Written, directed, and edited by Marlon Rubio Smith, "I'm New" is a short film about a Hispanic immigrant's first day of school in America, struggling with a language barrier and a hostile environment. The film is based on Smith's experience as an ESL student after immigrating to the U.S. in eighth grade. Among its many accolades, "I'm New" was a semifinalist in the ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest film competition in 2023 Best Tejano Fiction Short at the FDCLA Norte Film Festival, Best Student Film at the Hispanic Film Festival, and more. The film features Sara Michelle Rubio, Dani Trish D. Powell, Sameer Garach, and Harry J Baines.
Cast: Sara Michelle Rubio, Trish Powell, Hannah Olsen, Christopher Jimenez, Harry Baines, Ciro Saravia, Sameer Garach, Chad Mundo, Xavier Ingram
Producers: Gabriela Delgado and Athená Polymenis
Writer/Director: Marlon Rubio Smith
1st AD: Athená Polymenis
2nd AD: Shaye Wattson
Script Supervisor: Miguel Araiza
Casting Director: Marlon Rubio Smith
Director of Photography: Garrett Zartman
1st AC: Sofia Leal
BTS Photographer: Brandy Frausto
BTS Videographer: Nicole Ayen
Production Design: Catarina Flores
Art Director: Fernanda Loeza Gonzalez
Wardrobe Supervisor: Ximena Sifuentes Chavez
Chief Lighting Technician: Lou Bertram
Sound Mixer: Marco Calzada
Boom Operator: Sofia Reyes
Editor: Marlon Rubio Smith
Colorist: Garrett Zartman
Composer: Noah Salem