Experiencing Interruptions?

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. His short film TOYAH received its North American premiere in Austin, Texas at SXSW 2022 as part of the Longhorn Denius Showcase. It won the Audience Award at VERTIFILMS 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic and was nominated for best short film at LINEA D'OMBRA Festival 2022 in Salerno, Italy. His films have played at various other festivals worldwide including Maine Outdoor Film Festival 2023, Buenos Aires International Film Festival 2021, Austin Music Video Fest 2021 & Bogota Music Video Fest 2021.
Most recently, he was chosen by filmmaker Richard Linklater to be recipient of the 2022 TEXAS WATER FOUNDATION Award for Best Documentary in recognition of his short film - VALLE.

Marcelo received a Bachelor in Science at Radio, Television & Film from the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently developing his next short documentary film and a feature length script both to be filmed in the desert of northern Mexico

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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.