Director, Writer, Producer

Juan Avella is a bilingual Venezuelan director and writer, and a member of the DGA and WGA, based in Los Angeles. Passionate about crime thrillers and genre stories with social undertones, he has directed episodes of NBC/SPTV’s The Blacklist, starring James Spader, as well as Hulu’s anthology series Bite Size Halloween. His award-winning shorts Hijo por Hijo (2017) and Her Body (2018) enjoyed successful festival runs before being acquired by HBO Max for distribution. As a screenwriter, Juan has written and developed projects for Amazon Studios, MGM, Disney, Propagate Content, Hillary Clinton’s HiddenLight Productions, and Dana Brunetti’s Cavalry Media. He earned an MFA in Screenwriting from the AFI Conservatory, where he received the Fadiman Award for excellence in screenwriting for his feature Bolichicos. That project also won the 2019 TFI Sloan Film Fund grant from the Tribeca Film Institute and was recognized on The Black List’s inaugural Latinx List.

Producer

Ivan Bordas Butler is a Dominican producer, screenwriter, and director based in Los Angeles. He holds an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. In 2016, he founded the production company FILMICANA, through which he co-wrote and directed Cabarete, an award-winning feature that gained international recognition. With experience spanning across creative and production roles, Iván brings a deep understanding of both the artistic and logistical sides of filmmaking. Beyond film, he is also an accomplished photographer, with work exhibited in museums in the Dominican Republic.

Co-Producer

Nicole Quiñones is Director of Operations at Filmicana. She holds a degree in Advertising Communication and pursued further studies in Marketing, Sales, and Consumer Psychology at Baruch College in New York. Currently, she is completing her MBA at Barna Business School in Santo Domingo. Nicole has line-produced multiple features, including Cabarete, Yaque, Boca Chica, Bajo el Mismo Sol, and Ella. With her expertise in operations and her strong background in both creative and business disciplines, Nicole excels at navigating the complexities of film production.

Cinematographer

Sebastian Cabrera “Chelin” is a cinematographer from the Dominican Republic whose career began as an editor before moving behind the camera. Known for his instinctive sense of composition and powerful visual storytelling, Chelin has built an international reputation. His credits span music videos for artists like Juan Luis Guerra, Travis Scott, and Juanes, as well as 19 award-winning feature films. His cinematography includes acclaimed works such as Batu Mama, Veneno, Bajo el Mismo Sol, La Familia, and Insular.

Production Design

Ricky Folch is the founder of Cause & FX, a company providing art direction, special effects, prop fabrication and rental, and construction management for film and television. With a versatile career, Ricky has contributed to both independent films and major Hollywood productions in the Dominican Republic. His credits include Old, Miami Vice, Shotgun Wedding, and The Good Shepherd. Known for his craftsmanship and ability to adapt to diverse production scales, Ricky ensures the creative vision of every project is brought to life.

Composer

Andrés Rodríguez Zelnick is a film composer trained at Berklee’s Film, Television, and Video Game Scoring program in Valencia, Spain, and Full Sail University in Orlando. His compositions range across genres and have been featured in numerous films, including Jupia, Kidnapping Inc., Carajita, Kafou, Milvio, and El Día de la Tormenta. With a distinctive voice and an ability to heighten emotional storytelling through music, Andrés has established himself as one of the most versatile emerging composers in Latin American cinema.