FILMMAKER – URUGUAY–SPAIN

A Uruguayan-Spanish screenwriter, producer and director, born in Montevideo (Uruguay) in 1976. A graduate in Communication Sciences from the Catholic University of Uruguay, he began directing and producing short films in 1996, the last of which (‘As Follows’, 2004) won awards at the Gijón and Cinema Jove film festivals.

After setting up Cinekdoque, his own production company, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Acne’ (2008), his first feature film, which premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival and won, amongst other awards, the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Film Festival. His second feature film, ‘A Useful Life’ (2010), was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and received over 20 awards worldwide, as well as being Uruguay’s offi- cial entry for the Oscars.

‘The Apostate’ (2015), shot in Madrid, was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and at San Sebastian, where the film received the FIPRESCI Prize and a Special Mention from the International Jury. Like his three previous films, ‘Belmonte’ (2018) premiered in Toronto and San Sebastian, and won several international awards. ‘The Moneychanger’ (2019), his fifth feature film, had its world premiere in the Platform competition section at the Toronto International Film Festival and was Uruguay’s entry for the Oscars.

In 2023, he directed the television series ‘The Band’ for VIX / Dynamo Productions, his first venture into Mexican television. In 2024, he directed the televi- sion series ‘How to Win the Lottery’ for Netflix, Sony and Dynamo Productions. ‘Face to Face’ (2025), his latest feature film, had its world premiere at Se- minci, where it won Time of History’s Grand Prize.