Although North Miami resident Gina Margillo comes from a cinema background, it was not until much later in her career that she picked up a camera and began telling her own kind of stories.
Good thing she did. Since 2020 Margillo has produced several award-winning short films that grab the viewer with compassionate, gritty, and honest storytelling. Although she is self-taught, Margillo comes from a long line of storytellers. Given her family history, deciding to become a filmmaker in her own right and making documentaries came naturally to her.
“My father was a filmmaker, and my aunt Florence was one of the first women in the 1940s and 1950s to own her own film studio,” she said. “My family is very filmmaker and story oriented. There are things that just come naturally to us and our films also come from loving people, places, and diverse cultures.”
(Photo by Antonio Paris)
Gina Margillo interviewing Marvin Dunn at the Hampton House for the film, "Overtown's Living Legacy."
A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO CINEMA
Before making her own films, Margillo spent 25 years in global social justice communications with work focusing on environmental justice, sexual and reproductive justice with the United Nations and Planned Parenthood Latin America. Then, for more than a decade, she worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and for the California Environmental Health Branch of the Public Health Services as their environmental justice director. Her final stint was as creative director of PCI Media in New York.
Margillo began working on films during her eight years with Planned Parenthood. At PCI Media, she traveled all over the world on film projects that were educational entertainment.
“In Sri Lanka we created a reality-type show that taught people in that country about food health,” she said. “I was doing anthropological work in multiple languages for 25 years.”
A MOVIE AND MUSIC MOSAIC
(Courtesy Love & Hope Film Festival)
Gina Margillo doing a podcast at the Love & Hope Film Festival in Barcelona.
When Margillo returned to Miami in 2020, she wanted to tell stories about Miami, so she began making her own films. She has made one film a year since 2020.
“I realized that my films are all informed by music,” Margillo said. “Music gives the film its inspiration, its rhythm, and determines the editing and mood. I am drawn to filmmaking, as an art form, because every aspect of it, from concept to premiere, requires such a vast array of creative communication skills. The entire process is such an affirmation of life and a potent connector.”
Margillo’s most personal film, “Dolores: A Triptych,” has been in film festivals all over the world and is an homage to her late mother. Margillo appears in the film, along with local dancers and friends Rosie Herrera and Niurca Marquez. All three are featured dancing in the film as Margillo’s mother, Dolores, at various stages in her life.
“Instead of having a funeral for my mom, I made this film,” said Margillo. “The idea was that it would allow her to travel the world through the film festivals and still get to know people through the Q&A’s at the film festivals, even after she was gone.”
The film was in over 71 film festivals and won 13 awards.
“It saved my life and kept her memory alive while also honoring her,” Margillo said of the film.
(Photo by Vivian Marthell)
Gina Margillo on stage addressing the audience at the Cosford Cinema following the premiere of "Night Train Last Stop."
Another film, “Catelus Ascending,” is an homage to the late local Haitian drummer known as Ton Ton, who was an important and beloved drummer in the Haitian community but ended up homeless.
“I became close with Ton Ton through a band I was in at the time,” Margillo said. “He was living at the house where we practiced, and I became spiritually in tune and enamored with him and Haitian music. The film was my way of honoring him on film during his final days.”
In “Overtown’s Living Legacy,” Margillo documents and explores the gentrification of Overtown. The documentary features in-depth interviews with historian and former Florida International University Professor Marvin Dunn; Nadege Green, the founder of Black Miami-Dade Digital Storytelling; and Enid Pinckney, president of the Curtis Foundation and former president and one of the founders of Dade Heritage Trust. Barry University produced the film.
“Ya Habibi: The Story of a Song,” was co-produced by Live Arts Miami for Hanan Arts and features local dancer Tiffany Madera.
MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL WIN
(Photo courtesy of Gina Margillo)
Gina Margillo with Ted Grossman, former WLRN radio host and the subject of her Miami Film Festival award-winning film "Night Train Last Stop."
“Night Train Last Stop,” which tells the story of legendary WLRN radio host Ted Grossman, who hosted his show “Night Train” for more than four decades, is what Margillo calls a miracle story.
“I loved Ted Grossman’s voice, listening to his voice and the music he played on the show reminded me of my dad,” said Margillo, “My dad introduced me to all that type of music. Ted was playing on his show and I just wanted to take him out to dinner and thank him for his fabulous show. It was during dinner that I mentioned I wanted to make the film.”
Next thing she knew she was in production of the film but with no clear-cut plan, no story arc, just following Grossman around.
Grossman soon retired from the show and entered chemo for cancer treatment. Margillo’s film is a celebration of Grossman’s life and career, including his 48 years hosting “Night Train” on WLRN, the longest-running radio show in South Florida history.
“When I found out he was leaving the show was also when I was applying for the Louis Wolfson Archives grant and found out I won $10,000.”
“Night Train Last Stop,” won the Audience Short Film Award at the Miami Film Festival in April.
BEHIND THE SCENES
(Photo by Luis Eligio D Omni)
Gina Margillo dancing while directing the filming of "Dolores: A Triptych."
Margillo works with a small team to make films and does all the writing. Most of her projects are self-funded, produced, and directed.
“I love the process of working with my team, entering other worlds, and becoming part of people’s communities,” said Margillo. “That is what I love about filmmaking.”
Besides filmmaking, Margillo also teaches at Media Culture and Society Storytelling for Social Change at Barry University and Communication for Healthcare Leadership at Emory University.
Additionally, for more than a decade, she has been a film screener and grant reviewer for the San Francisco International Film Festival.
“I review scripts and grants so filmmakers can defend their projects,” said Margillo. “I help ensure they fit certain social justice criteria and narrative, and all of this is helping hone my skills,” she said.
Helping her through all her work is her infinite curiosity and seeing everything from a beginner’s mind.
“It’s a way of keeping that wonderment and joy in the world.”
For more information on Gina Margillo’s projects and work, visit GinaMargillo.com