Monica Mustelier is an award-winning Afro-Latina writer and director who gets hives in cold weather. During her time as a performer, she was killed off in top-ranking films/TV: True Justice – starring “Master of Aikido” Steven Seagal, Hardwired – straight to DVD starring Val Kilmer and Smallville – credited as screaming nurse.
Tired of being killed, Monica arose from the dead (like a phoenix) to create relatable and engaging stories with an inclusive and diverse team both in front of and behind the camera.
Her short film she directed Compliant is a finalist in the New York International Women’s Film Festival. In 2021 she received development funding from the Indigenous Screen Office for her feature script By the River. Her short film script Waterfalls is an Official Selection for the Best Film Awards. She was also nominated for By Black’s People’s Choice Award for Best Black Canadian Film Director and was selected to participate in Women In The Director’s Chair’s Career Advancement Module in Vancouver (woohoo!).
Shortly after the Toronto ACTRA Women’s Committee (TAWC) selected her short film Rainbow Baby, (written by Kate Fenton) for the 2020 Short Film Creation Lab. Monica is also a recipient of a Writers For Writers Diversity Initiative Award -Toronto Screenwriting Conference.
She also won CineFAM’s Micro Cinema Challenge to write, produce and direct a dramatic short film, Weeping Willow. It went on to screen internationally, won Best Micro Cinema Short – CineFAM Film Festival, Official Selection – Lift-Off Sessions Pinewood Studios UK, Official Selection – Toronto Black Film Festival, Finalist – The International Gullah Film Festival, Official Selection – Legacy Film Showcase, Official Selection – Fern FiIm Festival. So, that’s almost 100 awards for one film shot entirely on an iPhone 10x.
Other awesome stuff she’s won: Monica wrote and starred in the comedic short film God Squad, Winner Best Actress – Vancouver Short Film Festival. She wrote and directed the comedic short The Standoff, Winner Audience Choice Award – Vino’s Commercial Festival.
Awards & Nominations
2020 Nomination, Best Canadian Director, By Black’s People’s Choice Award
2019 MicroCinema Challenge Creation Award, CineFAM Canada
2019 Writers For Writers Diversity Initiative Award, Toronto Screenwriting Conference
Compliant (short)
2021 Finalist, New York International Women’s Film Festival
Weeping Willow (short)
2020 Finalist, The International Gullah Film Festival
2019 Best Micro Short Film, CineFam Film Festival
The Stand-Off (short)
2013, Audience Choice Award, Vino’s Commercial Festival
God Squad (short, as writer/actress)
2012 Best Actress, Vancouver Short Film Festival