Leticia Akel Escárate is a Chilean screenwriter and director. She holds an M.F.A. in Film from Columbia University in New York. Leticia has written or directed projects in Chile, Iceland, Pakistan and the United States. She has also held academic positions at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Columbia University. Her short films have been selected and awarded at numerous international festivals, including Palm Springs ShortFest, Aspen ShortsFest, Seattle International Film Festival and Cinélatino Rencontres de Toulouse. Her latest short film, Premonición, received the Cacho Pallero Award at the Huesca International Film Festival, along with four special mentions in other competitions. Leticia is currently developing her first feature film, Huerta, and co-writing Malpelo, a feature film financed by the Sloan Foundation and supported by organizations such as Sundance Institute, Film Independent and Cine Qua Non Lab.

Huerta — Silvia returns to her family’s barren field in the countryside. Frustrated with her infertility, she becomes obsessed with reviving the strawberry orchard her deceased parents used to have, awakening deceased relatives and dark secrets in the process.