Francisco Javier Gutiérrez
Encyclopedia
F. Javier Gutiérrez is one of the most awarded and lauded fantasy genre filmmakers in Spain. His fans consider him a cult director for his works like the short films Brasil and Norman's Room
, Spain. While attending Law School he also studied acting and produced his first short films. In 2001 he founded his own film production company. With Brasil (2001) (Best Short Film in Sitges International Film Festival and Nominated for the European Golden Melies) he entered the his first international festivals where he was quickly identified as a director with a distinct personal style.
, was published by film industry
magazines in the US. In the same year, he won the “Universal Studios
” award and visit Los Angeles
for the first time. In 2007, Javier received an offer from Antonio Banderas
and Antonio Pérez
to direct his first feature film, Before the Fall (2008) which entered the official section “Special Panorama” at the Berlin Film Festival
Whereas Jay Weissberg from Variety attacked the film because of its violence, labeling it as unpleasant and inappropriate
However, before its Spanish premiere at the Malaga Film Festival, the film had already been sold for distribution in several countries, including Japan
, and two offers had been received for a remake in English
(including one from Wes Craven
).
In 2008, Before the fall became a buzz in Europe. In Spain, the film won the main awards in the most prestigious Spanish film festival, the 2008 Malaga Film Festival (including Best Motion Picture and Best Screenplay), the Miradas Award (TVE) for the Best Motion Picture of the Year and several awards and nominations in the Actors Guild of Spain and the Spain Critics Awards. In the other hand, in Europe, the film was finalist for the 2008 European Film Awards and won the main prizes in some of the most prestigious Science-Fiction and Fantasy Film Festivals (including the Silver Melies for the Best European Film in Imagine (Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival), Best Motion Picture in Trieste Film Festival and Audience Award in Nantes Film Festival) .
In 2009, Before the fall was included in the third place in the 2008 Hollywood International Watch List.
The film is still releasing in several countries and International Film Festivals.
Biography
F. Javier Gutiérrez was born in CórdobaCórdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
, Spain. While attending Law School he also studied acting and produced his first short films. In 2001 he founded his own film production company. With Brasil (2001) (Best Short Film in Sitges International Film Festival and Nominated for the European Golden Melies) he entered the his first international festivals where he was quickly identified as a director with a distinct personal style.
Filmography
In 2001, F. Javier Gutiérrez created his own production company aiming to make films with an international reach. In 2002 he was invited by TVE program “Versión Española” to direct a piece for the series “Diminutos del Calvario II”. News of Javier’s La habitacion de Norman (Norman's Room), a claustrophobic tribute to PsychoPsycho (1960 film)
Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch...
, was published by film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
magazines in the US. In the same year, he won the “Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
” award and visit Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for the first time. In 2007, Javier received an offer from Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
and Antonio Pérez
Antonio Pérez
]Antonio Pérez was a Spanish statesman, secretary of king Philip II of Spain.- Early years :Antonio Perez was born in Madrid in 1540. In 1542 he was legalized as son of Gonzalo Pérez, Secretary of the Council of State of king Charles I of Spain . Most probably Antonio was indeed the son of...
to direct his first feature film, Before the Fall (2008) which entered the official section “Special Panorama” at the Berlin Film Festival
Style
F. Javier Gutiérrez’s stories are rich and profound. The visual style of his sets brings to memory the 1970s decade and his photography and sound are meticulous and exquisite. Apocalypse, human nature, innocence, death and violence are at the centerpiece of his works and it is his perception of these unsettling themes what divides his followers from his critics. However, most agree that as a filmmaker he has an unusual ability to stir emotions and that he is a compelling storyteller.Before the fall
Before the fall (aka "3 Días") is F. Javier Gutiérrez’s first feature film. During its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival the public booed and applauded equally. The controversy grew among the critics when Rebeca Davis from the Daily Telegraph praised the films as one of the best in the festival because
“it proves that films about armageddic meteorites crashing into the earth can be both intelligent and moving. Deep Impact it ain't”
Whereas Jay Weissberg from Variety attacked the film because of its violence, labeling it as unpleasant and inappropriate
"College-age males may get a kick, but survival chances outside Spain are slim."
However, before its Spanish premiere at the Malaga Film Festival, the film had already been sold for distribution in several countries, including Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and two offers had been received for a remake in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(including one from Wes Craven
Wes Craven
Wesley Earl "Wes" Craven is an American actor, film director, writer, producer, perhaps best known as the director of many horror films, particularly slasher films, including the famed A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven's New Nightmare, featuring the iconic Freddy Krueger character, the...
).
In 2008, Before the fall became a buzz in Europe. In Spain, the film won the main awards in the most prestigious Spanish film festival, the 2008 Malaga Film Festival (including Best Motion Picture and Best Screenplay), the Miradas Award (TVE) for the Best Motion Picture of the Year and several awards and nominations in the Actors Guild of Spain and the Spain Critics Awards. In the other hand, in Europe, the film was finalist for the 2008 European Film Awards and won the main prizes in some of the most prestigious Science-Fiction and Fantasy Film Festivals (including the Silver Melies for the Best European Film in Imagine (Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival), Best Motion Picture in Trieste Film Festival and Audience Award in Nantes Film Festival) .
In 2009, Before the fall was included in the third place in the 2008 Hollywood International Watch List.
The film is still releasing in several countries and International Film Festivals.