Our next finalist for Cine | Seen 2025 is Alexander Ibarra.

@alexandheribarra was raised in Klamath Falls, southern Oregon, as the youngest of three children of Mexican immigrants. From an early age he was captivated by cinema - both in English and Spanish.

In 2020, he earned a B.A. in Film & Video with a Spanish minor from Pacific University. His student work focused on underrepresented stories, especially those featuring Latino characters. His thesis film and directorial debut, Beach Noise, screened at the 2022 Gateway Film Festival in Forest Grove, Oregon.

After graduation, Alexander moved to Portland, working freelance as an editor, cinematographer, and production assistant. He has collaborated regularly with Portland production houses like ZP Productions and Watchanos Films, primarily editing commercial and documentary projects. His credits also include work for Paramount Pictures, Food Network, and PBS. While he wears many hats during production, screenwriting remains his central passion.

His films draw heavily on his experience growing up Chicano in the U.S., exploring identity alongside broader social issues.

He makes a point of using underrepresented characters in lead roles and assembling diverse creative teams, striving always to portray people as full humans, not stereotypes.

Barrio
Director: Alex Ibarra
Logline: "In the heart of Portland’s shifting landscape, a recent graduate confronts the enigma of her future while working as a cashier at her aunt’s beloved Mexican bakery. As the scent of tradition intertwines with the winds of transformation, our protagonist and her aunt grapple with the imminent closure and and bittersweet farewell of their bakery amidst neighborhood gentrification."

Ian Franco is a filmmaker and creative producer born in Simi Valley, CA, where he grew up filming backyard epics with neighborhood friends before turning that childhood obsession into a full-fledged career. After earning a BFA in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy, he is currently pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Southern California.

Ian has worn many different hats on productions across Los Angeles, Austin, and Portland. His work has garnered recognition, including the Best Cinematography award for Last Word at the 2024 48 Hour Film Project in Portland, Oregon. Ian’s filmography includes titles such as Self (2022), An Unexpected Performance (2018), and The Horse (2019), showcasing his versatility in directing, writing, and producing. He continues to develop new projects under his production company, What If Films.

Deceiver
Director: Ian Franco
Logline: “ While out celebrating her birthday with her sister and friends, Terry is brought face to face with a violent force that shows her who she really is.”

We're highlighting three Cine|Seen Finalists today.

The first is Nsayi Matingou. Half Sicilian-Italian American and half Congolese (Brazzaville), Nsayi grew up in Portland’s underground music scene performing and touring in bands Kusikia and The Ghost Ease from 2006 - 2016. Through their experiences in the Portland music scene and touring the country, Nsayi came into increasing awareness of the complexity and nuance of race and identity in America. And so too, they became increasingly hungry for more complex and nuanced representation of identity in media.

Speak Your Truth
Director: Nsayi Matingou
Logline: Portlanders explore their understanding and experience of race in this intimate short.