chichi castillo



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che ‘chichi’ castillo is an independent filmmaker and musician in the san francisco bay area. 

with love and humor their films explore self-determination, spirituality, friendship, and ecologies of care through a queer femme lens. 

chichi is a current SFFILM filmhouse resident writing their first feature film, a sex worker buddy comedy that explores love and life in late stage capitalism.

chichi has an MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University and a BA in Film & Digital Media from University of California Santa Cruz.
they play guitar in the band sucker and host a monthly radio show every 4th sunday on lower grand radio.

chichi's work has been featured at ICA London, Feria de arte Contemporáneo - Madrid, San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, She Shreds Magazine, The Multivers is Illuminated/The Universe is Lit Festival, CounterPulse San Francisco, Hot Bits Film Festival, Failed Films Festival, Berlin Porn Film Festival, IDApalooza, San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Arts Fest and more.

listen live every 4th sunday 11am - 12pm on

lowergrandradio.com



select films





  • be here now (2025) narrative short. 22 mins.
    coming soon.

    directed by chichi castillo & lauren r melton. 
    celeste (they/them) returns to their hometown for what they think will be a quick visit, but when their ride's car is stolen they must spend the night revisiting the people and places they left behind.


  • stone dove (2021) experimental documentary short. 14 mins.   

  • watch here

    directed by chichi castillo & may may peltier. an experimental documentary featuring interviews with SF Bay Area sex workers exploring themes of mutual aid, joy, and spirituality. 

    screened at ICA London, LACE, Feria de Arte Contemporaneo, SF Docfest, San Francisco Sex Worker Film & Arts Fest, Human Resources LA, and more.





  • no better job (2019) narrative short. 20 mins.

    teaser.

    directed by chichi castillo & may may peltier. Two sex worker friends struggle to find a place for themselves in San Francisco's high-brow art world and look to their friendship for belonging. 

    screened at dream dive mini fest and the universe is lit: black & brown punk festival.




  • le heaux’s adventure’s (2019) narrative short. 15 mins.

    c oming soon.

    directed by chichi castillo & le heaux. shot on mini dv.
    le heaux, a cheerleader failing math, enlists the school nerd to do their math homework.







  • chi chi’s house party (2018) narrative short. 20 mins.
    watch here.

    directed by chichi castillo  & may may peltier. shot on mini dv & vhs tape.
    a group of friends play with knives and reminisce about robbing evil johns whilst supernatural lovers, mariah carey sing-a-longs, noise music, and erotic holes in the wall tie together queer punks at a house party in oakland.

    screened at hot bits film festival, failed films, unearthed art show, the multivers is illuminated, and more.

select music videos


divide & dissolve - provenance
directed, edited, and cinematography by chichi castillo
featuring noemie milagros & tenga rose



divide & dissolve - withholding
directed & edited by chichi castillo & michelle segura



divide & dissolve - blood quantum
director and cinematographer for “ocean blessing” vignette



sucker - be here now
directed by chichi castillo



blue zero - broken by a glance
directed by lauren r melton, cinematography by chichi castillo



boiled wool - on my mind
directed and shot by chichi castillo