By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/6/25 – Sergio Vizuete’s Becoming Vera officially launched the inaugural Hollywood Park Film Festival on October 6th, marking a powerful beginning for a festival devoted to diversity and independent voices. Produced by the same nonprofit team behind the Silver Lake Film Festival (2000–2007) and DTLA Film Festival (2008–2024), the new Hollywood Park event has quickly positioned itself as a vital platform for bold new storytelling.
Becoming Vera follows 18-year-old piano prodigy Vera (Raquel Lebish), a foster care graduate in Miami who must navigate life, identity, and artistic survival on her own terms. In a city pulsing with rhythms both cultural and personal, Vera discovers her voice in a local recording studio, finding resilience in music even as the world around her threatens to unravel.
Critics have described the film as “quiet and reflective,” praising its emotional clarity and authenticity. With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, early responses have celebrated Lebish’s debut as “subtle, honest, and deeply affecting.”
In our pre-festival conversation, Vizuete (who both wrote and directed the film) spoke candidly about the deeply personal threads woven into Vera’s story. “It’s about a person struggling to make it in a creative business,” he told The Hollywood Times. “It also has a lot of the immigrant story in it, learning to fit in, to survive on your own. And as a foster parent myself, I always wondered what happens to kids when they turn 18 and the system no longer protects them. This film is my answer.”
That personal investment radiates through the storytelling. Vizuete edited the film himself, often finding himself moved to tears by its raw honesty. “To make the best film possible, you have to be honest,” he said. “This is me trying to be the most honest I can.”
As Vera, Raquel Lebish brings lived experience and nuance to the role. The Cuban-Puerto Rican-Filipino actress was herself at a similar crossroads in life when filming began, and her interpretation of Vera blossomed through collaboration with Vizuete. “A lot of what Vera ended up being came from her,” he explained. “It was a very personal point of view from her, and that honesty shines through.”
The supporting cast, including Gabriel Diehl, Mikaela Monet, Nicolas Pozo, Brandon Williams, and Phillip Andre Botello, rounds out a believable world in Miami’s music scene, where chemistry was carefully tested over Zoom before shooting. The leap of faith paid off, creating a grounded ensemble that supports Vera’s journey.
More than a story about music, Becoming Vera is a story about dreams. Vizuete hopes the film sparks conversation for audiences, particularly young people in foster care or marginalized communities. “Having a dream is the way out of anywhere,” he said. “If you have that determination and a dream you want to achieve, it can take you out of even the darkest places.”
This message resonates in a world where many foster children face homelessness or incarceration after aging out of the system. Vera’s path offers a counter-narrative: art and creativity as a way forward.
Festival Director Greg Ptacek underscored why Becoming Vera was the perfect choice to open the new festival. “It embodies the artistry and perspective we aim to elevate,” he said.
Vizuete agreed, calling the Los Angeles premiere a “full-circle moment” after starting his career here. “Independent festivals like Hollywood Park are absolutely key,” he emphasized. “They shine a light on new voices. Without them, there’s no way to present our work.”
As for what’s ahead, Vizuete hinted at a bold new project—based on the true story of American agents smuggling Cuban baseball players into the U.S. during the 1990s. “It’s sort of like The Wolf of Wall Street of baseball,” he laughed.
Our interview with Sergio Vizuete is an interesting one:
For now, Becoming Vera remains his proudest accomplishment, one that has already made waves from Miami to Los Angeles. “It’s like being a proud dad,” he reflected. “Little by little, I’ve been realizing that people like it. And that’s the greatest reward.”
Watch our full interview with Sergio Vizuete on The Hollywood Times YouTube Channel.
Visit TheHollywoodTimes.today and AspiringMagazine.com for continuing festival coverage.
