Mija

Age 15+, YA documentary

Indie music manager Doris Muñoz looks back on childhood experiences with her close-knit family and her early career launching the pop star, Cuco. Being the first American-born member of her undocumented family means coming of age is complicated by the added responsibilities of green card processing and family reunification. In spite of the crushing pressures, Doris hustles to find new musical talent amongst a community of children of immigrants for whom success is more than an individual dream, it’s a collective lifeline.

Mija is an emotional and moving portrait of an ambitious young woman moving up in the music world while staying deeply connected to her parents as they struggle for secure permanent residency status, financial stability, and the freedom to safely visit their beloved family in Mexico. As the only family member who can traverse the border safely, Mija represents the hope, guilt, and challenges of first generation youth.

Director Biography

Nominated for four Emmy awards, Isabel Castro is a Mexican-American filmmaker who has been named one of Filmmaker magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film and DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40. She has directed the short documentaries “Darlin” (2019) and “USA vs. Scott” (2020). Mija (2022) is her first feature documentary.

Sponsors