Todo con Cariño
(Everything with affection)
Cariño FilmWorks began in the summer of 2021 as Dos Muchachos FilmWorks, when Salvador Salazar decided to expand upon the after-school media and performance arts classes he instructed at Pasteur Elementary School on the southwest side of Chicago.
Salazar and his childhood best friend, Andres Aurelio, with the assistance of the students in the Pasteur Elementary drama program, independently produced two short films, Cariño and Corazòn Del Niño. The latter would premiere at the Oscar-qualifying 46th Cleveland International Film Festival. Since then, they have had continued success in producing short films every summer with a growing group of elementary-aged youth. Most recently, their movie, Marias (2022), won second prize at the 40th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
Initially, with the assistance of OPEN Center for the Arts, they had been able to expand their role in bringing cinema to Chicago’s community youth. Both through the Center’s annual One Summer Chicago Program, and by creating the Cariño Festival De Cine, an opportunity for emerging filmmakers under the age of 26 across the city of Chicago to present and get their work critiqued by a panel of working professionals.
With the festival’s rapid growth, Cariño FilmWorks is proud to now partner with Yollocalli Arts Reach, the award-winning youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art, for the 2025 festival, which will be held at Yollocalli’s new Fire Station location on November 15, 2025.
Cariño continues to strive to nurture young voices through the continued production of short films with elementary-aged students and their families. Uplift community non-profits and small businesses with continued commercial collaboration, as well as by maintaining its dedication to providing participating festival filmmakers with feedback from industry veterans, professional internship opportunities with some of the city’s most renowned film organizations, and cash prizes to ensure the furtherment of their careers.
Meet the Team
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Andres Aurelio
CO-FOUNDER
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Salvador Salazar
CO-FOUNDER
