I Will Not Return
An immigrant from El Salvador tries to make it in New York until one small decision changes his whole life.
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Scott MenaDirector
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Kimberly MenaCo-Director
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Scott MenaWriter
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Scott MenaProducer
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Scott MenaKey Cast
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Steven JewettCast
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Melvin VazquezCast
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Kate MaloyCast
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Lindsay BrillCast
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Katherine JimenezCast
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Hector HortaCast
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Katherine RiveraCast
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Denise MenaCast
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Moises BeltreCast
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Risa YacapinCast
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Carlos AgrontCast
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Mariel MatthewsCast
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Diosfer ReyesCast
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Tanya BradleyCast
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Mirna L. MonteroCast
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David Martin StevensCast
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Frank CabelloCast
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Kimberly MenaCast
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Project Title (Original Language):No Vuelvo
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Genres:Drama, Spanish
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Runtime:20 minutes 20 seconds
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Completion Date:September 1, 2017
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Production Budget:230 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English, Spanish
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:2.0:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Flagler Film FestivalPalm Coast
United States
January 14, 2018
North American Premiere
(Winner) 2018 Best Indie Auteur, (Winner) 2018 Audience Choice Anything Goes - Dark, (Nominated) Best Director Short Drama, -
Premios LatinoMarbella
Spain
September 15, 2018
European Premiere
(Winner) Best Direction for a Short Film -
Indie & Foreign Film FestivalNew York
United States
October 19, 2019
New York Premiere
Best Director Narrative Short
Born in Sleepy Hollow, NY, Scott caught the directing bug at age 12 making a short film called The Forbidden. Including directing, he also performs for short films, television, commercials, and theater. Recently he’s been seen on stage as James Keller in The Miracle Worker His other theater credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom), All in the Timing (Phillip Glass), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Peter/Edmond/Mr. Tumnus/Aslan), Dracula: A Tale Told by Mina Harker (Dracula/Renfield), Arsenic and Old Lace (Dr. Einstein), The Hobbit (Gollum), Clue:The Muscial (Mrs. White), and many more. Film and TV: Never Back Down, Beethoven’s Big Break, Final Destination 4, Misread, Grace, Band Together, Too Late, Los, Monster Gorilla, Nyoka and the Lost Amulet of Vultura, World War F, Free Parking, The Watchtower, “The Glades” (A&E), "Graceland" (USA). He has directed Rest In Peace that was an official selection for the Flint Film Festival and Scene First Student Film Festival. Recently Scott's film 12:36 won the Audience Award for Best Horror and Talking to Myself won Best Light Short film at the Flagler Film Festival.
The birth of NO VUELVO occurred when the travel ban was enforced, immigration was a hot topic, and I was struggling to make it in NYC. For a time, I felt like every audition was about someone's story on immigration. I slowly realized that I had one too. But it wasn't all really my story, but the story of my father's struggle when he moved to the states from El Salvador and trying to build a better life for himself. I heard stories of his hardships those first few years working at a car wash. I felt a connection with it and a story began to form. I integrated my personal struggles in the city with my father's and created the character of Roberto Angeles. Although most of the events that occur didn't really happen to my father and I, most of the emotions and loss did.
I also wanted to show symbolism that hints the matter that was being faced with immigrants. I felt that the American Flag creates a symbol of hope during a troubled time. Also to make the audience see it in a different way through the eyes of an immigrant trying to change their life for the better.
Another big theme is about choice. Could one small choice really make a drastic change in our life? Hopefully the point will come across and audiences will see that every choice we make whether we're an immigrant or not, can change our life for the best or for the worst.
Scott Mena (Writer and Director)