NYFA Alum, Director Sara Seligman talks about her career & directing her first TV show Hotel Cocaine for MGM +

NYFA Alum Sara Seligman is  an up and coming female Mexican director set to make her television directorial debut for the MGM+ TV show "Hotel Cocaine” premiering on June 16th.  With a background in features such as "Coyote Lake" starring Camila Mendes and Academy Award Nominee Adriana Barraza and "Safeword," Seligman brings her unique vision and storytelling prowess to the small screen.

"Hotel Cocaine," a highly anticipated series on MGM+, explores the gritty underworld of a luxury hotel where power, corruption, and deceit collide. Seligman's directorial debut on television marks a significant milestone in her career, highlighting her versatility as a filmmaker. As well as a step in shifting representation of Female and Latine voices in Television.

Sara spoke to NYFA about her career and her upcoming TV directorial debut.

NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?

S.S: I'm Sara Seligman, I was born and raised in Mexico. While working as an actress in Mexico, I always felt drawn in by the different jobs behind the camera, but for some reason, it didn't feel attainable. I moved to NYC to attend an acting course, one day while I was hanging out in Union Square between classes, I decided to check out the New York Film Academy filmmaking program and enrolled on the spot. I'm glad this unattainable world finally seemed approachable as I quickly realized this was my true passion. After completing my first year, I delved into internships in film and TV production. After working on set and understanding each position better I returned for the 2nd year of filmmaking knowing I wanted to direct. After graduating I moved to Los Angeles, where I have been living and working in advertising, film, and television for over a decade.

NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?

S.S: Since graduating, I've worn many hats in the industry - producing, directing, you name it. From supervising big studio productions like "THE MINDY PROJECT" to directing award-winning short films like "DIEGO" and "KOSNIN". I sold my thesis feature script "PLAN V" to VideoCine and wrote my second feature "FALCON LAKE" which won the Tribeca Film Institute All Access Grant, the Film Independent Fast Track, and NALIP's LMM. In 2018 I directed my first feature film "COYOTE LAKE" (formerly Falcon Lake) starring Academy Award nominee Adriana Barraza, and Camila Mendes. Coyote Lake premiered at NYLFF and on HBOMAX and is now available on Tubi, Amazon, and Fandango. I later directed my first work for hire, "SAFEWORD", a Tubi Original. In 2023 I had my TV directorial debut, directing episodes 5 and 6 of the first season of Chirs' Brancato's "Hotel Cocaine" for MGM. "HOTEL COCAINE" will premiere in the US on June 16th.

Check out the trailer for COYOTE LAKE:

Other Awards Include: 

"DIEGO" - Golden Lion Award at the Barcelona Film Festival, Winner Underexposed Film Festival (Watch the short film "DIEGO" )

Awareness Film Festival

Arizona International Film Festival

Catalina Film Festival

Chicago Latino Film Festival

Cinema Jove - Festival Internacional de Cine de Valencia

Dances with Films 

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival 

FICG en Los Angeles

HollyShorts 

Indianapolis Film Festival

LakeShorts International Short Film Festival

Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival

London Lift-Off Film Festival

Newport Beach Film Festival

New York Latino Film Festival

In The Palace International Short Film Festival

Palm Springs Short Fest

Piélagos en Corto International Film Festival 

Raindance Film Festival

Rio De Janeiro Intl FF - Curta Cinema

Salento International Film Festival

San Diego Latino Film Festival

Underexposed Film Festival

WAMMFest

"KOSNIN" - Winner Jury Award - Arizona Film Festival, Winner - Moondance Film Festival, Winner TPFF (Watch the short film "KOSNIN")

Oberhausen Film Festival

Guanajuato International Film Festival

Festival Internacional de Cinema Infantil y Juvenil de Lisboa

Manifesto Film Festival

Cumbre Tajin Cinema Festival

Riga International Film Festival

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about Hotel Cocaine? How did you get involved in the show?

S.S: Thanks to the success of "COYOTE LAKE", I signed with Fourth Wall Management and GERSH in 2018 and 2019, so I had been taking meetings, generals, pitches, etc. I had a meeting with Hotel Cocaine's EP Director Guillermo Navarro and Producer Ricardo del Rio. They had watched "Coyote Lake", and we talked about my experience. Given my lack of experience directing TV, during the conversation, I leaned heavily on my experience as a Production Supervisor and how that gave me the insight needed to understand the essential differences between Film and TV directing. A few weeks later I got the amazing news that they had picked me! 

NYFA Alumni Network: What was the experience like directing TV for the first time? 

S.S: It was an exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions, stepping into the director's chair for the first time on a TV set. The sheer abundance of resources at my fingertips was exciting, yet full of pressure. I was glad that my production supervising days gave me an understanding of how different TV and film sets are, knowing the position of the show-runner and the expectations from the studio. I had to remind myself that at the end of the day, regardless of the scale, I knew what my job and responsibilities were. The only things that changed were the circumstances, limitations, and "rules of the game," and you can’t let that intimidate you. All I could do was be as prepared as possible and remain flexible and open-minded to allow for collaboration and circumstance-based adjustments.

I'll admit, I approached the set with a hint of trepidation. Would I be accepted as a newcomer and a first-time episodic director? In the past, I'd encountered skepticism and resistance from those hesitant to work with an unfamiliar face. But to my immense relief, such concerns melted away upon meeting the cast and crew. They not only possessed incredible talent but also welcomed me with open arms and open minds. The producers had assembled a team that fostered an environment where creativity flowed effortlessly.

Living and working together on-location, far from our families, created a very special bond and experience. I believe we will all cherish this experience forever. We made a great show and found life-long friends and collaborators.

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

S.S: NYFA equipped me with invaluable hands-on experience, allowing me to understand various crew positions. While I may not be an expert in each area, having dabbled in them helps me communicate better and create an environment where every department can shine. This foundation has not only aided me in directing but also in producing and landing my first gigs.

On the other hand, practicing, doing, and directing all those class projects, working in teams, and working with actors. It was in these moments of exploration and trial-and-error that I truly found my voice and uncovered what resonated with me. You can learn techniques and steps, but you need to find your own way. From my perspective, this journey is an ever-changing evolution, shaped by personal and professional growth and experiences.

NYFA Alumni Network: Are you currently working on other projects?

S.S: Yes! As a Producer I'm in pre-production for a feature shooting later this year. I'm prepping a short film that I'm AD'ing shooting this May. In development I'm working on a special Project with Yul Vazquez from Hotel Cocaine and I'm attached two a couple of very exciting feature films seeking financing. 

NYFA congratulates Sara on all her success!