Award winning Filmmaker Lisa Cole: Impact of Immigration on children and family

Lisa Cole is a creative activist, writer, producer, and director, who amplifies diverse underrepresented voices and exposes social injustices. Having lived with 201 host families across 12 countries in just three years, Cole’s diverse background fuels her storytelling.

“I believe everyone has a story and deserves to be seen. But, when society is driven by fear, people are often relegated to stereotypes. When one takes the time to see beyond labels, complex human beings come into focus and a kinder world emerges,” said Cole.

The lecture event for DEI events, Panel Discussions, Film, Women making an impact:

Film screening- Award winning short film “Bienvenidos a Los Angeles”- inspired by a true story. Written and directed by Lisa Cole, the film aims to open hearts and minds by putting a face of humanity on the complicated issue of immigration.  

Discussion with film maker. 

Add on – representative from the Not for Profit: Refugee Children Center

Winner: Diversity in Cannes- Short film Showcase the film

Bienvenidos a Los Angeles tells the story of Imani, a 24-year-old Nigerian single mother living and working in Los Angeles who gets the devastating news that the Muslim ban has jeopardized her green card application and she must leave the country. On her shared-ride home, she meets Elizabeth, an undocumented Mexican woman on her way to LAX to reunite with her 6-year-old son whom she hasn’t seen since she left him behind five years ago in search of a better future for her family. Reeling from the total loss of control in her own life, Imani offers to help Elizabeth, not realizing that this simple act of kindness carries immense risk. 

Among the many accolades Bienvenidos a Los Angeles has received, the film recently won the 2023 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, the independent film movement promoting inclusion at the Festival de Cannes. Presented by Diversity in Cannes founder, Yolonda Brinkley, with support from Julius Tennon and Academy Award Winner Viola Davis’ JuVee Productions, the showcase featured uniquely themed films from America, Asia, New Zealand, Nigeria and points in between.