Person Biography:
Award-winning director, born and raised among generals and storytellers, with a unique blend of poetic realism and strategic execution in their filmmaking style. Rooted in the rhythms of the Dominican Republic and shaped by global perspectives, their work has been recognized internationally for its innovative storytelling and emotional impact.
Early Career:
Their debut feature film, Ruido (Noise),released in 2006, broke new ground by becoming the first Puerto Rican film to win at a Class "A" festival, receiving the Innovation Award at the 30th Montreal Film Festival. The film continued to resonate globally, earning several awards and nominations, including the Ciguapa de Oro at the Muestra Internacional de Cine de Santo Domingo and the CyberVote Award at the Havana Film Festival.
Subsequent Works:
Their 2015 feature film, La Extraña (She, the Strange),was selected by the Canadian Film Institute to represent the Dominican Republic and was officially selected at the Chicago Latino Film Festival and nominated in the New Vision category at the Bahamas International Film Festival. Their 2019 short film, El Fondillo Maravilloso (Marvelous Buns),was a satirical and poetic exploration of identity, earning the Award of Distinction at the Canada Short Film Festival and over 20 nominations internationally.
Documentary Series:
Their documentary series pilot, Ingredientes Nuestros (Our Ingredients),a Wheelhouse Media original, explored the overlooked rituals of USA Latino life, including food, people, and culture. The pilot was selected at several film festivals, including the Chicago Latino Film Festival, Charlotte Film Festival, and NC Latin American Film Festival.
Recent Projects:
In 2023, during the pandemic, they completed the historical pilot, Chief Tendoy, for a series produced by Washington State University. Shot under full union biosafety protocols, the film became a quiet triumph of coordination and care, earning a selection at BogoCine and a nomination at the Austin Lift-Off Film Festival.
Current Project:
Currently, they are immersed in the post-production of their most experimental and intimate work to date, the Dominican feature film, A Veces Grito (Sometimes I Scream),based on the acclaimed Dominican writer Freddy Ginebra's namesake play. This confessional film is a deeply personal exploration of the human condition, seeking to capture the elusive flicker of cinematic truth.
