SPEAKER_01 0:00

This last year I watched over 200 documentary shorts from August to October. Yeah. It's like a it takes time. You watch the whole thing and you know, you you make notes and you have to be very, I'm like such a cheerleader that I want everyone to win. So I they've had to like be like Giselle, like the enthusiasm's cool and all, but like there's 4% chance that these films will get in. So I gotta like very I have to be very sometimes I need because I'll get like 20 in a week, and then I have to sometimes watch all of them first and then go back and score them because they're kind of competing against themselves in that and because I can only give a passing grade to like a couple of of them.

SPEAKER_02 0:53

So are you like a casting director in that you know I've heard them say like within the first 30 seconds, you know. So yeah, yeah, you're nodding. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

I mean, I know I know that it's gonna be quality, absolutely. Within what how many seconds do you think? I mean, within the first 30 seconds is generous because it's it's it's it's sound, it's color, it's style for me, and it's um, you know, picture. It's I mean, it's it's right away.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Is there a film that pops into your mind that you're like, man, those first 30 seconds grabbed me?

SPEAKER_01 1:31

Okay, here's the other thing. I have a terrible memory. Me too.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

When someone says casually, yeah, I screen films for festivals, like it's no big deal. I'm immediately like, okay, cool. So you're out here shaping taste, deciding what hits the screen, and low-key influencing what the rest of us are about to be obsessed with. Welcome back to Ilse Will Say, where people talk films, feelings, creative instincts, and the people who are actually moving things forward behind the scenes and sometimes right in front of them too. This is very much uh how does this all really work kind of place. Welcome to my brain. I'm Ilse, your host, your post-screening overthinker, and the person who will absolutely corner you after a movie like, so what did that mean? And today's guest, she's not just attending festivals, she's helping shape them. She's the associate director at Cine Las Americas, a screener for South by Southwest, and someone who's been championing bold, underrepresented voices in a way that feels real, not performative. Born into a family of artists, raised between cultures, and trained in theater and film in New York, she brings both instinct and intention to everything she touches, from co-founding the Arthouse Film Festival to building communities across Austin, LA, and beyond. She's thoughtful, she's intentional, she's one of those people who reminds you that great work doesn't just appear, it's recognized, supported, and fought for. Please welcome the effortlessly insightful and deeply tapped-in Giselle de la Rosa.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Thank you so much. Very sweet. Thank you. Of course. You made it easy. Well, um, yeah, and the fact that we got to meet at South by It's it feels like a blink of an eye. It really does, but I'm also in the in the space where like I had a meeting earlier for Cine. Uh, one of the sections that um I I help in uh bringing to life is the conference, which is a newer thing that we've been doing, the panels. Um, and I was talking about something that happened two days ago. And like, that's two days ago. I feel like really like a whole year has passed. 100% time traveling.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

Yeah, it's so fast. And uh I'm sorry, I'm sorry I was like late and like had to push this back, but I um watched a TikTok and somebody said they were culturally late. And I was like, that is that is the definition of me. Like I and and here, see this is what I think. This is this is my my idea on it. I feel like we just want to do everything and maybe have uh a problem saying no. Yeah. Because I I work with a lot of wonderful, um a one a lot of wonderful gringos, and I'll I'll hear no. I'll be like, oh, okay, yeah, sure, we can reschedule. And I'm like, no, I have to make the meeting. Like, whatever happens, I'm like, I will muscle through it. And um, and that's why I'm late to things. I'm just doing too much.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Yo, 100% right there with you. Like, but when I get when I when people have to push things back, I'm like, yes, thank you. I need that time because I got distracted doing other things. And um all the things usually that I want to do, um, usually helping somebody, maybe like my daughter, who's having a party tonight and I was like helping her move furniture around. She's like, Mom, thank you. She's like, it's 4 45. I'm like, I know, thanks, honey, because I still needed to get ready for you. And I'm like, oh, let me bring this piece of furniture. Let me go in the ground. Anyway, so uh I always appreciate when people are uh on their own timeline, I like to say. Um I like that. I'm like, I'm waiting. I'm just on my own timeline, and I'm really I apologize that it doesn't align with yours.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Time is an illusion.

unknown 6:04

Right.

SPEAKER_01 6:05

I so but I've noticed like later on in my life, like uh the time management is uh rough around these parts.

SPEAKER_03 6:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:14

And maybe it's paramenopause, maybe it's ADHD, but I'm like, this is me. I literally was telling I had a uh the first time that I'm talking about like um paramenopause in like a doctor's visit, uh, because I I've only really talked about it with my friends, and um and uh I was like, yeah, my time management, like I'm late to everything, but I do remember getting an award for when I was in dance team in junior high, uh, where I got the always late but worth the wait award. So I don't know. Like it's kind of just part of my personality. I'm trying, I'm not, I'm not being an asshole that I don't think your thing is important that your time is, but I also think I should start a project five minutes before I actually needed to have been on the road for 30 minutes already. So it's just uh, I don't know, brain connections or disconnects. I'm not sure. But the saying yes too has been like a huge thing. And I don't know if that's part of your upbringing, but like taking care of people was something that my parents, my mom especially, was very good at. So um I do that too. And I think that's why I uh am very community-based, but more um like even just my time in the in in the service industry, it was like a no-brainer to make sure that everybody got what they needed. And it's like because I had the best host as a mother. You know what I mean? So it works when it works, it doesn't work when it doesn't work, where I end up abandoning myself for other people.

SPEAKER_02 7:57

You know, like when's the last time I've had eight hours of sleep?

SPEAKER_01 8:01

I don't yo, I was listening to your uh last podcast, and um the eight to nine is so important. Also, a conversation I had with a practitioner earlier today. Eight to nine hours of of of sleep. Oh, yeah. Is like that's my definition of being a successful person. Is that I slept for that long. I'm successful. Thank you. I'm making waves, you know. Oh, I wanted to ask you, um, how is your artist's way journey going?

SPEAKER_02 8:36

Oh, dude, week two. Okay, and I hate it. I like it is and and I hate it in the way that I I love it and I know that it's good for me. But oh man, it's brutal. I you're unlearning everything, all your coping mechanisms that you've you've even like the good ones in quotations, like even the good ones that you've come up with, like saying like yes to everything. Like it is undoing all of that in my body and my brain are like, We don't like it.

SPEAKER_01 9:12

So are you doing that on your own? I no, I'm doing a group. You're doing a group. Okay. I I did a group about eight years ago, and it was it was really cool to have that uh community and accountability. And um, I probably need to reread it. I will intermittently do morning pages, but it's actually like morning page, and sometimes it's like in the afternoon. So uh not quite, but uh that practice is so great.

SPEAKER_02 9:44

Yeah, yeah. Uh the specific thing about three, and we we were talking about it, is like the first page and a half is like usually like a brain dump. And then that last page, page and a half, is just like pure creative joy and gold. Like, so so there is like some like there is there is a reason for the number, I think. Yeah, because I think like the more you write, the more like you kind of get to play.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

You get to like really dip into the the deeper parts of it.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

Yeah, yeah. Did you have any big rev revelation or anything that came up for you? Because somebody else was on the podcast and we're like, oh my god, it changed my life, like trajectory period.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

I can't remember. I feel like I have just come back. I've been doing, I've been having where are you from? You're like, can't remember. What are you talking about? Um, I think I've just undergone a lot of changes in my life that I feel like, like I uh I was in Colombia for my cousin's wedding, my prima Jacqueline, her her wedding, uh and I can already tell it was a fun wedding. It was a I she is incredible. And I am, you know where they, you know where you say, like when you say, I'm so proud of you, it you make it about yourself and not them. Have you heard that? So I won't say that, but I'm incredibly impressed. I mean, this young woman has grown up to just really fucking she she figured it out, I think. Um, she tried, she was like became a nurse. So she's you know helping her community. She's getting paid well, I think. Uh and she travels like everywhere on her off time. And so, and then her and her husband, they met at the hospital. So he's a doctor, pulmonary doctor. And um, they just they fucking it went. A lot of money, man. Yeah. I've never been to a wedding this Elira, and I was just thrilled to be part of to be there to witness it. Um, so I'm really happy for them. And um, so we were there, and a cousin of mine who I haven't seen in a while, and he's like, Giselle, so tell me, you know, what a mate, what what's what's been, you know, what's what's good in your life or what's amazing. And I was like, you know, I think I've built my life to, I really want now. This is a high, this is like it's gonna sound really big, but I I between unlearning, um between coming to terms with things and really prioritizing inner peace and finding like the joy and the beauty, and and and I mean, we are living in some wild times right now. There's a lot of people that are suffering. And um, you know, I feel like when we can take care of ourselves, we're we're more apt to be able to take care of other people. So anyway, I'm I'm trying to live simply. Um, and I feel like for so long that like every day was a weekend. I always felt like I was on vacation. Maybe it's this like brain that is just really imaginative and gets distracted and won't go anywhere on time. But um, but I was like, every day is amazing, dude. Like we get to wake up, you know, and uh I can't like pinpoint one or two like life-changing things. And like I I could share some things, but um, I don't know. I feel like since right before I started the artist's way, I um I started to make really big changes in my life. So it's been kind of like one big change after another, and I'm just writing the wave.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

Chicago's best kept secret. It's not English. It's Joel Mycenaet Photography. He's legitimately the best, and it's about time that everybody knew. Actors, execs, LinkedIn Lurkers, book at mycinetphotography.com and thank me later. I totally get that. Well, this week this week was awareness. So, and I hate it because it was about stillness and awareness. And I I I have a problem with that. I'm like one thing to another, and if I'm not uh, you know, replying to emails, I am cooking. If I'm not cooking, while I'm cooking, I'm also listening to this podcast. Well, of course, you know, I'm I'm yeah, I'm doing it all. And it's just it was really hard to disconnect. I mean, going back to even like the saying no and all that good stuff, and I was just like, No, I will not be still. And then I realized it might be caffeine. Like it might be that I'm having what's your what's your dosage?

SPEAKER_01 15:03

What's your dosage?

SPEAKER_02 15:05

Well, well, it's one cup, but one cup is full. It's like a gigantic mug. And I just switched beans, so it was it's like really high quality coffee, and then like I like I like it to look like gasoline. Like I I like thick coffee. Like, if you give me some like watered down shit, like I'm not drinking it. Um, I know I know if I'm gonna like the coffee by the way the creamer or the milk goes in. I love it. That's a really good goes all the way to the bottom.

SPEAKER_01 15:40

And look at your awareness of that.

SPEAKER_02 15:42

Yes, exactly. But yeah, I had I stopped drinking coffee, I drink decaf, and I only drink like black tea. Is this a recent change for you? Like four days.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

Holy how you doing? Caffeine withdrawal headaches are real, yeah. Dude, I didn't know I had a problem. Well, uh gosh, I mean, are you so this is part of like a morning ritual?

SPEAKER_02 16:14

Yeah, but I may I still make the decaf version. Cool.

SPEAKER_01 16:17

So you still have the like motion of it and the intentionality and and all of that. I so I actually just started drinking coffee, which is wild because where my family's from. But I usually am a tea drinker, and then recently I'm like, hmm, I'll make a cup of tea, and then it just sits there for a while. I'm like, maybe I don't drink tea anymore. I still do. My cupboard is full of various uh uh options, but I started drinking coffee a little more recently, and I see that I'm like drinking it almost every day. Plus, I didn't get my eight to nine, so I need a little something. Um, but I used to fast, do intermittent fasting, and like the days where I'd like fuck around a little harder the day before, like I felt like that kind of withdrawal headache the next day when it was just water and or going into the because I would like have one day of like fully fasted um out of the week, and then it depended on like what my activity was during the weekend, how severe I would feel it or not. So um I'm familiar with like the headache from not having something that you had uh prior.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

Thank you for that very coded message. It's just the best, and another thing that is the best are hot cakes. That is uh it's like hot takes, but they stack up. So we're gonna put 60 seconds on the clock. Are you ready for this? Yes. Bam, bam, bam, bam. All right.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Favorite movie. I just wrote this down somewhere. Who framed Roger Rabbit?

SPEAKER_02 18:00

Ghosts, real or no?

SPEAKER_01 18:02

100%, yes. Subtitles, on or off. Uh, on. Uh it has like yes, with the international film absolutely meet them. Best best barbecue in Austin. Oh, Mum Foods. Popcorn or candy? Can we put the candy in the popcorn? Sure.

SPEAKER_02 18:23

Are you sharing fries? Yes or no? All the time. Have you ever walked out of a film? Yes or no? Yes. Worst place to watch a movie. I don't know that there is. I would do one in my bathtub. I know. I was gonna say bathroom. Uh would you watch a horror film alone at night? Yes or no? Yes. You're currently being haunted by my old habits. Thank you so much for playing.

SPEAKER_01 18:53

Yay, that was cute. Okay, one thing is I'm always late, but I'm also always ready.

SPEAKER_02 18:59

Ooh.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

Oh, what is it?

SPEAKER_02 19:03

Always late, but worth waiting for. But worth the wait. That was it? Always wait worth the wait. But worth the wait. I'm gonna get a hat. That's gonna be merch.

SPEAKER_01 19:12

I think too, like, I'm so not a perfectionist that I'm just like ready. You know what I mean? Like for anything to happen, like if it's like performing stage or like leading something. I've done a tiny bit. I don't, it's not my favorite because I'm just gonna totally like go back to what I was saying. Like, I have not tapped into the joys of improv.

SPEAKER_02 19:41

Okay, but have you tapped into um the paranormal andor crazy cuckoo uh rabbit holes? Can we get into it?

SPEAKER_01 19:49

Not you said you were like absolutely yes, I mean so I was like, I don't not that I have any stories, but I've I've heard stories and I can't I can't sit here on my little love seat in my room and say there's no such thing as ghosts. I mean, like I just know that there's a different realm, of course. I mean, I feel I haven't really I haven't really tapped in. I'm on the periphery and I might like on Instagram like listen to people share things and if there is like horoscopey stuff, like I'll share with my daughter, like for her horoscope as well.

SPEAKER_02 20:33

Can you before you go, can you tell us a little bit about Cine Las Americas and anything um that you are working on that we can support you?

SPEAKER_01 20:43

Thank you so much for asking. Yes, and that's how we met. We got to meet you. Uh we were hosting a meetup at South by Southwest, and um, lucky enough to have you in the room with us. So thank you for keeping in touch. But Cine Las Americas is a multicultural nonprofit organization in Austin, Texas. We are turning 28 next month. So we've been around um since 1998 when a group of four friends wanted to see films from Cuba and they decided to build their own film festival. It's gone through some different iterations, but essentially our main focus is to showcase um films that center around Latinidad and indigenous life from around the world. So we have five days of festival, we have one day of panels, we've got a music video party, we've got shorts that are specifically made in tejas, we call it hecho en tejas. Um, we've got narrative and um documentary features. We have we a portion of our programming during that festival is also free to attend. And um, we have a couple of receptions. Um, we are working with an incredible actor who's been in the biz. For many years, who will be uh coming down to pr we haven't announced it yet.

SPEAKER_02 22:06

Oh my, is it secret? It's kind of secret.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

It's kind of secret, but um, he is gonna be sharing uh his latest film, and then right after that, we are gonna show basically the film that put him on the map. Um, so so uh and and he'll be there. We're really, really excited about that. Our panel, our panels uh are we have three panels where we're discussing artivism, uh funding for filmmakers, and um holy sh, what's that third one? See, forgetful. What is it? Oh, mental health. Hello. Um, so uh while you're being a creative and while you're in production and and how you handle your things or how you don't handle it, and we're gonna have a professional there um who works with filmmakers specifically. So touching on that. Um, and then in the weekend after, we have our Emmett Hente Film Festival. This is gonna be the second year where we are showcasing young filmmakers up to age 19. Um, and so they're gonna get their own day, and it's at this place in East Austin, super old school called the Millennium Complex. Um, and so it's gonna be a day celebrating those young filmmakers. So, usually throughout the year, we're doing community screenings. We work with different theaters throughout Austin. We've been really kind of honing in on our educational aspect uh of uh giving back to our community and so really helping kids with content creation and filmmaking and making those um either free or very affordable to attend. So yeah, we are ready to celebrate. We've got a little pre-launch party coming up next week, and we have Gina Chavez who's gonna be um curating the music videos this year, and uh Marta Cross, who developed a feature with some of her uh really close friends called uh sisters, that's available for streaming now. So she's gonna come and join us. She's our keynote speaker talking about her journey in Hollywood. Um, she's a UT alum, so it'll be cool to have her back in Austin. And uh yeah, really just community uh conversation and um film and celebrating cinema.

SPEAKER_02 24:31

That's awesome! That's really, really fun. Yeah, and I love um community meetups. Like you mentioned, we met at um like a Latin meeting uh at South by and it was it was really fun. It was really early, and of course everybody showed up, showed up uh like uh maybe like 10-15 minutes late, and we definitely stayed over time for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:57

Well what's cool is we they didn't have anything in that room to kick us out, so that was cool.

SPEAKER_02 25:01

Yeah, yeah. And then we went to an like I think a a big group of us also went and like kept talking and kept networking, and then like we had like a little group after that, and we just kept yeah, we kept like adding people to to that. It was really fun. Um and I always enjoy uh having community in a in a space where sometimes it may feel isolating, and so it's just great to know that that there are folks to to speak with, to rely on, and and to help like really um help those voices kind of come up to the top. So this is doing a lot of work, really awesome work. Um and yeah, thank you so much for being a great guest. This was really fun.

SPEAKER_01 25:49

This is so fun. And now after we're done here, I gotta get your address because I want to send you a little package, a little love sweet.

SPEAKER_02 25:59

Yeah. Oh, this is awesome. I'm I'm excited for my tea drinking adventure.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

It's only just begun. It's only just begun.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 26:16

Oh, so so fun talking to Giselle. So insightful, so like earthy garden, you know, garden vibes. I I think I have a tea uh godmother, like a fairy godmother. Um, I'm excited for the tea she's gonna send, and I need to get those syrups. Sincerely, like uh, I don't know, but I'm I'm willing to try. Um thank you for sticking with me. If you laughed, giggled, uh took some notes, please like, subscribe uh to the podcast. Please follow Cine Las Americas on Instagram. They do incredible work. And if you are in the Austin area, you do not want to miss their festival May 13th through the 17th. We'll link everything in the show notes. Thank you so much. Bye. Ilse Will Say is an Intrepid entertainment podcast produced and edited by Jacob Cagle, music by Eric Bacchus, and photography by Joel MySonet, and I am your host, Ilse Sacharya Rivera. The views and opinions expressed on Ilse Will Say are entirely those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views of any employers, sponsors, or innocent bystanders. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Nothing said here should be taken as professional advice, expert opinion, legal guidance, or a reason to DMSU conspiracy theories. We're here for the laughs, y'all. Carry on.