Born and raised in Mexico City, María Fernanda Ramos-Francia Ylizaliturri is a filmmaker, George Lucas Scholar, and MFA Candidate at USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program. Prior to pursuing her MFA, María Fernanda completed her undergraduate studies at Syracuse University where she majored in Political Science & Television, Radio and Film. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a film producer/director, working in Visual Effects and Production before she began her MFA. Through her work, María Fernanda aspires to champion Latina stories, and support female filmmakers behind and in front of the camera.