B I O G R A P H Y

Originally from Ecuador, Veronica "Vero" Shamo-Garcia came to the United States to follow her dream of becoming a filmmaker. In 2001, She graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of La Verne. While attending La Verne, Vero directed "El Momento de Amar," a one hour Spanish Novela (soap opera), winner of the 2002 Hometown Video Festival Award and the 2002 Western Access Video Excellence Award. She also won an award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for multi-camera directing, that resulted in a summer internship at CBS's The Young and the Restless.

Vero is now an MFA candidate at the University of Southern California. She is a filmmaker devoted to films that deal with social issues and bring awareness to problems that are not being given sufficient attention. Since attending USC, Vero has directed various shorts including her award wining "De las Calles" that lead her to obtain the Director's Guild of America Honorable Mention for Latino Student Filmmaker. "De las Calles" has also won: "Directors' Favorite" at the DC Shorts Film Festival, "Honorable Mention" for best short film at the Westwood International Film Festival, "Official Selection" St. John's Women International Film Festival, "Official Selection" Starz Denver International Film Festival, and it is schcedule to screen at the Cleveland International Film Festival and the Sacramento International Film Festival. Vero is currently in pre-production of her thesis about the inhumane recruiting and training of children for combat.