Episode 162 Filmmaker Emillio Miguel Torres

Scottsdale's rising star is filmmaker of the year

Emilio Miguel Torres is a rising star in both education and film. By day, Emilio works in the communications department at Scottsdale Unified School District, but his creative talents go far beyond the school walls. A NYU Film School alum, he recently premiered his debut film, “The Ladder,” at the Phoenix Film Festival, where he was honored at Filmmaker of the Year for 2025. In this inspiring conversation, we talk about storytelling, education and what it means to bridge passion and purpose.