Alfonso "Poncho" Pineda Ulloa is a multifaceted and accomplished film and television director, renowned for his exceptional storytelling, impressive actor direction, and meticulous camera work. With a remarkable versatility across various styles, he has demonstrated his mastery of the craft.
Poncho holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA's Producers Program, where he majored in English literature, and also studied cinematography and directing at the Los Angeles Film School. He had the opportunity to shadow Rodrigo García on the sets of Nine Lives and HBO's Big Love through the Independent Filmmaker Project's "Project Involve".
Poncho's latest television series, WOMEN IN BLUE, a gripping true crime drama for Apple TV+, premiered on July 31 and received widespread critical acclaim, earning a perfect 100% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes and captivating audiences worldwide. In television, he directed the highly acclaimed WHO KILLED SARA? (¿Quién Mató a Sara?),which became Netflix's #1 show, with an astonishing 54 million subscribers binge-watching the series.
Throughout his illustrious career, Poncho has been nominated for the International Emmy Award three times and has won the prestigious award once, for his HBO series SR. AVILA in 2017. The same year, his award-winning series HASTA QUE TE CONOCI, a biographical drama about the legendary Mexican singer Juan Gabriel, was also recognized with an International Emmy nomination. Furthermore, he directed THE INMATE (EL Recluso),a Telemundo production for Netflix, which received an International Emmy nod in 2019.
Poncho's debut feature, LOVE PAIN AND VICE VERSA (Amor Dolor y Viceversa),made a significant impact in the narrative feature competition at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. His English-language action thriller THERE ARE NO SAINTS, written by Paul Schrader and starring José María Yazpik, Ron Perlman, Tim Roth, Neal McDonough, and Karla Souza, is available on VOD and AMC+, and has quickly become a cult classic among American audiences. Additionally, he directed TALES OF MEXICO (La habitación),which garnered seven Ariel nominations, often referred to as the Mexican Oscars.
