‘Visibility. Creativity. Research.’
Ohio Wesleyan Group Presents at International Conference of Hispanic Women Filmmakers
Name: Dani Phillip ’25
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
High School: Xaverian High School
Majors: Communication, Film Studies, and English with a Creative Writing Concentration
OWU Connection Experience: Attending the International Conference of Hispanic Women Filmmakers, Oct. 20-21 in Worcester, Massachusetts
Phillip and a contingent of Bishops attended the international conference, which focused on “Visibility. Creativity. Research.” Everyone from Ohio Wesleyan was selected to participate in panel discussions at the two-day event. The OWU participants and their topics (with links to their video essays) were as follows:
- Dani Phillip ’25, “How the Female Gaze Counters Latina Stereotypes in Latin American Cinema”
- Pedro Figueiredo ’26 of Salvador, Brazil, “‘I’m Not Afraid of Water’ The Pool Motif in Que Horas Ela Volta? (The Second Mother)”
- Camy Dodd ’23, “Centering the Political Within Intimate Spaces: Mother-Daughter Relationships in La teta asustada (2009) y Que horas ela volta? (2015)”
- Faculty member Eva Paris-Huesca, “Compromiso, cine y género: cineastas españolas del nuevo milenio”/“Commitment, cinema and gender: Spanish filmmakers of the new millennium”
My Conference Path
“Last spring semester, I took an honors course with Dr. Paris-Huesca called “Women Directors in Latin America,” Phillip said, “in which we had to create a video essay related to the course on a topic of our choosing for our final project.
“I chose to research the female versus the male gaze, and how those two perspectives influence the perpetuation of Latina stereotypes in the media. I used three female directors we learned about in class – Aurora Guerrero, Florence Jaugey, and Sylvia Morales – to explain how their Latina female protagonists are accurate and positive representations of Latinas in the media.
“Back in July, Eva emailed everyone who took the course about the Conferencia Internacional Mujeres Cineastas Hispanicas/International Conference of Hispanic Women Filmmakers (CIMCiH II) and encouraged us to submit our video essays to present at the conference. … My topic was accepted to be a part of the Young Researchers division for undergraduates!”
Lessons Learned
“I wanted to attend the conference because I believed it would provide valuable insight into the world of academic conferences for my film major. I knew it would be a great opportunity to gain real-world experience showcasing my work in front of an audience of film scholars and filmmakers.
“Though it was intimidating being only one of two undergraduates presenting, I am glad I did it because I was able to practice my public-speaking skills while meeting so many established people in the film industry! I’m grateful I was able to present my video essay because I now have a deeper appreciation and understanding of Latin American films, filmmakers, and history.”
This was my first time presenting at a conference, and it was a great first step to showcasing my work to the public. I hope to share more of my projects with audiences in the future!
My Favorite Moment
“My favorite moment of the experience was networking with independent filmmakers, such as Isabel Miranda. As an aspiring filmmaker, I enjoyed listening to their insightful presentations and forming connections with them because I know I can learn a lot from their experiences.”
My Campus Involvements
“My main campus involvements outside the classroom are Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Transcript, The Campus Programming Board, Sisters United, and Roller Skating Club.”
Why I Chose Ohio Wesleyan?
“I chose to attend Ohio Wesleyan because I liked their small class sizes that give each student the specialized attention needed to succeed after college.”
My Plans After Graduation
“My plans after graduation are either to work in the film or marketing industry. OWU has helped prepare me to reach these goals because of its great professors like Dr. Paris-Huesca. She has been a huge help in preparing me for a career in film. Without her, I wouldn’t have known about the CIMCiH conference, so I thank her for encouraging me to submit my video essay.
“This was my first time presenting at a conference, and it was a great first step to showcasing my work to the public. I hope to share more of my projects with audiences in the future!”