Antonio Méndez Esparza | |
---|---|
Born | Madrid, Spain | January 7, 1976
Years active | 2006–present |
Antonio Méndez Esparza (Spanish: [anˈtonjo ˈmendeθ esˈpaɾθa]; born 7 January 1976 [1]) is a Spanish filmmaker based in the United States. He teaches at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts.
Méndez Esparza was born in Madrid, where he obtained a law degree. He studied filmmaking at the University of California, Los Angeles, and at Columbia University, where he received an MFA. [2]
His 2009 short film Time and Again (Una y otra vez) won the narrative short prize at the Los Angeles Film Festival [3] and earned him a Latino filmmaker prize at the Directors Guild of America's Student Film Awards. [4] His first feature, Aquí y allá, premiered in the Critics' Week at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and won the section's Grand Prize. [5] The film also received a special mention at the 2012 AFI Fest [6] and earned him a nomination for the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Director. [7] Both films depict experiences of Mexican migrants to the United States with non-professional actors. [8]
His second feature, Life and Nothing More, premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and won the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. [9] Shot in Tallahassee with a small crew and non-professional actors, the film depicts a struggling African-American family in Florida. [10] [11] [12]
His third feature and first documentary, Courtroom 3H, premiered in competition at the 2020 San Sebastián International Film Festival. [13] The film documents proceedings in a Tallahassee family court presided by a judge with whom Méndez Esparza became acquainted while making Life and Nothing More. [14] [15]
In 2022, he directed the comedy thriller Something Is About to Happen, which he co-wrote with Clara Roquet based on the novel Que nadie duerma by Juan José Millás, in Spain. [16] [17]
Year | Title | Note |
---|---|---|
2006 | Yanira | Short |
2009 | Una y otra vez (Time and Again) | Short |
2012 | Aquí y allá (Here and There) | |
2017 | Life and Nothing More | |
2019 | Courtroom 3H | Documentary |
2023 | Que nadie duerma (Something Is About to Happen) |
Antonio Méndez Esparza | |
---|---|
Born | Madrid, Spain | January 7, 1976
Years active | 2006–present |
Antonio Méndez Esparza (Spanish: [anˈtonjo ˈmendeθ esˈpaɾθa]; born 7 January 1976 [1]) is a Spanish filmmaker based in the United States. He teaches at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts.
Méndez Esparza was born in Madrid, where he obtained a law degree. He studied filmmaking at the University of California, Los Angeles, and at Columbia University, where he received an MFA. [2]
His 2009 short film Time and Again (Una y otra vez) won the narrative short prize at the Los Angeles Film Festival [3] and earned him a Latino filmmaker prize at the Directors Guild of America's Student Film Awards. [4] His first feature, Aquí y allá, premiered in the Critics' Week at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and won the section's Grand Prize. [5] The film also received a special mention at the 2012 AFI Fest [6] and earned him a nomination for the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Director. [7] Both films depict experiences of Mexican migrants to the United States with non-professional actors. [8]
His second feature, Life and Nothing More, premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and won the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. [9] Shot in Tallahassee with a small crew and non-professional actors, the film depicts a struggling African-American family in Florida. [10] [11] [12]
His third feature and first documentary, Courtroom 3H, premiered in competition at the 2020 San Sebastián International Film Festival. [13] The film documents proceedings in a Tallahassee family court presided by a judge with whom Méndez Esparza became acquainted while making Life and Nothing More. [14] [15]
In 2022, he directed the comedy thriller Something Is About to Happen, which he co-wrote with Clara Roquet based on the novel Que nadie duerma by Juan José Millás, in Spain. [16] [17]
Year | Title | Note |
---|---|---|
2006 | Yanira | Short |
2009 | Una y otra vez (Time and Again) | Short |
2012 | Aquí y allá (Here and There) | |
2017 | Life and Nothing More | |
2019 | Courtroom 3H | Documentary |
2023 | Que nadie duerma (Something Is About to Happen) |