My Passion to Support Emerging Filmmakers Makes My Job at New Day Easy.

I have one of the best jobs at New Day Films! I co-lead our Acquisitions team.

I’ve been on the Acquisitions team for about two years and recently became the co-lead. Before New Day, I spent seven years as Festival Director at Mountainfilm, where I watched hundreds of films applying to the festival. My favorite part of the job was supporting emerging filmmakers, and it still is.

One thing people may not know about New Day is that we’re all volunteers. Every filmmaker in the co-op takes on a job to help keep New Day running. It’s one of the things I love about this community; we’re a group of passionate, dedicated independent filmmakers who really believe films and stories can make a difference. At New Day, my team and I get to watch new work, meet filmmakers, and help decide who will become part of this quirky, remarkable, 55-year-old filmmaker-run cooperative.

Of course, we’re always watching with a particular question in mind: Will this film work in the educational market? We look for films that invite conversation, deepen understanding, and give students and audiences a way into subjects they may not have encountered before.

As we head into September and Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month, I’ve also been thinking about my own heritage and about the many films New Day has distributed over the decades by and about Hispanic and Latino communities. These films explore immigration, identity, family, culture, history, and just as importantly, celebrate our heritage. It’s one of the things I value most about New Day’s collection… stories don’t have to reduce a community to a single issue or experience.

And sometimes the most meaningful part of a film’s life begins after the credits roll. Through New Day’s Film & Speaker Series, filmmakers can join screenings, either in person or virtually, to talk with audiences about their work and the film’s issues. That kind of exchange can completely change the experience of a film. Documentary filmmakers often spend years researching a subject, building relationships, digging deep, and trying to understand all of the complexity behind the headlines and sound bites. Bringing that knowledge into the room gives audiences a chance to ask questions the film sparked, hear what didn’t make it onto the screen, and better understand the people and issues behind the story.

That combination of great films, thoughtful conversations, and a community of filmmakers supporting one another is a big part of why I love New Day. I feel incredibly fortunate that watching films and supporting independent filmmakers is my job.

Suzan Beraza
Acquisitions Co-Lead - New Day Films

Powerful Films. Visionary Directors. Impactful Events.

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What People Are Saying

"Kristal Sotomayor's brilliant filmmaking led to an insightful and timely talkback that deeply impacted an audience of students, staff, organizers, and community members."

- Drew Swedberg – Lafayette College, Q/A following Expanding Sanctuary

G Chesler is a fantastic and inspiring presenter. I continue to ponder and pursue numerous ideas and insights that arose in the wonderful dialogue sparked by G's films and comments.

-Georgetown University, Q/A following Connection | Isolation

“Vision Portraits was very impactful, but Rodney Evans was fantastic in the Q/A segment as well. We received wonderful feedback after the fact, and one of our members actually reached out to share they have been diagnosed with the same condition so this was really incredible for them.

-Emily DeYoung, Inova