Meet Maylen Calienes | Producer, Writer, Director, Storyteller, Advocate, Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maylen Calienes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maylen, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m originally from Miami, Florida, born to Cuban parents who raised me with a deep love for our culture, resilience, and storytelling. Growing up bi-cultural and bilingual shaped my identity and gave me a front-row seat to the beauty and complexity of the Latino experience in America. I was surrounded by strong family dynamics, music that told stories, and a loud, proud community that carries both struggle and joy with pride. That upbringing opened my eyes to the gaps in representation and it pushed me to act.

My roots, combined with the lack of proper representation in media and entertainment, are what fuel my passion for visibility and inclusion. That passion led me to found Latino Filmmakers Network, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing visibility, education, and opportunity for underrepresented storytellers. I know what it feels like not to see yourself reflected on screen or behind the camera. So today, whether I’m mentoring, producing, creating, or advocating, I carry the purpose instilled in me by my family and community: to tell our stories with truth, dignity, and power.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art lives at the intersection of culture, truth, and storytelling. As a filmmaker, producer, and founder of Latino Filmmakers Network, my mission has always been clear: to create and champion universal stories that reflect the real, raw, and rich experiences of the Latino community, stories that are too often overlooked or simplified.

What sets my work apart is the heart behind it. I approach every project, whether it’s a film, an LFN event, or a mentorship initiative, with a commitment to authenticity, emotional depth, and cultural nuance. I’m most proud of building spaces that didn’t exist when I started, places where underrepresented creatives can find support, visibility, and opportunity.

Getting here wasn’t easy. It’s been a long road filled with closed doors, being underestimated, and constantly having to prove the value of our voices. But I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about surviving, it’s about showing up over and over with even more clarity, purpose, and power. I’ve faced challenges with a mix of grit, community, and that Latino hustle spirit that says: “Si no existe, lo creamos.”

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? That staying true to your voice, even when it’s not the loudest in the room, will always take you further than conforming to someone else’s vision.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is this: I don’t just tell stories, I build platforms so others can rise and tell theirs too. This work is personal, it’s cultural, and it’s necessary. The Latino experience in America is vast, layered, and powerful and we’re just getting started.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Miami for a week, I’d give them the ultimate “305 con sabor y sazón” experience. Of course, we’d hit the musts…cafecito, pastelitos, and croquetas at La Carreta, an art stroll through Wynwood Walls, and some beach time on Ocean Drive. But I’d also take them down my personal memory lane, showing them the fun stuff, like the old movie theater where I had my first date, and the random parking lot where I had my first make-out session. We’d wander through Coral Gables, take a walk under the banyan trees, do a little shopping, and grab an iced Cuban latte by the Actor’s Playhouse, where I used to perform. We’d swing through Little Havana to play dominoes with the Abuelos at Domino Park, the same spot where I once shot a short film documentary about the game.

To keep things fresh, we’d mix in the trendier side of Miami, the new energy that grew after I left. We’d explore the high-design corners of the Miami Design District, grab a smoothie, and maybe take a chill wellness break at The Standard Spa. For something spontaneous, we’d catch a film under the stars at SoundScape Park, or cruise through Coconut Grove for brunch and vibrant people-watching.

We’d eat like locals at Havana Harry’s, swing by my old elementary school right across from the Biltmore Hotel, and sip mojitos by the Biltmore’s pool, laughing like teenagers and reliving the glory days. It wouldn’t just be a vacation, it’d be a storytelling session, wrapped in sunshine, nostalgia, and the unmistakable heat of the Magic City.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to the countless underrepresented storytellers who keep pushing forward, even when the doors feel closed. Your voices are powerful, and your stories are necessary.

I also want to give credit to my family, especially my parents, for instilling in me the value of hard work, cultural pride, and perseverance. And to the Latino Filmmakers Network community: every filmmaker, creative, and ally who has supported our mission from day one, you are the heart of this work. This journey isn’t mine alone. It belongs to all of us who believe that our stories matter and deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Website: https://latinofilmmaker.org/

Instagram: @latinofilmmakers and @The_MayCal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maylen-calienes-75ba958a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latinofilmmakers

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@latinofilmmakersnetwork2300

Other: My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maycalproductions

Image Credits
The professional pictures, the headshot and the one on my directors chair, photos taken by: Leire Baztarrica.