Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Paula Arboleda.
Hi Maria Paula, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Colombia, and storytelling has been part of me for as long as I can remember. As the middle child in a big family, I naturally became the entertainer, always making up stories and finding ways to connect with others through humor and imagination.
My path into filmmaking wasn’t traditional. I actually began college as a Finance major, unsure if pursuing art was realistic. Everything changed when I took an elective production class and made my first short film. After screening it, my professor told me it had the worst technical work in the class, but also the most heart, and that I should become a director. That moment completely shifted my life.
Since then, I’ve directed short films in three languages that have screened at major festivals, and I won Best Florida Student Filmmaker two years in a row. I went on to earn my Master’s in Film at the University of Miami, where I also taught screenwriting and continued developing stories centered on intimacy, identity, and underrepresented perspectives.
Professionally, I’ve worked as a producer and production coordinator on both independent films and institutional projects, including directing a documentary in Guatemala about indigenous women rescuing stray dogs. Today, I’m based in Miami, building my career as a queer Latina filmmaker and producer, focused on telling emotionally driven stories about humanity, relationships, and the silences between people.
Looking back, everything I’ve done has been about finding the courage to embrace my voice, and creating work that helps others feel seen the way storytelling once helped me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all, and I think that’s actually been a big part of what shaped me.
Growing up queer in a very Catholic environment in Colombia, I often felt different and learned early on how easy it is to silence yourself just to fit in. For a long time, I focused on being “good” at school and sports instead of expressing who I was or what I truly wanted.
Even when I discovered filmmaking, the road wasn’t straightforward. I didn’t come from a family connected to the arts, and choosing film felt like stepping into a world that was completely unknown. I started in business because it felt safer, and it took real courage to admit that storytelling was what I was meant to do.
One of the biggest struggles along the way has been learning how to make art for myself instead of for others. It’s something I still work on constantly. There’s always that pressure to create what will be understood, approved of, or validated, and I’ve had to keep reminding myself that the most meaningful work comes from honesty and vulnerability, even when it feels uncomfortable.
And of course, filmmaking itself is full of challenges. Learning how to lead a set, finding resources, and fighting for authentic representation has been a constant process. But every obstacle has pushed me to grow, trust my voice, and keep telling stories that feel deeply human.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a filmmaker, writer, and producer focused on character driven stories that explore relationships, identity, and emotional change.
I’m known for a storytelling style that prioritizes silence, atmosphere, and interior tension over spectacle. Visually, I’m drawn to cinematic simplicity, where framing and stillness carry as much meaning as dialogue.
What I’m most proud of is the voice I’ve developed through the films I’ve made and the fact that my work continues to push me toward vulnerability and emotional truth. I feel most fulfilled when someone tells me that something I created moved them, made them reflect, or helped them feel seen. That connection is what motivates me more than anything.
At the same time, I bring a strong production skill set that makes me an asset on other people’s projects. I have extensive experience coordinating shoots, managing schedules, handling logistics, working with talent, and supporting directors from development through execution. I’m someone who can step into roles like producer, assistant director, or casting director and bring both organization and calm leadership to set. I understand how to build trust with actors, communicate clearly with crew, and keep a production moving efficiently while protecting the creative vision.
What sets me apart is that I combine artistic sensitivity with real operational strength. I’m able to think deeply as a storyteller, but also practically as a producer, which allows me to bring ambitious work to life with care, precision, and collaboration.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t only about awards. It’s about making something that truly connects with someone. The moments that stay with me most are when a viewer tells me that a film moved them. That kind of impact is what motivates me.
Success is also being able to grow continuously, as an artist and as a person. To keep challenging myself, to keep telling stories that feel emotionally true, and to keep building a life where I can do this work fully.
At the end of the day, success means having the privilege to tell stories, to collaborate with people I respect, and to create films that leave something behind in the hearts of others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariapaulaarboleda.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariaparboleda/?hl=en
Image Credits
@riaand97
@ariapmichele
