Andrea Villarreal Rodríguez is a documentary filmmaker and photographer whose work emerges from a deep connection to the mountains and rivers of Monterrey, Mexico—landscapes increasingly shaped by industrial development. At 20, she became a National Geographic Explorer and founded the Storytelling Lab to support youth, especially girls and women, in telling powerful stories of climate justice. She is also part of Viaje al Microcosmos, a transdisciplinary collective that combines science and art to protect freshwater systems in her hometown.

Andrea’s recent work centers on the Santa Catarina River, investigating how collective memory can inspire environmental stewardship. She also leads the communication efforts of the #UnRíoEnElRío movement, which defends the river’s ecological and cultural value. Villarreal Rodríguez holds a B.A. in Communication from Tecnológico de Monterrey.