Who is Mexican Film Director Sebastian Del Amo?

Sebastian Del Amo – Mexican Film Director
“The Fantastic World of Juan Orol”

By: Cindy G. Castillo

A graduate from El Centro de Capacitaciones Cinematografica in Mexico City, Film Director Sebastian Del Amo presented his film, The Fantastic World of Juan Orol, at the 13^th Annual Scottsdale International Film Festival.

As part of the festival’s Spotlight series on Latin/Spanish films, the film was showcased with great success on two different dates during the festival that took place at the Harkins Shea 14 Theatres in Scottsdale.

Sebastian Del Amo

Del Amo tells how the script came to be, “I was living in Spain, so I kind of retired of the cinema business…I had this story of this character Juan Orol [and] worked in the script with a Spanish friend of mine,” he said.

He then went on a journey to try to find someone who would be able to direct his story. After several failed attempts, he found it easier for him to direct his own script. Del Amo faced several challenges along the way regarding production, personnel, and financial security, but after much tenacity and enthusiasm, his work was completed six years later.

 “We presented on the Guadalajara Film Festival in 2012, won the best picture award, and since then the film has been invited to Beijing, Argentina, and even Sweden.”

The Fantastic World of Juan Orol is breaking through the language barriers as it has been received positively internationally in countries that include China and Sweden, and that’s ultimately Del Amo’s intent with this movie. He also received the opportunity to participate in the Ariel awards in the Mexican Academy, and received recognition for best photography and best cinematography.

Del Amo’s drive for movie-making doesn’t stop there, as he already has plans for future greater projects. “As I was promoting the picture, one producer saw me and they hired me to do the Life of Cantinflas, which is a movie I recently ended shooting.”

He plans on presenting this project in the Guadalajara Film Festival this next year as well as attempt the Los Angeles Film Festival. Del Amo hopes for equal success and recognition for this future project just as the outcome with The Fantastic World of Juan Orol.

“I hope it’s going to be very successful in Mexico, in the States, and hopefully in Spain and Latin America,” he said.

Sebastian Del Amo’s work represents a break-through for the Mexican cinema. He admits that Latin films struggle internationally, but keeps optimism as it recognizes how a couple of movies including “Nosotros los Nobles” and “Instructions not Included” are excelling in the United States and all over the globe.

“I believe that cinema has a universal theme.  People connect with you, and that breaks barriers