Sabrina Avilés is a Telly-award-winning independent filmmaker, whose work has taken her throughout Latin America, Canada and Europe. She recently completed producing her first film for public television entitled, “Childsplay: A Parting Glass,” a concert film featuring the fiddle band Childsplay, scheduled to air in the Fall 2020. During her 25+ year career, she has worked on many PBS programs. Her list of credits include: “Councilwoman,” (America Reframed 2019), American Experience’s “American Comandante” (2015) and “The Raising of America” (2014), a PBS documentary series about early childhood development produced by California Newsreel. In 2012, she worked on the Peabody award-winning PBS series, “Latino Americans.” That same year, she received development funds from the prestigious Independent Television Services (ITVS) to begin work on a documentary about the sterilization of Puerto Rican women. Currently, she is in pre-production for her first short documentary on the city of Chelsea and its response to the pandemic.

In 2016, Ms. Avilés became the Executive Director of the Boston Latino International Film Festival, after having served as its Associate Director from 2004 – 2007. In 2019, the Festival received a special commendation from the Boston Society of Film Critics, “for bringing to Boston audiences a varied, challenging line-up of local, national and international films by Latinx filmmakers, and for prioritizing outreach to community partners.”

Ms. Avilés was also the former Director of the Center for Latino Arts (now Villa Victoria Center for the Arts), the only multi-functional community arts center in New England dedicated to promoting and preserving Latin American art and culture. As an arts administrator and active participant of Boston’s arts and culture community, Ms. Avilés also teaches and directs a dance company, “Flamenco Dance Project.”

Her work both as BLIFF’s director and as a local artist gives her unique access to New England non-profit organizations and the local press where she is a recognized leader in the community. Sabrina is a 2019 Flaherty Fellow, serves on the WGBH Community Advisory Board and is a board member of Filmmakers Collaborative.

Born in Washington Heights, Ms. Avilés’ family originates from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. She earned a B.S. in Broadcasting/Film from Boston University.