Chelo, a veteran journalist with an impressive portfolio, has spent nearly two decades of her illustrious career delving into the dark realities of sexual exploitation and trafficking, driven by an unwavering passion for uncovering the truth.
Hailing from Spain, her professional journey began in Japan where she worked for NHK Enterprises, producing a plethora of documentaries that showcased her exceptional storytelling skills.
Subsequently, she took on the esteemed role of Tokyo's and later Los Angeles' correspondent for Spain's esteemed El Mundo daily newspaper, further solidifying her reputation as a tenacious and astute journalist.
In the year 1995, Chelo embarked on a life-altering journey, relocating to the sun-kissed state of California, where she devoted herself to tackling the pressing issue of child trafficking with unwavering dedication and intensity.
It was in the year 2002 that Canal+ Spain, a renowned television network, transformed Chelo's groundbreaking reportage on child trafficking in the Himalayas into a powerful and thought-provoking documentary film, aptly titled Tin Girls.
This milestone marked the beginning of a remarkable and prolific period in Chelo's illustrious career, during which she went on to produce and direct a plethora of critically acclaimed short documentaries.
Some of her most notable works from this period include Sold in America: A Modern-Day Tale of Sex Slavery, a haunting and poignant exploration of the dark underworld of sex trafficking in the United States.
Additionally, Chelo also produced and directed Through The Wall, a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking short documentary that sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles faced by families separated by the US/Mexico border, a poignant reminder of the complex and deeply human issues that continue to plague our world.
Chelo's most recent project, Sands of Silence: Waves of Courage, is a feature-length documentary that has received widespread critical acclaim, earning a plethora of prestigious awards and accolades. Among its numerous accolades, the film took home the First Prize and Biznaga de Plata for Asserting Women's Rights at the esteemed Malaga Film Festival. Additionally, the documentary won the Southern California Best Documentary Feature award presented by the L.A. Press Club, TheWIFTS Best Documentary Humanitarian Award, and a string of Best Documentary and Audience awards from prominent film festivals across the globe, including Malibu, Los Angeles, Guayaquil, and Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, Sands of Silence: Waves of Courage was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Imagen Awards, and received the "Fada" (fairy) Cultural Award, second prize in Barcelona.
Chelo is actively engaged in the development of two innovative projects that aim to create a significant positive impact on society. One of these projects is "SOS_SLAVES", a video game that has been designed to raise awareness about the pressing issue of sexual exploitation and trafficking. This groundbreaking game is poised to educate and engage players in a unique and captivating way, ultimately inspiring them to take action and make a difference.
