Aimee Garcia’s Directorial Debut Lands at Tribeca 2025
Chicago actor steps behind camera as fest selection premieres “Aimee Comes First” in NYC.
Image: Instagram
Chicago native Aimee Garcia is moving from in-front-of-the-camera roles to behind it this spring, as her first feature film, Aimee Comes First, rolls into the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival lineup. The news broke on the actor-writer-producer’s Instagram, where she posted a series of festival snapshots and wrote, “Tribeca. NYC. Directorial debut. Dream. Come. True. 🥹😉 #AimeeComesFirst 🎬.” The official selection follows a sold-out launch event last month, where she celebrated support from cast, crew and fans.
Chicago Actress Steps Behind Camera
Born in Chicago and a DePaul University alum, Garcia has spent the past two decades building credits on shows such as NBC’s Lucifer and Showtime’s Dexter. Her turn as Ella Lopez on Lucifer earned her praise for blending comedic timing with dramatic depth—skills she’s now applying behind the scenes. “Directing felt like the next challenge,” she wrote online. “I wanted to bring my voice to every aspect of the story.”
Career And Creative Vision
Garcia has long talked about championing diverse narratives, and Aimee Comes First explores themes of identity and community through a comedic lens. Partnering with Scrappy Heart Productions, she developed the screenplay over two years and worked closely with cinematographer Anthony “AJ” Mendez to craft a warm visual style. “It’s a film about finding your place,” Garcia said in a recent interview. “I hope it speaks to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.”
Behind The Scenes At Scrappy Heart
Production wrapped in late 2024, and Garcia used her Instagram feed to thank collaborators. In one post, she wrote, “Directorial debut. Love. Support. Laughter. Thanks @laliff_ for making my dreams COME true 😉 Thx to everyone who CAME out to support 😉 And to those who couldn’t make it ’cause it sold out … we felt your LUV! 💕 #AimeeComesFirst 🎬 @scrappyheartproductions.” That sold-out showcase offered an early look to backers and local industry insiders.
Festival Spotlight In Nyc
When the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival lineup was announced, Aimee Comes First earned a slot alongside established filmmakers and rising talents. In her Instagram announcement, she added, “THRILLED my directorial debut 🎬 ‘Aimee Comes First’ is an official selection of #Tribeca2025! Thx to @theajmendez & our talented cast & crew who said YES to a passion project I wrote 🤗 @tribeca It takes a team of delusional dreamers.”
At the festival premiere, audience members and press photographers lined Spring Studios’ entrance, where banners and branded step-and-repeat backdrops framed the evening. Images show Garcia in a tailored black blazer and wide-leg trousers, posing alongside lead actors and her producing team. One photo captures a moment of genuine surprise as she waves to cheering fans in the crowd.
After the screening, Garcia joined a live Q&A panel at the festival’s SVA Theater, taking questions on her stylistic choices and what motivated her to direct. She teased future projects, hinting at a second feature already in development and continuing her work on genre-blending comedies.
What’s Next After The Festival
Aimee Comes First is slated to screen through April 25 at Tribeca, with a moderated discussion on April 22 at 7:00 pm at the SVA Theater. Industry insiders say distribution talks are underway, and Garcia’s team is eyeing a late-year theatrical release. Meanwhile, she’s expected to balance promotional duties with her recurring role on a new streaming series set to shoot this summer.
For fans and fellow filmmakers, this milestone underscores Garcia’s growth from character actor to multi-hyphenate creator. With a festival debut in one of New York’s most respected lineups, her next chapters—both on screen and off—are ones to watch.
This spring marks a turning point, as Aimee Garcia takes on new creative responsibilities and brings her signature mix of humor and heart to the director’s chair, proving that some dreams really do come true in New York City.
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