Join the Latin Steering Committee and LatinX in Animation as we feature accomplished Latina editors from the animation industry working in features and television. They will share their experience breaking into the industry as an editor and the influences behind their work and editing style.

Light Refreshments will be served!

7:00 to 8:00PM - Refreshments/Socializing
8:00 to 9:00PM - Discussion and Q&A 

SPEAKERS:

	Sarah Baluch is an assistant editor working in animation. She is currently the First Assistant Editor on a feature at Skydance Animation, with previous experience working at DreamWorks Animation Television and Warner Bros. Animation. Before working in post-production, Sarah worked as a software developer at a startup in Los Angeles. She holds degrees in Computer Science and Critical Studies from the University of Southern California.
Myra Lopez was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Her father is Mexican and her mother is Salvadoran. Art has been a passion of hers since she was a kid. Her passion led her to study Animation and Illustration at California State University Fullerton where she received her Bachelors in Fine Art. Myra began her career in Animation at Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Here she started as an intern and worked her way into the PostProduction department. While working in PostProduction on several animated series, she put herself through school part-time to study film editing. Nickelodeon helped her grow and transition from PostProduction to Editorial. Myra has worked as an editor at Nickelodeon Animation Studio, DreamWorks Animation Television, and is currently working at Netflix Animation Studio where she is editing on a mini-series called “Maya And The Three”.
	Illya Owens is a lead editor at Sony Pictures Animation.   In her most recent role at the studio, Owens served as associate editor on Sony Pictures Animation’s upcoming original animated musical “Vivo," which features brand new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creative force behind the Broadway smash “Hamilton,” and is slated for theatrical release in April 2021.    Owens was also an editor on Sony Pictures Animation’s Academy Award® winner “Hair Love,” a heartfelt animated short film from director Matthew A. Cherry that centers around the relationship between an African-American father, his daughter Zuri, and the most daunting task a father could ever come across – doing his daughter’s hair for the first time.   Prior to joining Sony Pictures Animation, Owens served as lead editor on Disney Television Animation’s “Mickey Mouse” shorts television series. In total, she worked on 58 shorts and two holiday specials.   Her additional credits include Cartoon Network’s animated television shows “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy,” and “Chowder,” as well as on Warner Bros. Animation’s Kids’ WB! Series “¡Mucha Lucha!” Owens began her career working on Columbia TriStar Television’s animated series “Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot.”    Owens has loved cartoons from an early age, and knew she needed to be in the business after watching classics like “Mighty Mouse,” “The Looney Tunes” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” She currently resides in Southern California with her son, who she now shares her love of cartoons with!
Sandra Powers is a Peruvian-American editor, based in Los Angeles. She received her BFA in painting and photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and MFA in experimental film from the California Institute of Arts. After CalArts, she got her start in animation as an intern at Nickelodeon Animation studio, which eventually led her to animatic editing on many shows, including “Fanboy”, “Legend of Korra” and “Sanjay and Craig.” In 2015, she was promoted to Picture Editor on “Dora and Friends” for its final season. Sandra is currently the Picture Editor for Disney’s first Latina princess, “Elena of Avalor” at Disney Television Animation. Creating music videos and photography, influenced by the whimsical aesthetic of the fantastical and the macabre, remains an intense passion for Sandra. She has directed, shot and edited over fifteen music videos for many brands, including DevotchKa and Thrillsville. Originally from tropical Miami, Sandra is a rare tropical vampire: she enjoys the sun’s extreme heat, with a parasol of course, but truly comes to life surrounded by all the creepy creatures of the night.
	Moderator: Magdiela Duhamel Founder & Co-Director, LatinX in Animation Magdiela Hermida Duhamel is an animation production professional with over 8 years of production experience. She has contributed to various projects that include “Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia”, “Dragons: Race to the Edge”, “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, “Green Eggs and Ham”, “Ugly Dolls”, and Marvel’s “What If…?” and has worked at companies that include FX Networks, DreamWorks Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, FOX, STX Films, and Marvel Studios. Magdiela was born in Campeche, Mexico, and moved at a young age to Highland Park, California where she grew up. She attended Pasadena City College where she studied Television Production. She is currently the Production Supervisor at Marvel Studios “What If…?”

LatinX in Animation (LXiA) is a Signature Program of the Latino Film Institute (LFI), and strives to empower diversity in Animation, VFX, and Gaming industries by organizing events focused on community, education, professional development and promoting diverse creatives and projects. Through these efforts LXiA empowers and promotes the growth of Latinx diversity and minorities in all facets of the Animation, VFX, and Gaming industries by celebrating authentic stories that are About Us, Told By Us, and Made By Us.

Latino Film Institute (LFI) showcases, strengthens and celebrates the richness of Latino lives through the audiovisual event. We develop, activate, and support artists, creators, and executives through pathways and platforms for the expression and appreciation of their work.

The Motion Picture Editors Guild Diversity Committee fosters initiatives that promote the Editors Guild’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Committee provides diversity awareness, support, mentoring and networking opportunities for members without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and age. Active members of the Guild are invited to join the Facebook group: Diversity in Post