Maria Escobedo

MFA Faculty Mentor

Maria Escobedo

About Maria Escobedo

Maria Escobedo was born and raised in NYC’s Washington Heights. Yes, she was raised In The Heights! She moved to LA when she earned a Disney writing fellowship and writes for both animation and live-action.

Maria has recently worked as Creator/Head Writer/Story Editor for Kids & Family TV. She was nominated for a 2024 Annie Award and a 2025 Children’s & Family Emmy Award for her work as head writer on Rosie’s Rules! for PBS Kids. She was previously honored with a Humanitas Award nomination for Nina’s World on Peacock (with the fabulous Rita Moreno). She is currently wrapping Season 2 of Ariel: The Little Mermaid for Disney Jr., which was nominated for an Annie and NAACP Award in 2025.

Maria’s animation credits also include: Dreamworks’ Madagascar: A Little Wild; Alma’s Way for PBS Kids; Nickelodeon’s Santiago Of The Seas, Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go; Disney’s Elena of Avalor, T.O.T.S, and Amazon’s If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Maria also created Season 1 and 2 of Lola Chick, a children’s Audible Podcast with Highlights Magazine.

Maria’s live-action writing credits include Grey’s Anatomy, and Hulu’s teen drama East Los High. She co-wrote, directed, and edited her debut indie feature film, Rum and Coke, which screened at film festivals both in the U.S. and internationally. She co-wrote, Brides’ March for Lifetime TV, a powerful true story based on a Latina tragically murdered by an ex-boyfriend on her wedding day. She also wrote a movie for Disney Channel, developed a half-hour single cam pilot for Nickelodeon, and co-wrote an hour-long dramedy pilot for ABC.

Maria is dedicated to telling underrepresented stories and fostering emerging voices in film and television. She was Chair of the Latino Writers Committee at the WGAW for five years, and was on the Programming Committee for the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), and NY Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT).

She is deeply committed to mentorship and education, and has served as Associate Professor at USC School of Cinematic Arts and Adjunct Screenwriting Professor at Cal State LA, and Stephens College. Maria recently travelled to Aaman, Jordan, to mentor female filmmakers through NYWIFT’s initiative with The Royal Film Commission in Jordan.