Rising Stars: Meet Darwin Reina of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darwin Reina.

Hi Darwin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Los Angeles Fantasy Fest was born in 2025, when I decided to create a dedicated space in LA for filmmakers working in horror, sci-fi, and animation. We launched our very first edition at Skiptown Playhouse, and from the moment the doors opened, it became clear that this festival filled a real need in the city.

Even in its debut year, LAFF attracted an incredible mix of filmmakers — strong representation from Los Angeles and across the United States, along with a handful of passionate international creators who believed in the vision. The energy inside the theater was electric. Filmmakers connected instantly, celebrated each other’s work, and turned the festival into a creative hub far beyond what we expected for a first edition.

What made LAFF successful from day one wasn’t just the films, but the community that formed around it. People arrived ready to collaborate, share stories, and support one another. For me, as the founder, seeing that level of enthusiasm and unity in the very first year confirmed that this festival had a future.

Launching Los Angeles Fantasy Fest in 2025 was a leap of faith, but the response showed that LA was ready for a festival fully dedicated to bold, imaginative genre storytelling. The experience of building it, leading it, and seeing filmmakers embrace it has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey — and it’s only the beginning.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Besides launching Los Angeles Fantasy Fest, I also run a festival in New York and two more in Barcelona, so balancing multiple international events already comes with its own demands. But the biggest ongoing challenge — especially in Los Angeles — is always sponsorship.

Film festivals rely heavily on partnerships and financial support to keep the experience accessible and high-quality. Securing sponsorship in a city as competitive as LA is never easy. We were fortunate to have Skiptown Playhouse come on board as a sponsor, and their support made an enormous difference, especially for a first-year festival. But yes, the hardest part is always finding the resources to sustain a festival at the level we want.

Despite these challenges, we managed to build something meaningful. We pushed through, we stayed focused, and we made it happen. And that’s ultimately what matters — the festival exists, it succeeded, and it proved that with passion and commitment, even the biggest obstacles can be overcome.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
First and foremost, I am a film director. That has always been my main focus and the core of everything I do. I studied acting around the world, which helped me understand performance, storytelling, and character from the inside out — but ultimately, all of that training led me toward directing. That’s where I feel most at home and where my creative voice is the strongest.

My passion for directing is also what inspired me to create film festivals. I wanted to build spaces where filmmakers felt valued, respected, and supported — the kind of festivals I always wished existed when I was coming up. That’s how my first festival in Barcelona began seven years ago. Since then, I’ve expanded to New York and now Los Angeles. Each festival has grown steadily, even with the usual financial struggles that come with building independent events.

I’m proud that these festivals have become successful platforms for filmmakers, but directing remains at the center of my work. I’m currently developing a feature film — still in the writing and pre-production stage — and that project reflects exactly who I am as an artist.

What sets me apart is my mindset: when I decide to do something, I do it. I don’t wait for perfect timing or resources. I believe in taking action, creating opportunities, and pushing through obstacles until the vision becomes real. That drive is what defines my work — both as a director and as a festival founder.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor can be tricky. Sometimes people want to shape you based on what worked for them, but filmmaking isn’t a formula — what works for one person might not work for you. Every artist is different, every career path is different. So I’m careful with the idea of mentorship. I think it’s important to learn from others, but not to let anyone impose their version of success onto you.

Networking, however, is absolutely essential. This industry is not a 9-to-5 job — you have to hustle. You have to be out there, meeting people, going to festivals, watching films, talking, connecting. Real opportunities come from real human interaction.

In the last five years, I’ve traveled constantly for festivals and film events. And it’s not glamorous — waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning, grabbing a taxi, airport security, waiting for flights, long days on the road. It’s tiring, it’s tedious, and it takes serious passion to keep doing it. But it’s part of the game. No one is going to knock on your door and say, “We love your film, here’s everything you need.” It doesn’t work like that.

Networking is built on effort — showing up, being present, and being part of the community. The human factor is everything in this industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darwinreina.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darwinreina/ and https://www.instagram.com/losangelesfantasyfest/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarwinReinaActor and https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesFantasyFest/
• LinkedIn: https://x.com/LAFantasyFest
• Twitter: https://x.com/DarwinReina
• Youtube: https://www.losangelesfantasyfest.com/

Image Credits
Rodartin Productions