TOYAH

Listen to the people of Toyah, echoes of a challenging present in the Chihuahuan desert.

  • Marcelo De Stefano
    DIRECTOR
  • Tori Gene McCarthy
    CINEMATOGRAPHY
  • Daniel Restrepo
    MUSIC
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Historical, Texas, Jazz, Southwest, Desert
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 16, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    9:16
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Texas at Austin
  • VERTIFILMS 2021
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    December 1, 2021
    European Premiere
    Audience Award
  • SXSW 2022
    Austin
    United States
    March 13, 2022
    Texas Premiere
    Longhorn Denius Film Showcase
  • Linea D'Ombra 2022
    Salerno, Campania
    Italy
    October 22, 2022
    Official Selection
Director Biography

Marcelo De Stefano is a film director & cinematographer from Coahuila, Mexico currently residing in Austin, Texas. With a Bachelor in Science at Radio, Television & Film from the University of Texas at Austin, Marcelo's work demonstrates a range in commercial advertisement, music video production and documentary filmmaking. Winner of the Audience Award at VERTIFILMS 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic for his documentary film TOYAH and Published at Rolling Stones magazine for his double collaboration with acclaimed Colombian Jazz/Rock group FatsO. Marcelo has premiered at SXSW and drawn nominations from the juries at Buenos Aires International Film Festival, Austin Music Video Festival and Bogota Music Video Festival for "When They Fall" & "One by One".

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Director Statement

Viewed through a modern gaze (9:16 aspect-ratio) and accompanied by a hypnotic jazz track, the people of Toyah, Texas, air their concerns about small-town life in the endangered and diverse Chihuahuan desert.