Mykel Salazar

Mykel Salazar Mykel, a queer Indigenous and Spanish filmmaker from the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University in 2012 and later attended Washington University School of Law. When her father was diagnosed with terminal leukemia, she returned home to care for her family. Following his suggestion, she explored acting but discovered her true passion lay behind the camera. In 2016, she began her career as a production assistant and joined the Directors Guild of America as a 1st assistant director in 2020. In February 2020, Mykel was recognized as a “Rising Star” by the New Mexico Film and Television Hall of Fame. She has directed five short films and has won 15 awards at international festivals, including Best Female Director and Best Cause-Driven Film. Among her notable projects, “Notch” (2024) is a thriller about a woman’s dark journey after accepting a ride from a stranger, while the “Untitled MMIW doc” (2024), created in collaboration with AMC’s Dark Winds, addresses the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. “The Woods are Lovely, Dark and Deep” (2023) is a psychological thriller currently making waves on the festival circuit, and “Dear Judith” (2023) is an award-winning short about love, loyalty and betrayal between two women. “Quiet on Set” (2021) is another powerful, award-winning short inspired by Mykel’s experience of an attempted sexual assault. A passionate advocate for social change, Mykel supports the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement, Native American sovereignty, human rights, and equality. As a lesbian woman of color, she strives to be a voice for marginalized communities and filmmakers. Living in New Mexico with her wife, Lena, Mykel enjoys woodworking, experimenting with antique film cameras, and caring for their five goats.