JUAN MANUEL MENDEZ was born in 1977 in Guatemala City. He studied Communications in Guatemala City and Graduated as a film director from the Centre de Estudis Cinematogràfics de Catalunya (C.E.C.C.) in Barcelona, Spain.
He has directed, produced and edited more than ten short films both fiction and documentaries, he is member / founder of AGACINE, the Guatemalan filmmaker association, and, working as a freelance director-producer for advertising TV and institutional documentaries, he was able to work in different countries such as US, Mexico, Brazil and Costa Rica…
In 2007, he was invited to participate to the fifth Berlinale Talent Campus, and directed ESTACIÓN QUIMERA, a short film shot in Costa Rica, part of a Central American Project, that was selected in many Latin American festivals. In 2010, he produced and directed CHAPSTICK, a short film that was selected at 2011 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner, at New York Latino Filmfest, Lakino Berlin, Cinemaissi Finland, Curtacinema Rio de Janeiro… He is currently developing his first feature LAS FLORES adapted from Denise Phé-Funchal´s novel.
Selective filmography:
2010 – Director & Producer, Short film: CHAPSTICK
2010 – Director & Producer, Videoclip: DOS PASOS of the Guatemalan group ElClubo
2009 – Director & Producer, Documentary: LA REINAS DE LA NOCHE
2008 – Director, Short film: ESTACION QUIMERA
2005 – Director & Screenwriter, Short film: A DONDE VAN…
2005 – Director & Producer, Short documentary: DESDE LA LUNA
2004 – Director & Screenwriter, Short film: NO SE…
2004 – Director & Screenwriter, Experimental: MANOS
1997 – Director & Screenwriter, Short film: CAMILA
