Daily Inspiration: Meet Sebaztian Baz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebaztian Baz.

Sebaztian , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started working in the audiovisual world many years ago, moving between filmmaking, music, sound, editing, and production. Over time, all those different experiences gradually came together and shaped the way I approach storytelling today. Eventually, I decided to take everything I had learned and make my first feature film, Sombras Chinas.

The film became a turning point in my career. I chose to tell the story entirely in a vertical 9:16 format, not as a gimmick, but as part of the film’s narrative and visual language. With a very limited budget, we took the project from an unconventional idea to a theatrical release, international festivals, awards, and reviews from film critics in different countries. That experience reinforced something that has become central to the way I work: limitations can become creative tools when they are integrated into the concept from the beginning. Today, I’m continuing to develop new films while building on everything I learned from that experience.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building a career as an independent filmmaker and artist often means moving forward without having every door open for you. There have been many moments when the obvious path simply wasn’t available, whether because of limited resources, lack of connections, or because some of the ideas I wanted to pursue didn’t necessarily fit into conventional structures.

Over time, I’ve learned that when a door doesn’t open, creativity isn’t only something you apply to the work itself; you can also apply it to finding another way forward. *Sombras Chinas* is a good example of that. Many of its limitations eventually became part of its identity and opened doors I couldn’t have anticipated when we started. I think a large part of my journey has been about continuing to create, experiment, and look for possibilities even when there is no clear path ahead. Sometimes the most interesting opportunities come from places you couldn’t have planned for.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a filmmaker, writer, producer, and musician. I tend to work across different creative areas, and I think that has shaped the way I approach filmmaking. I’m particularly interested in genre, dark humor, unconventional narrative ideas, and finding visual forms that are connected to what a story is actually trying to say. I don’t like experimentation simply for the sake of being different; I’m interested in taking risks when they serve the story and can still connect with an audience.

I’m particularly proud of *Sombras Chinas*, my first feature film, because we were able to take a very unconventional idea — a feature conceived entirely in the vertical 9:16 format — and turn it into a film that had a theatrical release, traveled internationally, won awards, and was discussed by critics specifically for the way it used that format as part of its cinematic language. More broadly, what I’m most proud of is having learned how to turn limitations into creative decisions and ideas into finished work. If there’s something that defines me as an artist, I think it’s curiosity: I’m always looking for a different angle, whether I’m writing, directing, editing, making music, or developing a new project.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
What has worked best for me is approaching networking as building relationships rather than collecting contacts. Festivals, screenings, and creative communities can be great places to meet people, but I think the most valuable connections happen when there is genuine curiosity about someone else’s work and you stay in touch beyond the immediate event.

I also believe in creating reasons for people to discover you. Making work, sharing it, supporting other filmmakers, attending festivals, and being part of conversations around cinema can create connections you could never plan in advance. Some of the most interesting relationships and opportunities I’ve had came indirectly from simply continuing to work and putting that work into the world. My advice would be to be genuinely interested in people, stay open, and don’t approach every relationship thinking about what you can get from it. A strong professional network is something you build over time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/es-es/name/nm16776629/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebaztian.baz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sebaztian.baz
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebaztian-baz/
• Other: https://filmfreeway.com/SebaztianBaz