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Antonio Méndez Esparza

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Antonio Méndez Esparza
Born (1976-01-07) January 7, 1976 (age 48)
Madrid, Spain
Years active2006–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.

Life and career

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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]

Filmography

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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)

References

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  1. ^ "Antonio Méndez Esparza". La Semaine de la Critique. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  2. ^ López Pérez, José (February 28, 2013). "Entrevista a Antonio Méndez Esparza, director de la película "Aquí y Allá"". No Sólo Cine. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  3. ^ McNary, Dave (June 28, 2009). "'Soraya' soars at L.A. fest". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  4. ^ McNary, Dave (November 15, 2009). "UCLA wins big at DGA student awards". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Szalai, George (May 24, 2012). "Cannes 2012: Critics' Week Gives Main Award to 'Aqui y Alla'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Olsen, Mark (November 8, 2012). "AFI Fest 2012: Swedish film 'Eat Sleep Die' wins grand jury prize". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  7. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr (November 26, 2012). "'Moonrise Kingdom' Wins IFP Gotham Award For Best Picture". Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Brennan, Billy (December 21, 2012). "Five Questions with Aquí y Allá Director Antonio Méndez Esparza". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Earl, William (March 3, 2018). "2018 Independent Spirit Awards Full Winners List: 'Get Out,' Jordan Peele Win Top Honors". IndieWire. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (September 28, 2017). "Review: Life and Nothing More". Cineuropa. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Obenson, Tambay (November 9, 2018). "'Life and Nothing More': How a Spanish-Born Filmmaker Made a Sensitive Portrait of a Working Class African American Life". IndieWire. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  12. ^ "Antonio Méndez Esparza". Sundance Collab. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  13. ^ Aftab, Kaleem (September 22, 2020). "'Life and Nothing More's' Antonio Méndez Esparza on San Sebastian Competition Player 'Courtroom 3H'". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (December 12, 2019). "Antonio Méndez Esparza shooting Courtroom 3H". Cineuropa. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  15. ^ Cabeza, Elisabet (September 24, 2020). "Antonio Méndez Esparza talks about the making of documentary 'Courtroom 3H'". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  16. ^ Mayorga, Emilio (November 18, 2020). "Spain's Wanda Films Boards Antonio Mendez Esparza's Comedy Thriller 'Madrid Is It' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  17. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (April 12, 2022). "Antonio Méndez Esparza finishes filming Que nadie duerma". Cineuropa. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
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