Meet Kaila Gutierrez of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaila Gutierrez.

Hi Kaila, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a filmmaker born and raised in the Coachella Valley, now based in Los Angeles. I didn’t actually start my filmmaking journey until college, but looking back, the signs were always there. As a kid, I would write my own episodes of my favorite TV shows, make skits with my friends, and beg my parents for a Barbie video camera. I never got the Barbie camera, but they did get me a little digital one. And I fell in love with it! A whole new creative world had opened up to me, but at the time, I didn’t realize I was “filmmaking.” To me, it was just fun with a camera.

That fun came to an early end when my camera got stolen, and with it, my unknown filmmaker dream. Fast forward to my third year of college, I randomly got the chance to edit some videos for fun. Curious I said yes, and it suddenly hit me. Filmmaking was what I needed to do for the rest of my life. It felt like love at first sight, but for artist finding their craft. That same week, I changed my major to film and hit the ground running.

I became the founding president of my university’s film club, where I built a hands-on production environment for students (and myself) to actually make films. From there, I continued my education at Chapman University’s MFA Directing program, interned at Bona Fide Productions, and made my thesis film, Touch. After graduating (and taking a little time to travel), I was selected for the Mitu x Walmart Filmmaker Mentorship Program, where I made my film Nana Carmen. More recently, I was accepted into the LFI Inclusion Program, sponsored by the Netflix Creative Equity Fund, where I directed my latest short film, High Beam.

The moment I realized I wanted to be a filmmaker, I never stopped. It hasn’t always been the smoothest journey, but every opportunity has led to the next. The key thing is, I never stopped, and I don’t plan to anytime soon.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! As fun and creative as filmmaking is, it can also be really stressful. In my early days, I was used to making short films with friends for no money. I remember being in grad school and getting a $5,000 budget and feeling terrified. Coming from a working-class background, I felt pressure to “make the money worth it.”
Luckily, I had a great community who helped me reframe that pressure from “make it worth it” to “how can we play with this?” That shift changed everything. Now, when budgets and projects get bigger, I remind myself how far I’ve come and how lucky I am to be doing this. I hope my story encourages others from working-class backgrounds to approach those moments with curiosity instead of fear.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a writer and director working in film. I’ve made a few short films and am currently writing my first feature. Most people know me from my short Nana Carmen (which you can watch on the Mitu YouTube channel), and hopefully more will get to know me through my newest film, High Beam.

I’m drawn to stories about family, identity, and girlhood usually told through a whimsical or emotional lens. I love exploring those in-between moments of growing up, where things feel dramatic, funny, and a little painful all at once. My work often centers young female characters who are trying to be seen, which is something I’ve always connected with personally.

I’m proud of all my projects, but High Beam holds a special place in my heart. It follows a young gymnast trying to make the team to impress her mom. The film was challenging yet so much fun to make! I got to explore sports action, stunt falls, and even a nightmare sequence. What makes me proud is how my team and I approached every obstacle with creativity and play. It pushed me to grow as a filmmaker, and watching it now and thinking, “we did that,” feels really special.

How do you define success?
As a recovering perfectionist, this one’s tough. For me, success means being able to walk away from something knowing I gave it everything I could. Lately, I’ve been expanding what success looks like. Is it getting into the festival, or is it simply the chance to keep creating?

I’ve learned that success isn’t one fixed thing, it changes. For me, it feels the most meaningful when I know I’ve challenged myself, grown, and stayed true to what I love about storytelling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kailagutierrez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailag22/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kailagutierrez/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KailaG22
• Other: https://vimeo.com/kailagutierrez