Manuel Villarreal is an award-winning queer, first-generation Mexican-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. He is a recipient of the Sound and Scene BIPOC Short Film Initiative through NewFest and Concord Originals; his resulting short film, Me Miras, will have its advance screening at NewFest Film Festival. His short film Deep Dish Dimples, created through Film Independent's Project Involve, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival. He directed El Colibrí as part of the mitú x Walmart Filmmaking Mentorship Program, which has reached over 30,000 views on YouTube. His AFI thesis film, La Bruja, has screened at over 20 festivals across the country, winning the Audience Award at the Hola Mexico Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the Mexican-American Film/TV Festival. Through his work, Villarreal weaves Latinx and LGBTQ+ narratives to remind audiences of the enduring power of magic.