Photo by Lou Aguilar, DOC NYC
At DOC NYC’s Visionaries Tribute on November 12, Carlos A. Gutiérrez, co-founding executive director of Cinema Tropical, accepted the Leading Light Award by turning the spotlight outward—toward community, responsibility, and the urgent role of documentary cinema today.
Speaking as someone “usually on the other side,” Gutiérrez reflected on what it means to be recognized by peers, especially as Cinema Tropical approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026. He acknowledged the organization’s co-founder Monika Wagenberg, board chair Debbie Zimmerman, and the collective labor behind a quarter century of advocacy for Latin American and U.S. Latino filmmakers.
He dedicated part of his remarks to fellow honoree Michèle Stephenson and to past Latino recipients of the Visionaries Award, situating his recognition within a broader lineage of artists who have expanded the language and politics of American and international nonfiction cinema. He also paid tribute to a generation of U.S. Latino documentarians whose work continues to inspire him, including Natalia Almada, Cristina Ibarra, Alex Rivera, Bernardo Ruiz, Carla Gutiérrez, Rodrigo Reyes, and the late Lourdes Portillo.
Gutiérrez emphasized that the award arrives at a moment of heightened political urgency, when immigrant communities are increasingly under attack. He reaffirmed that Latinos are a driving force in the United States and that Latino documentarians have long been pushing the boundaries of the form—often without adequate recognition or institutional support.
For Gutiérrez, being a visionary is not about prestige but accountability: questioning the industry we participate in, examining the systems we replicate, and committing to build alternatives grounded in generosity, optimism, and collective care. “This is not the time for fear,” he said, calling instead for creativity, solidarity, and the imagining of new utopias through quotidienne work.
The award was presented by two-time Academy Award nominee Maite Alberdi, who appeared in a video message expressing her pride and gratitude in celebrating Gutiérrez. The Chilean filmmaker, director of The Mole Agent and The Eternal Memory, praised his unwavering commitment to filmmakers. “He doesn’t only support filmmakers—he makes them shine,” she said, adding that “he was the one who opened the door for all of us.” Alberdi also noted that the Cinema Tropical Award for her debut feature documentary The Lifeguard was the first prize she ever received.
