Natalia Almada, 37, Mexico City

The filmmaker explores the past, present and future of life in Mexico through documentaries that extend the boundaries of the genre. Combining historical footage, news clips and cinema verite sequences, she addresses social ills that long have roiled the country. Her film "El Velador" (2011) chronicles the impact of drug trafficking; her "El General" (2009) explores the legacy of her great-grandfather, Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles.

October 1, 2012