Silvia Lara Wins Deutsche Bank’s Frieze Los Angeles Film Award

There’s nothing lostabout Silvia Lara’s latest project… 

The up-and-coming Latina filmmaker was named the recipient of the inaugural Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award at the opening of Frieze LA, beating out nine other finalists for the $10,000 prize. 

Silvia Lara

The award, granted in partnership with the nonprofit academy Ghetto Film School, aims to recognize emerging Los Angeles-based filmmakers between the ages of 20 and 34 years old. It’s part of the second annual Frieze Los Angelesart exhibit, which takes place on the Paramount studio lot and brings works from over 70 galleries from around the world. 

Lara’s film, Beauty Never Lost, was created during a three-month program at the Ghetto Film School and captures the life and inhabitants of Whittier, California, through a series of vignettes. 

“I began as a writer and photographer, but even as a writer I always hoped to one day see my ideas onscreen. It took some time, but I eventually learned that there was such a thing as cinematography and that it would prove to be a harmonious union between my two passions: storytelling and creating images,” Lara said in a statement.   

The finalists included Danielle BoydMya DodsonMichelle Jihyon KimNabeer KhanAlima LeeTimothy Offor,Toryn SeabrooksNoah Sellmanand Nicole L. Thompson, and their works were voted on by a jury of art and entertainment figures including artist Doug Aitken; filmmakers Shari Frilot,Jeremy Kaganand Sam Taylor-Johnson; and curator Hamza Walker.