NYWIFT Blog

By Farah Qureshi

Welcome to NYWIFT, Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero!

Belén is a Spanish-American documentary filmmaker making her directorial debut with Entre Las Paredes (Within the Walls), an intimate, feature-length project in development that follows her Abuela’s final days.

Born and raised in New York City in a bilingual household, Belén brings a deeply personal lens to her work, believing that some of the most powerful stories live within our own families.

Alongside her own projects, Belén works as an assistant director across narrative and commercial productions, where her focus, adaptability, and collaborative spirit help keep sets running smoothly. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, she continues to grow her craft through diverse filmmaking experiences, driven by a dedication to emotionally resonant, visually compelling storytelling.

In our interview, Belén reflects on documenting her family’s history, navigating grief and memory through film, and the projects she’s most excited to explore next.

NYWIFT Member Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero

Welcome to NYWIFT! Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?

Hello, my name is Belén Vilarrasa Corriero! I am an independent documentary filmmaker drawn to exploring the complexities within one’s own family. I believe some of the most powerful narratives emerge from our personal histories and upbringings.

I began my career as an assistant director and developed a deep appreciation for the controlled chaos of working on set. At the same time, I have always been drawn to a more intimate approach to filmmaking, inspired by Chilean documentarian Maite Alberdi, whose films The Mole Agent and The Eternal Memory deeply resonate with the kind of stories I hope to tell.

What brought you to NYWIFT?

Being born and raised in New York City, surrounded by the art world and fellow female creatives, I knew NYWIFT would feel like home. The chance to meet women from different backgrounds and generations, all connected by a shared love for documenting the world in one way or another, genuinely excites me for what’s ahead in my career and for the relationships I hope to build along the way.

What initially drew you to filmmaking, and when did you realize that telling personal, family-rooted stories was the path you wanted to pursue?

I was raised by two artists—my father a sculptor and my mother a painter. From the beginning, I was surrounded by art and its influence on everyday life. My father always told me, if you are going to be any artist, your biggest tool is your curiosity.

As I began exploring film, I found my way into first assistant directing, which gave me invaluable experience on set. But still, I found myself drawn to stories rooted in real life, beyond constructed scripts and controlled sets. I wanted to explore the everyday, the small gestures and moments that carry real-time emotion.

A major influence for me was the documentary Fire of Love, which tells the story of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft through archival footage in a deeply intimate way. Its naturalistic, observational style, allowing curiosity to guide the camera, opened my eyes to the power of documenting real lives with presence.

It was not until I was completing my BFA in Film Directing at the School of Visual Arts that I felt drawn to the quiet life my Abuela was living in Madrid, Spain. Speaking with her almost daily, she would often express that her life now felt like waiting until the day God decided to take her. It was not depression, but an acceptance that her time was nearing its end. That realization opened my eyes to the strange and tender space of being near the end of life and looking back on everything that brought you to now. Filmmaking became a way to sit with her, to listen, to document, and to be curious.

Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero and her Abuela in Entre Las Paredes

Your short documentary Entre Las Paredes centers on your relationship with your grandmother. What inspired you to turn your camera inward and explore your own family’s story?

My Abuela and I were very different. She came from the Silent Generation, shaped by the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, when people learned to carry hardship quietly and keep pain behind closed doors. I was raised in New York City in a multicultural environment that encouraged curiosity and speaking openly. I often challenged my Abuela, asking her to dig deeper into our family history and the lives of those I never had the chance to meet.

Those differences unexpectedly brought us closer. We shared a deeply honest relationship. Living in New York while my Abuela remained in Madrid, I became increasingly aware of her loneliness. When I noticed how quickly she was aging, I felt a strong pull to be present. My Abuela was notorious for hating to be photographed, yet when I suggested documenting our family’s story, she opened herself up. She understood how important it was for me to ask these questions, and the process also gave her company during what we did not yet know would be her final months.

The responsibility of remembering inspired my Abuela and me to explore our family’s story. Now that she has passed, the duty falls to me, shaping the way I tell personally rooted stories, to continue the legacy and, most importantly, not to forget her or those that came before me.

Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero and her Abuela in Entre Las Paredes

Why do you think personal stories rooted in heritage, memory, and humanity resonate so deeply on a universal level?

My family’s story is about love and loss, an experience that connects us all regardless of where we come from. Documenting my Abuela allowed her to share our family history with honesty, all of it held within the walls of her home. The space carried her memories, her grief, and her resilience, becoming a witness to both the best and worst moments of her life.

While the story is deeply personal, it reflects something every family endures. I now carry the pain of her passing, but I also carry this film as a reminder of her strength and of how our homes, like our families, hold memory and pass it forward through generations.

Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero in Entre Las Paredes

Looking ahead, what kinds of projects or stories are you most excited to explore next in your filmmaking journey?

I am excited to announce the development of Entre Las Paredes, the feature-length documentary, which expands on the conversations between my Abuela and me that were condensed in the 24-minute short, while also exploring the aftermath of her passing.

In addition, I aim to explore political documentaries, examining the current state of immigration and the internal harm in families of those wrongfully affected by the current administration. As the daughter of an immigrant, I hope to be part of a movement that protects and encourages people from different countries to stand together and fight.

Alongside my directing work, I continue to pursue my career as an assistant director, with the goal of becoming a DGA Assistant Director.

Learn more about Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero’s work on Instagram at @belenvilarrasa.

(All images courtesy of Belén Vilarrasa-Corriero)