Work samples
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The Bel Loc Diner TrailerThis is a black & white, cinema verite piece showing the Bel Loc Diner in all of its glory. It is an impressionionistic depiction of daily life. It premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in LA and the Anthology Film Archives in NYC. It has screened nationally and internationally. It was awarded Best Cinematography for Short Doc with Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid & the Silver State Film Festival. In March 2022, it was nominated for Best Short Doc with the Swedish Int'l Film Festival.
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Jaime & the Tamales - Trailer
This is a 16 mm, black & white, cinema verite film depicting Jaime selling his tamales on a sunny day in Baltimore. It premiered in LA with the Silicon Beach Film Festival in April 2018 where it won Best Cinematography for Short Doc and in NY at the Anthology Film Archives. It has screened nationally and internationally. It made its world premiere with the L'Age d'Or Int'l Arthouse Film Festival in Kolkata, India where it won Best Women's Film. In 2022, it won Best Short Documentary with the New Jersey Film Awards and screened in Lisbon with the Lisbon Film Rendevous. It has screened with the Silver State Film Festival, Experiments in Cinema, and the Fisura Int'l Experimental Film & Video Festival in Mexico City and continues to circulate. In 2023, it screened with the Caravan Int'l Film Fest & the Other Venice Film Festival in Venice Beach, CA
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Porkchop & the 28th St North Carolina Watermelons - Trailer
This is a 16 mm, black & white, cinema verite piece showing Porkchop selling his watermelons on a hot summer day in Baltimore. It premiered in LA September 2018 with the Golden State Film Festival and in NY with the Bushwick Film Festival in October 2017. It won the Audience Award for Short Documentary with Silicon Beach Miami Film Festival and the Special Jury Award with the Southern Colorado Film Festival. It has also screened with the Short to the Point Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania, Experiments in Cinema, and Los Angeles Cinefest. A 1 min clip appeared on the LED Billboard with Artscape in 2015. in 2023, Porkchop continued to circulate and screened with the Caravan Int'l Film Festival.
About Raissa
Raissa Contreras is an artist, filmmaker, and educator in Baltimore City. She has an MA in Film & Video from MICA and an MFA in Painting from the University of New Mexico. Her teaching and work are inter or multi-disciplinary and she has exhibited nationally and internationally. She was a 2019 recipient of a Maryland State Arts Grant for Media Arts.
Five of her films have premiered in LA since 2018 and have won numerous awards. Her most recent film, Fells Point… more
Fells Point
This is a black and white cinema verite portrait of Fells Point shot with a Bolex. It premiered at the Marina del Rey Film Festival in LA in June 2023. It has since screened nationally and internationally including with the Super 8 Film Festival in Highland Japan. It already has screenings lined up for 2024 including with Experiments in Cinema in New Mexico.
The Bel Loc Diner
This is a 16 mm black & white, cinema verite piece showing the Bel Loc Diner in all of its glory. It is an impressionionistic depiction of daily life. It premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in LA and the Anthology Film Archives in NYC. It was awarded Best Cinematography for Short Doc with FICIMAD and the Silver State Film Festival in Las Vegas. In March 2022, it was nominated for Best Short Doc with the Swedish Int'l Film Festival. In 2020, it screened with the Hell's Kitchen NYC Fest at the Producer's Club, the Reykjavik Int'l Film Festival and with the Miami Int'l Film Festival.
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The Bel Loc Diner TrailerThis is a black & white, cinema verite piece showing the Bel Loc Diner in all of its glory. It is an impressionionistic depiction of daily life. It premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in LA and the Anthology Film Archives in NYC. It has screened nationally and internationally. It was awarded Best Cinematography for Short Doc with Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid & the Silver State Film Festival. In March 2022, it was nominated for Best Short Doc with the Swedish Int'l Film Festival.
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The Bel Loc Diner Official PosterThis is the most recent film poster.
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Film StillA film still
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Film StillThis still exhibited at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art in June 2019.
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Film Stilla film still
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Film Stilla closing film still
Jaime & the Tamales
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Jaime & the Tamales - TrailerThis is a 16 mm, black & white, cinema verite film depicting Jaime selling his tamales on a sunny day in Baltimore. It premiered in LA with the Silicon Beach Film Festival in April 2018 where it won Best Cinematography for Short Doc and in NY at the Anthology Film Archives. It has screened nationally and internationally. It made its world premiere with the L'Age d'Or Int'l Arthouse Film Festival in Kolkata, India where it won Best Women's Film. In 2022, it won Best Short Documentary with the New Jersey Film Awards and screened in Lisbon with the Lisbon Film Rendevous. In It has also screened with the Silver State Film Festival, Experiments in Cinema, and the Fisura Int'l Experimental Film & Video Festival in Mexico City.
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Film StillFilm Still
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Film Still
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Jaime & the Tamales Posterfilm poster
Porkchop & the 28th St North Carolina Watermelons
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Porkchop & the 28th St North Carolina Watermelons - TrailerThis is a 16 mm, black & white, cinema verite piece showing Porkchop selling his watermelons on a hot summer day in Baltimore. It premiered in LA September 2018 with the Golden State Film Festival and in NY with the Bushwick Film Festival in October 2017. It won the Audience Award for Short Documentary with Silicon Beach Miami Film Festival and the Special Jury Award with the Southern Colorado Film Festival. It has also screened with the Short to the Point Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania, Experiments in Cinema, and Los Angeles Cinefest. A 1 min clip appeared on the LED Billboard with Artscape in 2015.
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Film StillFilm Still
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Film StillFilm Still
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Film StillFilm Still
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Porkchop Posterfilm poster
Street Photography
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Dancers from EquadorTraditional dancers from Ecuador at the annual Christmas parade in Hampden - 2022
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The Boys in the BandMarching band at the Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade - Hampden 2022
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FrostyFrosty floats over the Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade in Hampden - 2022
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Circus RingmasterDigital Photo - 2015 - Exhibited with LACDA
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Coney Island SundayDigital Photo - 2015 - Exhibited with LACDA
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Venice Beach SundayDigital Photo - 2015 - Exhibited with LACDA
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Halloween HampdenDigital Photo - 2014
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Halloween HampdenDigital Photo - 2014
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Showgirls MangosDigital Photo - 2013 - Exhibited with LACDA & Mobile Photography Awards
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Union Square MarketDigital Photo - 2016
Christmas Retrospective 2018
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Installation ShotThe Visitation (left) & The Assumption (right)
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Installation ShotThe Assumption (left) & Putto (right)
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Installation ShotPutto & Chicken in a Tussle
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Installation ShotPutto & Chicken in a Tussle (on wall) & Reconcilation (in reflection)
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Installation ShotReconciliation
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Installation ShotThe Visitation
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Installation ShotPutto
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Installation ShotStudies for Visitation
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Original Installation - San Ysidro Church, Corrales, NMChurch with The Assumption
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Original Altar - Installation ShotPutto - The Assumption - Putto & Chicken in a Tussle
A Great Day in Charm City
Sketchbook Project
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Chicken & Starry Night - Chinese PagodaInk Wash & Pencil on Paper - 4" X 6"
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Chicken Starry NightInk Wash & Pencil on Paper - 8" x 12"
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Bunny in a Field of DandelionsInk Wash & Pencil on Paper - 4" x 6"
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Chicken in a Cherry Blossom TreeInk Wash & Pencil on Paper - 4" x 6"
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Chicken & FishesInk Wash & Pencil on Paper - 4" x 6"
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Chicken & Fishes 2Ink Wash & Pencil on Paper - 4" x 6"
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FishesInk Wash & Pencil on Paper - 4" x 6"
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Elephant & FriendsGraphite on Paper - 4" x 6"
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Elephant & FriendGraphite on Paper - 4" x 6"
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Chicken at Charles TheaterGraphite on Paper - 4" x 6"
Spring Roll - Animation Stills
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Animation Still 1Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 2Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 3Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 4Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 5Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 6Graphite & Wash
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Animation 7Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 8Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 9Graphite & Wash
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Animation Still 10Graphite & Wash