Q&A with SCREENWRITER Alycya Magaña, Writer of El Vals (The Waltz)
Project artwork submitted by the screenwriter.
Tell us about the moment this screenplay began for you.
I never had a quinceañera because my parents could not afford one in the US, so I always had that idea in the back of my mind of writing something related to that void left from slowly drifting away from cultural traditions when moving and assimilating to a new country.
What character or idea unlocked the screenplay for you?
The character that unlocked the screenplay for me was Danny and how his innocence of seeing his sister happy becomes his mission, so he finds any way possible to give her the quince she's always dreamed of.
Why did this story feel important for you to tell now?
This story felt important to write now, more than ever, because of the challenges and obstacles that our community is facing in order to live a better life for their family.
What was the biggest creative challenge or risk you took?
The biggest creative risk I took was tying in the idea of a beautiful cultural tradition with the ugliness we are facing when immigrating to a new country. It was a bit challenging to mix both and still give our characters and audience hope and faith at the end.
What kept you writing and wanting to finish the screenplay?
What kept me writing and wanting to finish this screenplay is to show how families, and in this case siblings, fight and persevere given the challenges of immigrating to the US and trying to build a better life while maintaining our roots.
What surprised you most while writing?
Danny surprised me the most when writing because of his tenacity in doing anything possible, even something bad, to give his sister a touch of happiness. Which is something most of us would do in fighting for our family's happiness.
What do you hope audiences take away?
I hope that audiences are touched by Danny and Gabby's story and are inclined to have a part in supporting our community with the current political climate.
What does “Make Time for Your Dreams” mean to you?
I've realized that not making time for your dreams can lead you to a feeling of not feeling complete, even if you are living a financially comfortable life. It's important to take even just 10–15 minutes a day, if that's all you have, to write, create, and take steps towards your dreams. Those baby steps add up and before you know you have a complete script rather than not taking any action at all and having nothing to show.
What are you working on next?
I am developing a horror short on the objectification of women when they hit puberty.
What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
Write what you know, as these tend to be the scripts that audiences relate to the most.
What storytelling did you love this year?
Obsession and Backrooms.
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The 19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival returns October 7–11, 2026, bringing filmmakers and audiences together for five days of independent film, conversation, and community across Brooklyn.
Texas-based Chicana filmmaker Alycya Magaña drew El Vals (The Waltz) from a personal absence: her family could not afford a quinceañera after moving to the United States. Her short screenplay follows eight-year-old Danny, who is determined to give his older sister Gaby the celebration she has dreamed of after their parents are deported. Blending family, cultural tradition, migration, and hope, the story reflects Magaña's broader interest in narratives shaped by identity, social expectations, and cultural heritage.
