I share what I know: I am part of the whole means that I choose to share my knowledge and perspective with younger generations. This is currently my role in the circle of life… And then I become whole. I teach videomaking skills and voice lead wellness practice in order to help people be aware of disability.
My name is Gisela Sanders Alcántara. I am a Mexican storyteller, a NYC resident, a mother, a wife, a TV producer, an educator, a disability activist, and have a history as a performer: a dancer and an actor.
I have over three decades of experience in film and TV production, and have held various roles in the industry, working as a producer, director, videographer, and editor in both Mexico and New York City. In México, I worked with institutions such as UTE, ILCE, Canal Once, TV UNAM, and Filmoteca de la UNAM. My professional journey has also included work in New York City, first at WNYC, and then, for over twenty years, at CUNY TV, where I brought to life the iconic series Nueva York and its spinoff, I Am a Dreamer. As of October of 2023, I have won 13 NY-Emmy Awards for my work as a TV storyteller.
My work has received international recognition, with my films having been showcased at international film festivals worldwide, including: The Guadalajara Film Festival, The Morelia Film Festival, The Los Angeles Film Festival, DocsMX, The Havana Film Festival-New York, L’Alternativa, and The “Contra el Silencio Todas las Voces”. Additionally, my films have been featured at prominent cultural institutions such as El Museo del Barrio, MoMA, and The Guggenheim.
My commitment to education has led me to share my knowledge and expertise with a wide range of generations: from elementary school to college-level students, and teenagers/young adults at community organizations. I have mentored production teams and taught film and TV production at Make the Road New York, CUNY’s Lehman College in the Bronx, and BRIC in Brooklyn.
Most lately I’ve been sharing a voice lead meditation practice that has brought balance into my life, it is called Voz Esencial (Essential Voice). Practicing it individually or in a group is compelling, both in person and in remote form, it invites to sensing the vibrational nature of the world. This meditation practice has allowed me to develop an intuitive relationship with my own voice, thanks to my teacher Virginia Gascon who showed me its potential.
Disability entered my life when I became a mother, and it enhanced my awareness of my own neurodivergence and that of my family. Since then, I have been interested in creating awareness of disability. With that in mind I am passionate about exploring the power of storytelling and its healing capabilities. In the highly-medicalized world of disability, I believe in a different type of healing, one that includes you, me, us, and the Earth. Embracing neurodivergence is not at odds with wellness.
To that end I use storytelling, meditation, and performance as part of the healing process I promote. My goal is to embrace it all. I am a creative thinker who loves to facilitate teamwork and engage in narratives that can connect with the human spirit.