Daniela Mujica, Producer
Daniela Mujica has extensive experience in project financing, working on both the funding and production sides. Throughout her career, she has developed strong expertise in providing artistic and financial support to projects, from development through distribution.
After a long career as a content producer, creative director, and Associate Director at Telefilm Canada (for CMF programs), she founded her own company, Productions Ocho, in 2020 and co-founded the Coalition M.É.D.I.A. She produces and co-produces internationally across documentaries, series, feature films, and short films.
Her recent productions include: Afro Canada (4×60-minute documentary series, Yzanakio, 2022, nominated for a 2023 Gémeaux Award for Best History Documentary), How Are We Now (feature documentary, Cayenne Media, 2021), Trasiego (animated short film, Annecy 2023, Morelia 2023, Guanajuato 2023), Les Lavandières (fiction short, FNC 2023, VIFF 2023, AIFF 2023), Hotel Beirut (short series, many festival nominations and awards), Kitsch Quebec (Documentary series, 2024), Kanaval (fiction feature film, Yzanakio, TIFF 2023, winner of the BIPOC Best Canadian Film Award and recipient of a Jury Honorable Mention; Cinemania 2023, Audience Award), Allah is not obliged (animated feature, nominated at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025) and Tina, Art, love and revolution (Documentary, FIFA 2026, DART 2026, Artecinema 2026).
Kavalo’s Q&A:
Q: What draws you in first about a story?
A: The characters’ journeys and the social and historical context of the narrative. I’m particularly moved by stories of the diaspora and themes like memory, identity, and exile. It’s certainly a sensitivity that’s close to my heart because of my own journey and those of the people around me.
Q: What guides your choice of projects?
A: My gut! My intuition comes first. After that, I like to choose projects led by people who have a strong artistic vision and something unique or original to say. Projects that address social issues, art, architecture, and music particularly appeal to me. I’m open to both fiction and documentary, including animation. I’m not a fan of horror movies at all. And if a project has international potential—even as a co-production, no matter how complicated it might be that really motivates me :)
Q: If your work could change one thing in the industry, what would it be?
A: Inequality: between women and men, between privileged countries and others facing injustices. I’d like our industry to be more equitable and more open to producers of color, Indigenous people, and people of African descent. Despite all the work we’re doing, there are still too many barriers to entry and a system that favors the same people over and over… I hope my work will pave the way for others… because we’re here to stay :)
Q: What still keeps you motivated in this line of work?
A: The people I meet. The friendships I form. The stories that emerge from them. The travels and discoveries I make.
Q: What advice would you give to the Daniela you were when you first started out?
A: I’d tell Daniela never to underestimate the creative contribution she can make to a project. That her original ideas have value! Too often in my early days, I contributed ideas for which I received little to no credit or compensation. I’d also tell that Daniela to keep persevering and to keep taking risks. Life is too short to settle for the bare minimum!