Jessica Zafra
Latest Project
When it came time to choose a landowner to spotlight in Costa Rica for Asekia’s May 2025 newsletter, Jennifer González was the first person who came to mind. From the moment I arrived at Tierra Viva Cantalagua in Los Criques, I could feel the energy and intention behind every part of her work.
My goal with this interview was to weave three distinct threads into one flowing storyline: Jennifer’s deep Costa Rican roots, the six years she’s spent restoring her father’s land through biodynamic and regenerative farming, and the broader agricultural challenges many farmers face in Costa Rica today.
Filming in the tropics has its own rhythm. I’ve gotten used to reading the sky and avoiding the rain, but the bigger challenge this time was light. I started filming late in the afternoon, which meant making fast decisions about what parts of the interview to prioritize. I ended up returning on another day to capture additional B-roll and drone footage that I felt was essential to convey the scale of Jennifer’s work.
In post, the biggest challenge was matching the lighting across multiple shoot days. Color grading became a careful process of bringing visual consistency to the final piece.
Past Projects
I directed, produced, filmed, and edited this landowner spotlight featuring Anthony “Tony” Sanchez, a multi-generational Hispanic rancher whose story spans from New Mexico to Puerto Rico and back.
Filmed on location using my Sony camera and drone, I navigated strong spring winds and made key creative choices to capture both the beauty of the landscape and the depth of Tony’s reflections. This piece marks our first feature from the New Mexico region — a story of resilience, heritage, and deep ties to land and community.
Nathaniel Ortiz Albino of Finca Calichi/Café de Reyes shares his inspiring story of 12 years in agriculture, from cultivating bananas, citrus, and coffee to exotic fruits like vanilla and passion fruit. Through mindful farming practices, Nathaniel has successfully produced premium coffee grown under the forest’s shade, emphasizing the importance of quality and sustainability. He reflects on the challenges faced by farmers in Puerto Rico, the need to support the local agricultural economy, and the positive impact of organizations like Asekia and the USDA.
Emaly Quintana of Sisters, Inc. shares her inspiring journey in agriculture, representing a family farm run by two Puerto Rican sisters passionate about farming. Together, they focus on growing pineapples, a fruit they deeply love, and are committed to sustainable farming practices that contribute to food security and local nutrition in Puerto Rico. Emaly discusses the therapeutic nature of farming, how it has helped her grow as a businesswoman, and the valuable lessons she’s learned as an agronomist. Emaly reflects on the challenges the farm has faced, from extreme weather events to the emotional and physical demands of farming as a family.
My Vision
I am passionate about visual storytelling, content creation, and bringing compelling narratives to life through video. Whether filming, producing, editing interviews, promotional content, or social media videos, I strive to deliver high-quality, impactful stories that resonate with audiences.
