Anthony Valdés-Strickler is a gay Latino director, producer and Cocktail & Spirits Specialist whose work explores the hope and passion of being human even when things are stacked against you. Audacity and oddity in stories is what he looks for when telling a story. Coming from the audio and hospitality world, his work exemplifies connection with each other and the world around us.

Anthony’s directorial debut, “The Opener” is a short documentary that highlights three groundbreaking aperitif brands that are made in New York State. It was selected as the Best Made in NY film at the 2024 Syracuse International Film Festival.

Anthony is currently in post-production on his second short film and first narrative, “Last Day in Florida”, that follows a conversation between two queer people who used to date in high school as each other’s beards.