Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring Breathe to life.
 

Logline

Dreams clash with obligations one hectic afternoon, for an immigrant attempting to change her trajectory in life.

Synopsis

Sofia is an aspiring novelist in her late thirties, determined to pursue her dreams. A recent immigrant from Peru, Sofia has worked very hard up to this point, toiling away at her first novel in between working long shifts at her restaurant job – her only source of income.

One afternoon, Sofia eagerly awaits a crucial phone call: an interview with a prominent literary manager. But Sofia’s vibes quickly turn sour when she is unexpectedly called into work and told that if she doesn’t come in, she’ll be fired.

Unwilling to give up neither the interview or her job, Sofia stubbornly decides to take the call on her way to work – ensuing a series of mishaps which test her spirit and cause Sofia to question if she is cut out to pursue her dreams in her current state of life.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Gustavo Martín Benites Gálvez – Writer/Director/Producer
Gustavo is an award-winning Peruvian-American director based in Chicago, IL. His work has been screened at many film festivals around the world and featured on the popular short film website Filmshortage.com. His off-beat documentary Fupa, found great success in underground film festivals, including; Boston Underground, Atlanta Underground, and Midwest Weirdfest – where it was awarded Best Documentary Short.

American Warrior, a feature script he co-wrote, was a quarter-finalist at Final Draft’s Big Break, and Bluecat Screenplay competition. Gustavo recently made his feature directorial debut with American Warrior for Mulberry Films, and distributed by Quiver. The MMA-centered drama stars Danny Trejo (Desperado, Machete), and Veronica Falcón (Ozark, Queen of the South). The film was selected to open the Santa Fe Film Festival, and was an Official Selection at Heartland International and Tallgrass.

Maja Memišević – Producer
Maja is a Chicago based producer with a variety of projects under her belt, which include feature films, television, reality shows, and commercials. Her credits include Easy (Netflix), The Orange Story (Full Spectrum Features), The Carbonaro Effect (TruTV), Toyota’s Super Bowl Spot The Longest Chase (Park Pictures), the Sundance Official Selection, What They Had (Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon), and American Warrior (Mulberry Films).

A veteran of event organizing, Maja has worked behind-the-scenes at many film festivals, including; Sarajevo (SFF), Chicago International (CIFF), Sundance, Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), Chicago Latino (CLFF), Chicago International Music and Movies (CIMM Fest), and Windsor International (WIFF). She has also served as a jury member for FlickFest (WIFF), and Holidays365 International Film Festival™ (Holidays365).

Tasnim Hindeyeh – Producer
Tasnim is a Chicago-based filmmaker and photographer whose work, informed by her Palestinian and Mexican heritage, explores themes of identity, diaspora, and cultural resilience. Her film journey began in Dubai and Amman, Jordan, where she worked as a script supervisor on acclaimed Arab indie films, including The United by Sundance award-winning filmmaker Amin Matalqa and 7 Hours Difference, which premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival.

Her short film Valeria, which she wrote and directed, examines intergenerational trauma in the Hispanic community and has screened at festivals such as Festival de Cortos y Largos, Chicagoland Shorts, and Summer Spirit of Chicago. Beyond her own films, Tasnim is the founder of Salt and Soil Agency—a creative studio, casting platform, and cultural production house dedicated to original, culturally driven storytelling.

Cinematographer – Derek C. Fisher
Derek is an award-winning cinematographer based in Los Angeles, CA and Chicago, IL. His work has screened in film festivals all over the world, including Camerimage, Heartland International and Tallgrass Film Festival. Notable works include Use Your Oui Oui – ICG Emerging Cinematographer Award, Fear Not – Best Narrative Short, Tallgrass Film Festival, Lupe – Audience Award, LA Film Invasion, and more recently, American Warrior (Danny Trejo, Veronica Falcón) – Best Cinematography, Santa Fe Film festival.

Derek’s experience and passion for Cinematography is complimented by his work as a camera operator on TV shows and Films such as The Ritual (Amazon) – starring Al Pacino, The Killing of Kennith Chamberlain (MAX), North of the 10 (BET+), Thunder Force (Netflix), Work in Progress (Showtime), The Thing About Harry (Disney+), and Come As You Are (Samuel Goldwyn Films) – which premiered at SXSW.

Make a donation to Breathe.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.