Long Biography

C. Jewel Garcia is an emerging Latinx screenwriter, director, filmmaker, and entrepreneur who founded the independent film production company, Aguantar. Jewel is a life-long resident of the Chicagoland area and a student in Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Leadership for Creative Enterprises with a current GPA of 3.957. Jewel holds a Master of Science in Communication from Northwestern University with a graduating GPA of 4.0. Jewel also holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Creative Writing and Digital Media and with a minor in Mathematics from Valparaiso University, where Jewel graduated Cum Laude and was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, and Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society.

Jewel's passion for film comes from a father and family that emphasize the importance of storytelling and the arts. With the belief that great storytelling transcends genre, Jewel has been influenced by artists including Gabriel García Márquez, Stan Lee, Bertolt Brecht, and Agnès Varda. The common thread that ties together Jewel’s influences is their emphasis on character. As a director, Jewel is interested in exploring how to push the boundaries of film by telling stories that can only be told through film.

With the mindset of aguantar (the Spanish word meaning to endure, withstand, and persevere), Jewel strives to make a name in the independent film industry while representing marginalized voices in an effort to uplift and empower.