Latino filmmaker with a diverse background in documentary media, branded content and advertising, boasting extensive experience as a film director, producer and writer.
About
Juan Urgell is a Venezuelan-Mexican writer, director and producer based in Mexico City. An economist turned filmmaker, he is the director and producer of three short documentaries, "Lok'tavanej Hunter of Images" (2017), "A Poet in the Dark" (2021) and "Bleeding Gold" (2022), which have premiered in international film festivals across the United States, Wales, Spain, India, Uruguay, Panama, Mexico and Venezuela. "A Poet in the Dark'' won the Audience Award at the Utah Arts Festival (Fear No Film Festival 2022), Best Documentary Short Film at Panama’s International Documentary Film Festival (AcampaDoc 2022), Best Cinematography at the Seattle Latino Film Festival 2021, and Best Short Documentary, Best Screenplay and Best Original Soundtrack at Venezuela's most renown film festival. "Bleeding Gold" took home the Best Short Documentary Award at the Films For The Forest festival 2023 in Austin, Texas, with Richard Linklater presiding over the jury.
Embarking in the industry as a self-taught documentary filmmaker, and fueled by a desire to expand his creative horizons, Juan looks forward to evolving his career as a scriptwriter and narrative film director, bringing his unique vision to the world of fiction. After workshopping his script in renowned international writing labs such as the Cine Qua Non Lab, Sundance Institute and American Film Showcase, Juan is currently writing his first feature film "Ak'majel" with the support of a public grant from Mexico's National Fund for the Arts and Culture. He is also in pre-production of two narrative short films, to be produced in Mexico City in 2024.
