María Mondragón is an award-winning Mexican writer-director whose work explores the emotional complexity of female characters navigating the tension between personal identity and cultural expectation.

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She holds an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI), Class of 2026 — one of the most selective film programs in the world — where she was a recipient of the Richard Frank Scholarship. At AFI, she directed three narrative short films and wrote and directed her thesis film, Sabes Que Te Quiero.

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Her short film Atrapadas (2023) won Best Short Film at the Soria International Film Festival (Spain) and Best Performance at Endimaris Sitges (Spain) — both jury awards — and screened at festivals across four continents, including OutFest Perú, Show Me Shorts (New Zealand), and Shorts Mexico. Her previous short ANA (2020) earned 12 festival selections in Mexico and the United States, including NewFilmmakers Los Angeles and Rainbow Cinema Awards (New York).

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Prior to AFI, she spent three years as Creative Director at Lucid Films (Mexico City), leading productions for brands including Disney Mexico and BBVA, and directing four television commercials. She has also served as an executive assistant at Lion Heart Films in Los Angeles, deepening her understanding of the U.S. development and production landscape.

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She is currently in active development on her first Spanish-language feature film, pursuing funding in Mexico, with a target production date of late 2027.