Jose Luis Elizalde Elizalde

Born in the city of Saltillo, in northern Mexico, he had an unconventional path to the world of cinema. Initially, he ventured into the world of numbers by pursuing a degree in finance. However, his true passion had always been storytelling through film. He eventually moved to the City of Mexico, where he immersed himself in the world of cinema. But his thirst for knowledge took him beyond Mexican borders, all the way to Spain, where he pursued a master's degree in documentary filmmaking at the International Film School of Barcelona (ECIB). It was at this point that he discovered his true calling as a documentarian. His early projects explored South American migration to the United States. Two of his documentaries, "Pa'l Nolte" and "Migrhambre," were selected at important festivals worldwide, marking his initial steps in documentary production as a director. Over time, he focused on projects related to indigenous communities in southern Mexico. The National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples and the Kellogg's Foundation invited him to direct documentaries that explored the rich musical culture in the Sierra de Oaxaca and food security in indigenous communities in Chiapas, respectively. Additionally, he was involved in a documentary series called "Barriopaneo," which delved into the working-class neighborhoods of his hometown, Saltillo. He worked as a producer and director on environmental projects with the Coahuila Ministry of Environment and created content for the Latinx community in the United States through Univision. Moreover, he contributed as a writer to several magazines, including VICE Magazine and MARVIN. To promote and support filmmaking in his region, he founded the SL Colectivo. In 2020, he directed the acclaimed documentary "David," which participated in the Reto Docs section of the DOCSMX Documentary Film Festival and was later screened at various festivals in Mexico and South America, including the Guadalajara Film Festival and Elipsis. His career also includes recognition from the Mexican Institute of Cinematography (IMCINE), which awarded him a grant for the feature film production workshop. Furthermore, he has been a recipient of the grant from the Program for Artistic Stimulus and Development in Coahuila, which allowed him to create the science fiction short film "Aquellos días de Noé." Subsequently, he obtained the Artistic Residencies grant for Creators from Iberoamerica and Haiti in Mexico, sponsored by the National Fund for Culture and the Arts (FONCA), for his documentary project "Migrhambre." Recently, he has been selected as a winner in the call for proposals of the FONCA's Program for Cultural Projects and Coinvestments with his exciting documentary project "San Juan a su Hijo," which is currently making its way through film festivals. His dedication continue to leave an indelible mark on the film industry.