Natalia Almada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natalia Almada
Born	Sinaloa, Mexico
Nationality	Mexican-American
Alma mater	Rhode Island School of Design
Known for	photographer; filmmaker
Style	Documentary
Awards	2009 Sundance Directing Award Documentary; 2012 MacArthur Fellows Program

Natalia Almada is a talented Mexican-American photographer and filmmaker. Her films are known for exploring Mexican history, politics, and culture. She creates insightful and poetic documentaries that help us understand important social issues.

Some of her well-known films include "Everything Else" (2016), El Velador (2011), El General (2009), All Water Has a Perfect Memory (2001), and Al Otro Lado (2005). Her work has been shown at many famous places around the world. These include the Museum of Modern Art, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Guggenheim Museum.

Natalia won the 2009 Sundance Directing Award Documentary for her film "El General". She also became a 2012 MacArthur Fellow. She was the first Latina filmmaker to receive this special award.

Early Life and Education

Natalia Almada was born and grew up in Sinaloa, Mexico. Later, she moved to Chicago with her Mexican father and American mother. Natalia is the great-granddaughter of Plutarco Elías Calles. He was a former President of Mexico, and a very important figure in history. He even became the subject of one of her films, El General.

Since she was 12 years old, Natalia has loved capturing people's lives with a camera. This early interest led her to pursue a career in filmmaking. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1995. Then, she received a full scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design. There, she earned her Master's degree in Photography in 2001.

Natalia's unique background as a dual citizen inspires her work. She grew up moving between Mexico and the United States. This gave her a special view of different economic, social, and political situations. As a Mexican-American woman, she helps audiences understand social justice issues. She tells stories from a perspective that connects with the people in her films.

Her films are greatly influenced by her Mexican heritage. Many stories come from her experiences living in Sinaloa. She also uses stories told to her by her family. Natalia's documentaries often don't follow a straight timeline. She puts herself directly into situations to get a firsthand look at the stories she shares.

All her films are very personal and honest. Natalia's way of showing real feelings helps viewers truly appreciate the stories. The topics she explores often connect to her family's history. They also relate to the challenges in her home region of Sinaloa today.

Awards and Recognition

Natalia Almada has received many important awards for her work:

• 2012 – MacArthur Fellow
• 2011 – Alpert Award
• 2010 – USA Artist Fellow
• 2009 – Sundance Directing Award Documentary
• 2008 – Guggenheim Fellow
• 2005 – Creative Capital Award

Filmography Highlights

El Velador (The Night Watchman) (2011)

This film explores a cemetery in Mexico. It shows how the cemetery grows with many large mausoleums. The film suggests a connection between this growth and the increasing challenges in the region. The movie is slow and has little talking. This helps viewers quietly think about the issues Natalia brings to light.

El General (2009)

El General tells the story of Natalia's great-grandfather, Plutarco Elías Calles. Her grandmother shares his story through voice recordings. Calles was a very important political leader. The film moves between the past and present. It shows how he is remembered in history and through his daughter's eyes.

The documentary uses recordings of Natalia's grandmother. She originally made these recordings hoping to write a book. The film offers a special look into Natalia's family history. It shows how it connects to Mexico's past and present. El General explores the line between history and personal memories. Natalia received a Creative Capital Award in 2005 to help make this film.

Al Otro Lado (2005)

This film tells the story of a young man who wants to be a corrido singer. He lives in Mexico and dreams of crossing the border to the United States. The film uses traditional Mexican corrido music. These songs usually tell stories. Here, the lively music is used in a surprising way, given the serious topics in the film.

By focusing on one person, Natalia adds a human side to a big issue. This story is often told through political news. Al Otro Lado was Natalia's first full-length film.

All Water has a Perfect Memory (2001)

This film shares a very personal story for Natalia. It's about her older sister, Ana Lynn, who drowned when Natalia was just three months old. The film looks at how her bicultural family dealt with this tragedy. It includes interviews with those affected by Ana Lynn's death.

All Water shows how Natalia's American mother and Mexican father reacted differently. It explores how their backgrounds influenced their grief. The film was inspired by an essay by Toni Morrison. This essay talks about the connection between water and memory. This idea relates both symbolically and directly to Ana Lynn's death. All Water has a Perfect Memory was an experimental documentary. It was also the first of Natalia's films to be shown publicly.

See also

In Spanish: Natalia Almada para niños