountant, attempts solving the problem despite his language barrier with the use of a Spanish-English dictionary, but his trouble translating her homework creates friction between the uncle and niece.

Sin Barreras will evoke a warm, nostalgic feeling touching on themes similar to classic Latino films like Selena, while blending modern digital visual styles and techniques such as ones seen in recent Bad Bunny music videos!

Why This Story Now? Although on the surface, this tender story of a young girl and her uncle attempting to solve a homework problem may seem simple, it sheds light on a universal struggle many first-generation Latino Americans have to overcome. The homework problem serves as a vehicle to examine the cultural barrier between Emma, Luis, and the larger American society. Through this project, we hope to draw a connection between one’s mother tongue and their personal identity, tying together themes of language, cultural inclusion, and generational gaps. We also aim to highlight how many immigrant families have worked together across generations to survive in their new countries they call home. In an era where immigrants are vilified in our wider society, we hope this touching story helps uplift our narratives and celebrate our stories across generations.

Alicia Rosado and filmmaker Stella Royo on set.

Director’s Statement: As a first-generation Ecuadorian and Guatemalan American, Sin Barreras aims to serve as a powerful symbol of representation for not only first-generation children like myself, but also to older generations. Emma’s conflict with understanding her homework assignments while trying her best to learn English is an experience many other first-generation Americans can relate to, as we strive to tell an authentic story about living in a household of non-English speakers who are also trying their best to survive in a different country. I want this story to serve as a reminder that one’s individuality still holds value, despite being removed from a place and culture they once felt at home. While living in America as an immigrant can produce doubt and restlessness, I hope to leave audiences with the idea, through hard work and healing together across generations, that any of life’s problems can be solved with patience and faith.

Why We Need Your Help: I am a promising young filmmaker and I want to create stories that highlight experiences about first-generation Latinos and immigrants. Since graduating from Hunter College in 2022, I have worked in the camera department on small independent sets to large-scale productions like Poker Face on Peacock. I currently work as a Prep Technician at Panavision, where I have expanded my knowledge on camera gear. Sin Barreras allows me to utilize all the skills I have learned in my profession thus far to tell a timely story. Over the last few months, I have assembled an extremely talented crew, and all we need now is your help to bring it to life!

Alicia Rosado at her Panavision desk.

Between actors, location, film gear, production design, and more, the costs of making Sin Barrerras added up! Not only does your support empower these necessary elements of the project, but your contributions also help cover any unforeseen expenses that naturally come up during production and will help support the project through post-production. We aim to raise $5,000, which will bring this film into existence!

Production Timeline: To date, the team has a locked script and assembled our crew. We are in the middle of casting and securing our key locations! Soon we will finalize our shooting schedule for principal production, which begins this November!

Meet the team:

Alicia Rosado (Director / Writer / Director of Photography): Alicia is a filmmaker who resides in upstate New York. After graduating from Hunter College as a Media Studies major in 2022, she became a Stockade Works Fellow for the Peacock series Poker Face, leading her to begin her career in the camera department. Currently, she serves as a Prep Technician at Panavision, and freelances on film production camera teams. Her next steps are to join IATSE Local 600 as a Camera Loader and tell stories like Sin Barreras that shed light on first-generation Latinas, and to become a film educator.

Tyler Cino Maradiaga (Producer): Tyler is a Nicaraguan American writer, director and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Rooted in a deep commitment to social justice that began during their undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, Tyler brings nearly a decade of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion to their artistic practice. They earned an M.F.A. in film directing from the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College, where they honed an exciting cinematic voice that blends drama, comedy, and the fantastical. Through this lens, Tyler crafts stories that delve into identity, community, and the complexities of social change. Tyler’s films have been screened at festivals across the United States such as the Austin Film Festival, Chelsea Film Festival, and New Filmmakers Los Angeles.

Mercedes Mendez (1st Assistant Director): Mercedes is founder of Concrete Flowers Films, a collective committed to bringing creatives and filmmakers together to collaborate on each other’s stories. Focus is on uplifting BIPOC and women led stories while creating a safe space in the Film and Television industry. She has served as Executive Producer for stories “Fragments of Joy”, “For How Long” & “My Sol, Your Sol”. On “For How Long” she also extended her talents as Assistant director. She has 4 years experience in Public Relations and Digital Media relations. She’s currently working at Panavision as a Client Contact in the rental dept. She’s a passionate advocate for social justice and uses her platforms to create awareness.

Tiffany Moore (Camera Operator): Tiffany is a highly skilled and dedicated professional in the film industry, with a diverse portfolio that includes work on major productions such as Harlem (Amazon Prime), Raising Kanan (Starz), Manifest (Netflix), Spike Lee’s High n Low, and Law and Order. With hands-on experience across a wide range of projects, Tiffany is known for her exceptional technical expertise, meticulous attention to detail, and her ability to thrive under pressure in fast-paced environments. Currently serving as a prep tech at Panavision, Tiffany is well-versed in cutting-edge camera equipment and plays a critical role in ensuring the seamless execution of every production. Tiffany is committed to continuous growth and collaboration, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in film. Her passion for storytelling and her technical prowess make her an invaluable asset to any production team.

Fran Basile (1st Assistant Camera): Fran Basile is a Brooklyn based filmmaker with DP experience in the non-union fashion and music industry. They are known for Camera Operating two feature films under Breaking Glass Pictures, “Cash Storm” & “Alice and the Vampire Queen”. Aside from narrative work, they have also directed and assisted with the productions of top street wear brands including, Only NY, Alpha Industries, Rains, and Ooh Baby. They currently serve as a Prep Tech at Panavision NY.

Paola Muñoz (2nd Assistant Camera): Paola is a Peruvian-American freelance 1st AC/2nd AC/and DP. In 2019, she graduated Academy for Careers in TV and Film with a CTE Certificate where the rigorous production program revealed her passion for storytelling. Originally trained as a Producer/1st AD, Paola's focus switched when she fell in love with the technical language of the camera. During her attendance at CUNY Brooklyn College, she absorbed as much as she can on set as part of the camera department, only causing her passion for cinematography to burn with intensity. In March 2024, Paola completed the Loader Training Program led by IATSE Local 600 members as part of Reelworks where the intensive hands-on training went into depth regarding procedures for on-set and media loading, digital, 35mm and 16mm downloading procedures, and many more on set skills. Paola continues to take on freelance jobs as part of the camera department and aspires to become a member of IATSE Local 600.

Vaishali Sahu (Gaffer): Vaishali Sahu is a cinematographer from India, currently pursuing an MFA in Cinematography at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema in New York. She began her creative journey studying architecture and working in the Indian film industry, where she gradually discovered a deep interest in visual storytelling. Eager to explore this path more seriously and grow her skills, she moved to New York to pursue formal training. At Feirstein, she has been a part of several student film productions and continues to learn through collaboration and hands-on experience. Driven by curiosity, her journey has been one of steady growth, and she looks forward to building a meaningful and lasting career in the field.

Fridah Gonzalez (Editor): Fridah Gonzalez is a New York City–based editor with experience across film, television, and digital media. With a background of production and post production she has worked with major networks and studios including Paramount, Showtime, HBO Max, and The National Hockey League contributing to a range of projects from development to post-production. With a sharp eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of visual rhythm, Fridah brings both technical skill and creative vision to every edit.

LE’ARTE (Colorist/LUT specialist): Leslie Elyse (LE’ARTE) is a freelance Colorist of African American descent based in NYC. In summer 2022, Leslie graduated from Howard University and began her career as an Administrative Assistant at Light Iron Panavision. During her time at Light Iron, Leslie maximized her opportunities by training directly under the colorists, studying both DaVinci Resolve and Baselight. Additionally, Leslie creates LUTs (Look Up Tables) based on Black and Brown projects for inspiration. Leslie continues to freelance, working on various projects ranging from student films, music videos, to features, with some of them sucessfully flourishing in the film festival market. Leslie looks forward to bringing the film to life through color and is thankful to be a part of this project.

Ezekiel Clare (Production Designer): Ezekiel is a set designer and photographer interested in examining and documenting our relationship to metaphysical thoughts and gender. They were born and raised in New York City holding a BFA in Film from SUNY Purchase and are currently pursuing a MFA in set design from NYU. They have been working as a set designer for 4 years and 10 years as a photographer. Her work can be described as playful, direct, contained and minimal.

Set Design credits include: Fugue/State (2025), SheNYC (2024), Ghetto Alchemy:A Lunchroom Survival Guide (2024), Powerline Road (2023) The Fire This Time Festival(2023), Christians(2022), Marisol(2022), and How I Learned To Drive(2021). Shoutout to infinite and all it inhabits.

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