BIO
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...
Paloma Riojas is a genre-flexible, voice-driven writer and director with a bold, commercial sensibility and a fresh point of view. She tells character-first stories that center identity, tension, and truth—always with emotional stakes and style. Whether grounded sci-fi, high-stakes procedural, or coming-of-age drama, her work blends sharp plotting with soul.
A 2024/2025 Rideback Rise Fellow (founded by Dan Lin), Paloma got her start as a development exec for Diego Luna, co-writing and producing the Sundance short Nana, and contributing to Cesar Chavez and Mr. Pig. Her writing credits include Your Honor (Showtime) and Happy Face (Paramount+), and she was recently commissioned to adapt a critically acclaimed novel into a feature screenplay.
Paloma holds an MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and has been recognized across top programs: the Black List Latinx TV List. the Mentorship Matters program, the Outfest Screenwriting Lab, and as a Soho House Fellow. Her Spanish-language short Adán, which she wrote and directed, won both the Jury and Audience Awards at the Diversity in Cannes Showcase.
Her work has screened at global festivals and been distributed by HBOMax, winning 12 Telly Awards. Fluent in English and Spanish, Paloma builds worlds that cross borders, challenge systems, and hit you in the heart.
She’s based in Southern California, where she’s probably writing by the beach.