Jenna Naranjo Winters's cinematic journey is deeply rooted in New Mexico. "I'm originally from Santa Clara," she shared, quickly discovering that the interviewer was also from the Española area—a coincidence she cherished. This strong sense of place and community permeates her work.
After spending years in television production, primarily focusing on true crime, Winters recognized a story she had to tell: the inspiring life of her father, renowned sculptor Michael Naranjo.
"Dream Touch Believe" is the feature-length biographical documentary about her father, a project ten years in the making. Michael Naranjo comes from a family of artists at Santa Clara Pueblo, but his career was almost cut short.
"At just 23 years old, my dad was drafted to the Vietnam War, and a grenade exploded in his right hand. He lost both of his eyes and lost the use of his right hand," Winters revealed. "However, he was so determined to become an artist that he went on to find success."
For Winters, sharing this story became a calling. "I feel like now more than ever, our world needs beacons of hope," she stated, noting that her father's story about resilience and overcoming challenge inspires veterans, schoolchildren, and diverse audiences alike. "If I didn't share this story, I would have failed my purpose."
The transition from deadline-driven television journalism to long-form feature filmmaking was intense. "Writing a story for the newspaper, you can get it done in a day," she observed. The documentary took a decade because she needed time to research funding, scripting, and, crucially, building her team.
"To me, the biggest challenge was that it took 10 years," she said. This journey led to partnerships with local New Mexico professionals, including cinematographer Bill Stengel, who had previously done work on the New Mexico True campaign. "To literally see the vision in my head come to life before me, I had to pinch myself so many times."
The film's success is being celebrated close to home, with its upcoming screening at the Santa Fe International Film Festival.
"As much as this is a story about my father and my mother, it's also a love letter to New Mexico," Winters said. The film includes imagery and scenery from places that inspired her father’s sculptures, which he creates entirely from memories of his mind's eye. The filming locations, including visits to Abiquiú near Ghost Ranch and the Sandia Mountains, bring a personal and spiritual connection to the narrative. Winters also noted that the project was a recipient of the Senator John Pinto Memorial Grant, which supports Native filmmakers and ensures diverse voices are heard.
She encourages the public to view her father's work—which emphasizes touchable art for people of all abilities—at the Nadra Matucci Gallery and a full touchable art exhibit in the lobby of the Bataan Memorial Building in downtown Santa Fe.
Winters’s wisdom for those with a project "in their brain" is simple: overcome fear.
"I think one big thing is overcoming fear... I've learned that you have to overcome the fear of asking people," she advised. She emphasized networking and talking about the dream, as it leads to invaluable connections—like the one she made with her editor, a former colleague from America's Most Wanted, who agreed to work within the film's budget because of the story's heart.
"If you have a story that you wanna tell or share, just start. Even if you're starting with your iPhone, I think there are so many amazing resources that we can all easily get our hands on. And if not, ask somebody to help."
To learn more about Jenna Naranjo Winters's film and her ongoing projects, visit dreamtouchbelieve.com.