Grad student Midgia Chinea's film 'anonymous (street meat)' selected for Cannes Short Film festival

Brittany Taylor / Daily Bruin

Midgia Chinea's short film, "anonymous (street meat)," inspired by a mortgage scam Chinea experienced during her fall quarter at UCLA in 2009, was selected as an official entry into the Cannes Short Film festival. A still from the film is pictured above.

Courtesy of Midgia Chinea

In mid May 2011, I flew to Nice and stayed at the Western Madrid hotel -- this is because I couldn't find any accommodations in Cannes.  The trip was nice and I met some very nice people, including a great Algerian family who invited me to a wonderful dinner at their home.  However, because of my busy UCLA schedule, I could not stay in touch with anyone --  all I have is pictures,  I took a couple of side trips while there -- to Monte Carlo, Eze and Frejus -- although I had been there before I found the experience totally absorbing and beautiful.  Afterward, my film was selected to a number of film festivals including the Student Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia -- I wish I had been able to attend.

However, it was AFTER I got back that things changed when people at UCLA started to act totally weird with me and kept taking down any other festival announcements from the UCLA TFT Facebook page.  I have never bragged about any of my accomplishments in my life, but I was accused of being a self-promoter.  My situation was really awful at school.  All in all, Cannes was great, but not my experiences here and the lack of support were mystifying.

Migdia Chinea UCLA MFA TFTDM - Screenwriting/Directing 2012