FILMS
A POET IN THE DARK
Short documentary, 2021 - 19 min.
In the Mexican valleys of Oaxaca, a blind elderly craftsman creates immense human sculptures with his bare hands, as the moonlight embellishes his simple yet poetic vision of the world.
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Written & directed by Juan Urgell
Production companies: Altamira Cinema & Films Austeres
Countries: México-Venezuela
Instagram: @a_poet_inthedark
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Awards:
Audience Award - Utah Arts Festival (Fear No Film Festival) 2022, USA
Best Documentary Short Film - International Documentary Film Festival AcampaDoc 2022, Panama
Best Cinematography - Seattle Latino Film Festival 2021, USA
Best Short Documentary, Best Screenplay & Best Original Soundtrack - Venezuelan Cinema Festival 2022, Venezuela
Honorable Mention - Barquisimeto Film Festival 2023, Venezuela
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Official Selections:
21st International Film Festival RADIO CITY 2023, Spain
12th Paracinéfagos Film & Art Festival at the Border 2022, Venezuela
17th Mexico City International Documentary Film Festival DocsMx 2022
22nd Nevada City Film Festival 2022, USA
43rd CineFestival San Antonio 2022, USA
8th National Short Film Competition A Corto Plazo 2022, Venezuela-France
11th Oriente Between Long and Short Films Festival ELCO 2021, Venezuela
9th San Luis Potosí International Film Festival 2021, Mexico
3rd ISTMO International Film Showcase MIC 2021, Mexico
17th Monterrey International Film Festival ficmonterrey 2021, Mexico
(World Premiere)
BLEEDING GOLD
Short documentary, 2022 - 15 min.
In the southeastern region of Venezuela, officially known as the Orinoco Mining Arc, an unprecedented ecocide is occurring, where a complex criminal network with transnational characteristics is in operation. Its consequences massively harm the environment and the human rights of dozens of indigenous communities, leading to a historic environmental catastrophe hidden within the lungs of the planet.
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Directed by Thaelman Urgelles & Juan Urgell
Production companies: Altamira Cinema & Films Austeres
Country: Venezuela
Instagram: @orodesangre
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Awards:
Best Short Documentary Award - Films For The Forest 2023, USA
(with Richard Linklater presiding over the jury)
Best Short Documentary & Best Environmental Short Film - International Short Film Festival “Manuel Trujillo Durán“ 2023, Venezuela
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Official Selections:
21st Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2023, USA
22nd Wales One World Film Festival 2023, UK
4th Victory International Film Festival 2023, USA
9th Quotes from the Earth Film Festival 2022, India
New Haven Documentary Film Festival 2022, USA
PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT
AK'MAJEL (Fighter)
Narrative feature film in development
Cristian, a young indigenous man suffering from bipolar disorder, trains to become a professional mixed martial arts fighter. When Andrés, a Spanish filmmaker, documents his training on camera, together they embark on a journey to create a fictional reality and live out the fantasy Cristian has always dreamed of.
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Written & directed by Juan Urgell
Country: México
Duration: 70 min.
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Participation in Workshops and writing Labs:
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Plataforma MX 2018 (Mexico)
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Sundance Institute Documentary Filmmaking 2019 (USA)
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American Film Showcase 2020 (USA)
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Storylines Lab - Cine Qua Non Lab 2024 (Mexico)
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Writing Grant from Mexico's National Fund for the Arts and Culture (FONCA), 2024
AN INDECENT MELODY
Narrative short film in postproduction - 15 min.
A smart speaker sparks tensions between a couple expecting their first unborn child.
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Written & directed by Juan Urgell
Genre: Comedy/sci-fi
A PLACE SO SAVAGE
Narrative short film looking for final funding
Carlos, a young Venezuelan migrant, confronts the chilling reality of Mexico's immigration system when detained upon arrival at the capital's airport. Subjected to relentless questioning, Carlos is thrust into the dreaded "little room", a bright enclosed place where the harrowing plight of dozens of migrants unfolds before him. Surrounded by a web of corrupt practices, Carlos is forced to make a difficult decision, pushing him into a journey of unimaginable consequences.
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Written & directed by Juan Urgell
Genre: Fantasy drama / Psychological horror
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Awards:
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Semi-Finalist at the Shore Scripts' Short Film Fund 2023
(Top 3% among +1600 worldwide script submissions)
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Guayaquil Lab 2023 (Ecuador)