An incredibly multicultural experience

My name is Daniela. I am a Mexican film editor, and I studied an MA in Editing for Film and Television Production at the University of York in the United Kingdom. I decided to study at the University of York because it is one of the leading universities in the UK and one of the few that offers such a specialised programme in film and television editing.

The support I received from FIDERH was fundamental in making this dream possible. I primarily used the funding to cover the annual tuition fees for my master’s degree. In addition, thanks to the scholarship I received from the university, I was able to use some of the remaining funding to support myself during my first few months while I adapted to a new country and looked for work opportunities.

This year, I learned and experienced so many unique things that have had a profound impact on me, both personally and academically, and that I will always carry in my heart.

When I first arrived in York, I did not know exactly what to expect. It was my first time in Europe and also my first experience living in a fully English-speaking environment. I arrived feeling scared, nervous and full of questions, but at the same time with an incredible desire to embrace every experience that came my way.

One of the first things that shaped my experience was where I lived. I stayed at Wentworth College, one of the university’s accommodation colleges, where I had the opportunity to meet incredible people. Throughout that year, many of them became my family. We shared everyday moments, celebrations, difficulties and experiences that made a completely unfamiliar country gradually begin to feel like home.

It was also an incredibly multicultural experience. I had the opportunity to live alongside and become friends with people from different parts of the world, learn about other cultures and discover perspectives that were very different from my own. I even met someone very special who is now part of my life. I never imagined that coming to study a master’s degree would end up meaning so much to me, not only professionally, but also personally.

During my time in the UK, I also had the opportunity to work in retail. This was a very important experience for me because it meant entering the workforce of a completely new country for the first time, while studying for a demanding master’s degree and continuing to develop professionally in my field. Working in an English-speaking environment helped me gain confidence in communicating with others, interacting with different people and handling situations that could initially feel intimidating.

Although my main goal has always been to develop my career within the film industry, this work experience taught me the importance of adaptability, responsibility and perseverance. I learned that starting a new life in another country also means being willing to do different things and gradually build your way towards what you truly want.

Academically, the experience also exceeded many of my expectations. The University of York has excellent, modern facilities and equipment, and the lecturers have specialised experience in their respective fields. The master’s programme has a strong practical focus, which allowed me to develop my skills as an editor by working directly on film projects and collaborating with students from different disciplines.

During the programme, we made two short films. The first was called VAPE. For this project, I had the opportunity to work with a great Mexican friend and fellow student, as well as classmates from China and friends from England. For me, it was a very special experience because I had never worked in such a multicultural environment before. Everyone brought a different perspective on filmmaking, storytelling and the way we approach our work. This allowed me to learn not only from a technical perspective, but also on a human level.

The second short film, Root Bound, was particularly important to me, as it was also my thesis project. Once again, I had the opportunity to work with a Mexican director and classmates from China. This experience allowed me to bring together all the knowledge and skills I had developed throughout the year and apply them to a project that represented a very important part of my growth as an editor.

Working on these projects taught me that editing is not only about mastering software or knowing the technical tools. Editing also means listening, communicating, understanding different perspectives and working as part of a team to find the best way to tell a story. Doing this in an international environment helped broaden my perspective and allowed me to understand filmmaking through different cultural viewpoints.

Throughout the year, I also had the opportunity to get closer to the film industry in the UK, meet professionals and begin building a network of contacts that I hope to continue developing. These experiences made me realise that I want to continue building my career here and become part of the British film and television industry.

Beyond my academic education, studying in York allowed me to grow enormously as a person. I learned how to navigate life away from my home country, face new situations, step outside my comfort zone and trust myself much more. I arrived afraid that I would not be able to adapt to a new language, culture and way of life, and I ended up discovering that I could build a home far away from home.

For me, the support from FIDERH meant much more than simply having the opportunity to pay for a master’s degree. It gave me the opportunity to live an experience that changed the way I see my profession, my future and myself. Thanks to this support, I was able to study a specialisation that would have been very difficult to pursue in the same way in Mexico, develop my skills as an editor, meet people from all over the world and begin building the future I want.

Today, I am beginning a new chapter of my life in the United Kingdom. My intention is to continue developing professionally within the film industry, keep growing as an editor and make the most of the opportunities this country has to offer. At the same time, I am building a life here that goes far beyond my career: a life surrounded by people who have become important to me and experiences that I could never have imagined when I first left Mexico.

I am deeply grateful to FIDERH and Across the Pond for believing in me and helping me take this step. This opportunity did not simply allow me to earn a master’s degree; it allowed me to discover a new home, new people, new opportunities and a version of myself that I did not know I could become.

If I could go back to the day I was about to board the plane to the UK and speak to the Daniela who was scared and did not know what to expect, I would tell her not to be afraid. I would tell her to take the leap. Everything she was about to experience would be worth it.

- Daniela