Mónica Esmeralda León

Mónica Esmeralda León is a Mexican actress and producer. León executive produced "Adios Vaya Con Dios" (2014), the first feature film to credit a community as the movie's director. León dedicated the directorial title to the neighborhood community using the expression "La Raza," the cinematic style today coined as La Raza filmmaking. León founded Ave Fenix Pictures, the first Latino movie studio in Chicago and the Midwest. She was also the first woman and Latina in the Midwest to start their own production company. In 2016, León's second film "Arise from Darkness" received nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Feature Film. León's 2016 film "Black Ruby" earned film festival nominations in London and Rome. León was recognized as the Next Generation of Hollywood's Rising Stars for 2019.