Sebastian Valdivieso

About Sebastian

My name is Sebastián Valdivieso, a cinematographer who recently had the opportunity to be part of the ASC Vision Mentorship 2023. I don't belong here or there; I'm a cultural fusion who has traveled throughout Latin America since I was young. I love watching movies, walking in nature, and hiking; I see them as spaces to breathe, reconnect with myself, and be aware of everything happening around me. Just like on a set, mindfulness is essential to everything I do. To me, telling stories is about building a community, being able to contribute from my experiences as a human being, and discovering a new part of myself within them. Although I'm very technical, I like to leave room for emotions because I believe cinema is a vast empathy machine capable of moving people and making them feel. The key to it is allowing ourselves to be vulnerable within it. Through it, we can control what is seen and what is not, whether it's a frame, an experience, lights, or emotions because ultimately everything contributes to the evolution of a story, but as filmmakers, we decide what remains in the final cut. I graduated with an MFA in Film Production at the University of Texas. I have achieved various accomplishments throughout my career, both inside and outside the university. Among the most recent are awards such as the DGA Student Film Award, special mentions from OutFest Los Angeles, BFI Future Film Festival, and the Yugo BAFTA Student Awards. I have also been selected for international festivals like the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Slamdance Film Festival, New York Latino Film Festival, and New Orleans Film Festival. Through each one of these experiences, I have learned more about collaboration and the importance of community.