Fernando Saldivia Yáñez ’20 has exemplified the core values of Carleton through his commitment to fostering community development while making important civic and professional contributions in documentary filmmaking.
In a relatively short time, Saldivia Yáñez has developed a strong artistic voice and a significant body of work, making a notable impact on his field. Fernando’s accomplishments began early in his time at Carleton, when he and Alan Zheng ’20 won the Minnesota Solar Video Contest in 2018. Saldivia Yáñez has also been involved with cinema and media studies (CAMS) professor Cecilia Cornejo’s Ways of Being Home and Say Their Names projects, both deeply connected with the local community in Northfield, Minnesota.
Saldivia Yáñez has remained committed to creating works in collaboration with underrepresented communities. His filmmaking practice is a powerful embodiment of the liberal arts education he received at Carleton. His poetic documentary portraits, ranging from the daily life of the Mapuche family members to the political struggles of his hometown in Chile, are not merely works of art but potent tools for social change.
Saldivia Yáñez’s films have premiered and won multiple awards at prestigious international film festivals such as Santiago International Film Festival, Ann Arbor Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, and Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. His most recent feature-length film, Breve Espacio de un Tiempo (Brief Space of a Time), won the Vox Populi Audience Award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. These achievements highlight Saldivia’s talent and position him as a significant new voice in the world of documentary filmmaking.
He has created six short films and two feature-length documentaries. Drawing from his interdisciplinary film education at Carleton College, Saldivia Yañez has been able to develop a process where he is involved in every aspect of production. He researches, writes, and distributes his pieces—creating independent work with global, collaborative implications.