Q&A with NYFA Alum Aristides Mantilla, winner of 2026 Directors Guild of America (DGA) Student Spotlight Award

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, and how did you come to NYFA?

Aristides Mantilla (A.M.): I'm Aristides Mantilla from Veracruz, Mexico. I'm director and producer of "In the Still of the Night" and one of the things that most drew me to NYFA was the college curriculum and the hands-on practices; in my personal experience, much of what I learn is empirical, and my methodology has always been to learn by doing in the field. I strongly believed that NYFA was the best choice because of its intensive course and the opportunity to learn about the Hollywood industry right in Hollywood itself.

NYFA Alumni Network: What is your film about and what inspired the story? 

A.M.: This film comes from a very personal place, as I never met my grandfather Ruben. As a Mexican, the Day of the Dead is a very special tradition for me, and one of the most important in my country, which is why I decided to honor my grandfather's memory with this deeply personal film. Through storytelling, I was able to bring him to life in a film about a kid who longs to meet his grandfather on the night of the Day of the Dead. The story is so moving that it brings together acclaimed talent, including Oscar® nominee Yalitza Aparicio, Jesus Ochoa, Memo Villegas, and Leonardo Najar.

NYFA Alumni Network:  What do you hope audiences would take away from your film? 

A.M.:  I hope audiences take away an emotion first. Whether I’m telling a drama, thriller, comedy, horror film, or something completely different, I want the story to stay with them after the credits and spark a thought, a feeling, or even a conversation.

With In the Still of the Night, for example, I hope people leave thinking about their own families, the people they miss, and perhaps the things they still have time to say to those who are here. The film is deeply rooted in Mexican culture and Día de Muertos, but the emotions behind it; love, loss, memory, forgiveness, belong to everyone.

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about the film's festival journey. What has the experience of screening your work and connecting with audiences been like?

A.M.: The festival journey has been one of the most rewarding parts of filmmaking. My work has screened at festivals such as FICM, Hollyshorts, Burbank, Arpa, NewFilmmakers LA, and Chicago Latino Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and most recently In the Still of the Night was recognized by the Directors Guild of America, among others.

What I value most is connecting directly with audiences. Hearing someone from a different culture say that the film reminded them of their own family or someone they lost reinforces my belief that very personal and culturally specific stories can also be universal. Festivals have given me the opportunity not only to share my work, but to build relationships and understand how these stories resonate beyond where they were created.

NYFA Alumni Network: Your film won the 2026 DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors. Congratulations! What was that experience like, and what did the recognition mean to you as an emerging filmmaker?

A.M.:  It was an incredibly meaningful experience. Being recognized by the Directors Guild of America, surrounded by filmmakers and industry professionals we admire, felt like an important confirmation that the stories we are telling can resonate at the highest levels of the industry.

As emerging filmmakers, the award gave us confidence, but also motivation. I see it less as a destination and more as a door opening to the next stage of our careers. It encourages us to think bigger, take greater creative risks, and continue developing projects with international ambition while staying authentic to our roots.

Most importantly, it reminded me that filmmakers from Mexico and other underrepresented communities belong in these spaces, and that our stories and perspectives have a place in the global film industry.

NYFA Alumni Network:  What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned at NYFA that you’ll carry with you into your filmmaking career?

A.M.: One of the biggest lessons I learned at NYFA is that filmmaking is about doing. You can study films, discuss ideas, and prepare endlessly, but ultimately you learn by getting on set, making decisions, making mistakes, and finding solutions.

NYFA taught me to be adaptable and collaborative, and to trust the process even when things don’t go exactly as planned. Every project becomes an opportunity to grow. That mentality is something I will carry throughout my career: keep creating, keep learning, and never stop challenging yourself with the next story.

NYFA Alumni Network: Are you currently working on any future projects? If so, what can you tell us about them? 

A.M.: Yes. I’m currently developing several feature films across different genres, including drama, thriller, action, horror, comedy, and documentary. I don’t like to define myself by one genre, I consider myself a storyteller first, and I believe each story determines the genre and the best way to tell it.

Some of these projects are already at an advanced stage of development, and right now we’re actively looking for the right strategic partners, investors, and studios to bring them to life. After the DGA recognition, I’m very excited about this next chapter. We’re ready to take on larger projects, build stronger bridges between Mexico and the U.S., and tell stories with the ambition to reach audiences around the world.

NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Aristides on all his success!