Maria is an award-winning
filmmaker \\ writer
based in Brooklyn, NY.
Maria specializes in horror-drama fusions with a supernatural twist. Stories that blur the line between the reality we know, the magic we imagine, and the nightmares we fear. Drawing on her own diverse background, her work highlights underrepresented voices in edgy genre narratives.
Maria trained at the Experimental Theatre Wing of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she received a BFA in Drama. She wrote, directed, and starred in her 2016 debut short film, Venefica, which had its international premiere at Fantasia Int’l Film Festival, before streaming online via Shudder and Amazon.
Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Broccoli Magazine, Nerdist, Form No Form, Coverfly’s The Red List, and over 20 film festivals around the world. Her latest screenplay, Monnji, is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2022 Screencraft Horror Competition.
Repped by: Affirmative Entertainment
AWARDS + PLACEMENTS
Coverfly’s The Red List (Monnji), 2022
Grand Prize Winner, ScreenCraft Horror Competition 2022 (Monnji)
Finalist, Coverfly Pitch Week 2022 (The Witiwig)
Coverfly and The Tracking Board’s “The Next List,” 2022
Top 5% of Short projects; Coverfly 2021 (Intruder)
Top 100 - Short Horror projects; Coverfly 2021 (Intruder)
Finalist, Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition 2020 (Intruder)
Finalist, ScreenCraft Horror Competition 2019 (Zora)
Winner Best Suspense/Thriller Short; International Horror Hotel 2016 (Venefica)
Winner Female Filmmaker Award; Juggernaut Sci-fi & Fantasy Film Festival 2016 (Venefica)
Winner Best Directing; Women’s Independent Film Festival 2016 (Venefica)
SCREENINGS
UNTITLED, WOMAN
Online Streaming: Form No Form
VENEFICA
Online Streaming: Shudder
Online Streaming: Amazon
Ethteria Film Night 2017-2018 International Tour
Ridgefield Independent Film Festival 2017; Official Selection
St.Louis International Film Festival 2017; In Competition
Hollyshorts Monthly Screenings 2017; In Competition
Little Rock Picture Show 2017; In Competition
Crypticon Seattle Horror Festival 2017; Official Selection
Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival 2017; Official Selection
Days Of The Dead Convention 2017; Official Selection
Final Girls Berlin Film Festival 2017; Official Selection
Fantasia International Film Festival 2016; International Premiere, In Competition
Citizen Jane Film Festival 2016; Official Selection
Women’s Independent Film Festival 2016; Winner Best Directing
Portland Film Festival 2016; In Competition
Morbido Film Festival 2016; Official Selection
Nashville Film Festival 2016; Official Selection
Internation Horror Hotel 2016; Nominee Best Lead Actress, Winner Best Suspense/Thriller Short
Nitehawk Shorts Festival 2016; Official Selection
El Dorado Film Festival 2016; Official Selection
Another Hole In The Head 2016; Official Selection
Juggernaut Sci-fi & Fantasy Short Film Festival 2016; Winner Female Filmmaker Award
Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2016; Official Selection