10 Famous Hispanic Directors and Their Best Movies
It’s no secret that in the last few decades, famous Hispanic film directors have made their names known worldwide because of their bold and unique style of filmmaking.
Watching movies from Latin America and Spain is an entertaining and effective way to learn about other cultures in the world—and, of course, to learn Spanish!
Let me introduce you to 10 of the most famous Hispanic directors, filmmakers, writers, and producers, their most popular movies, and what makes them worth watching.
And… Action!
Benefits of Watching Films by Famous Hispanic Directors
Learning Spanish requires consistent and frequent practice. It’s ideal to learn Spanish while doing something you like, whether it’s reading a book, playing video games, or watching movies.
For Spanish learners, the most helpful aspect of watching movies by Hispanic directors is that they feature authentic language, including slang. Other benefits of practicing Spanish while watching Spanish and Latin American films include:
- Gaining a better understanding of culture
- Learning new words and contexts in which to use them
- Discovering new contexts for words you already know
- Tuning your ear to the Spanish language by listening to the dialogue, hearing different accents and ways of speaking
Top 10 Famous Hispanic Directors and Their Best Movies
With all the streaming services at your disposal nowadays, you have an excess of movies to choose from. Need some guidance as to which to watch? I’ve created this list of famous Hispanic directors, and their top films, so you can learn Spanish while you enjoy the cinema at a whole new, international level.
1. Celina Murga
Born in Argentina in 1973, Celina Murga is one of the most important Latina directors today.
Murga studied at La Universidad del Cine in San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2003, she gained fame with her film, Ana y los Otros (Ana and the Others).
Martin Scorsese invited her to join him on the set for his movie Shutter Island in 2010. He later produced Murga’s movie La Tercera Orilla (The Third Riverbank) in 2014.
Movies to Watch
Ana and the Others (Ana y los Otros)
Genre: Drama
Date of Release: 2003
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- Jury Special Prize: Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
- Best First Work: Clarin Entertainment Award
- Best Latin American Film: Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
- Best Director: Thessaloniki Film Festival
The Third Riverbank (La Tercera Orilla)
Genre: Drama
Date of Release: 2014
Rating: 13+
Award won: Best Screenplay: Havana Film Festival
2. Luis Buñuel
Born in 1900 in Calanda, Spain, Luis Buñuel was a Spanish filmmaker famous for his surrealist movies. In his impressive career, Buñuel made movies from the 1920s to the 1970s. He made his first picture during the silent film era. It’s still watched to this day because of its capacity to shock the viewer.
He worked with Salvador Dalí, the famous surrealist painter. Buñuel also worked in several other genres. His unique style is easily recognizable.
Buñuel passed away in 1983 in Mexico City. His legacy is present in his films, and his directing style is still studied and used as a reference for new directors and filmmaking students. His body of work is the perfect example of how Spanish movies have evolved over time.
Movies to Watch
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (El Discreto Encanto de la Burguesía)
Genre: Comedy
Date of Release: 1972
Rating: PG
Awards won:
- Best Foreign Language Film: Academy Awards
- Best Screenplay: BAFTA Awards
- Grand Jury Prize: Faro Island Film Festival
- Best Film: French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Robinson Crusoe
Genre: Drama and Adventure
Date of Release: 1954
Rating: PG
Awards won:
- Best Picture: Ariel Awards
- Best Director: Ariel Awards
- Best Screenplay: Ariel Awards
3. Alfonso Cuarón
Born in Mexico City in 1961, Alfonso Cuarón is a Mexican film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor. Cuarón is one of the most prominent Mexican film directors working today. He’s one of several Hispanic directors that have been nominated for an Oscar. Cuarón has nominations in 6 different categories and has worked with A-list actors throughout his career.
Cuaron has been in the industry since 1991. His movies are known for their humor, mature themes, and political and social commentary. He has worked for studios like Warner Brothers, and has also made independent films.
To this date he is one of the most famous Latino cinematographers, and his work is praised and enjoyed by different people around the world.
Movies to Watch
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter y el Prisionero de Azkaban)
Genre: Family Adventure
Date of Release: 2004
Rating: PG
Awards won:
- Audience Award and Children’s Award: BAFTA Awards
- Special Award: AFI Award
- Choice movie: Teen Choice Awards
- Public Choice Award: World Soundtrack Awards
Gravedad (Gravity)
Genre: Sci-fi and Drama
Date of Release: 2014
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- 7 Academy Awards in different categories
- 4 BAFTA Awards in different categories
- Best Director: Golden Globe
4. Lucrecia Martel
Born in Salta, Argentina in 1966, Lucia Martel is an film director, screenwriter, and producer whose work has been screened at important international film festivals in Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto.
Her debut was in 2001 with her movie La Ciénaga (The Swamp). Martel’s work is critically acclaimed and loved by the public. She’s one of the most famous female Hispanic directors and an inspiration for those females that want to be part of the industry.
Movies to Watch
The Swamp (La Ciénaga)
Genre: Drama
Date of Release: 2001
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- 3 Awards from the Argentinian Film Critic Association
- Alfred Bauer Award: Berlin International Film Festival
Zama
Genre: History and Drama
Date of Release: 2017
Rating: 16+
Awards won:
- Several awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Argentina
- Several awards from the Argentinian Film Critic Association
- ICP Award- Indiewire Critics Poll
- Halfway Award – International Online Cinema Awards
5. Patricia Cardoso
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Patricia Cardoso is a graduate of UCLA’s film school and an anthropologist, which is evident in how she makes films and TV shows.
She has won several prizes throughout her career and was the first Hispanic female director to receive a Sundance Audience Award and a Student Academy Award.
Her work is important for the new generations of female directors who are rising in Latin America because of how her work resonates with the audience.
Movies to Watch
Real Women Have Curves (Las Mujeres de Verdad Tienen Curvas)
Genre: Drama and Comedy
Date of Release: 2002
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- Producers Award: Film Independent Spirit Awards
- Sundance Film Category: Humanitas Prize
- Best Supporting Actress: Imagen Foundation Award
The Water Carrier (El Reino de los Cielos)
Genre: Fiction
Date of Release: 1995
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- Ida Lupino Student Award: Directors Guild of America
- Golden Reel Award: Motion Picture Sound Editors
- Festival Prize: Black Maria Film and Video Festival
6. Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican filmmaker, author, actor, and makeup artist. Born in Guadalajara, he began to experiment with filmmaking at age 8.
Del Toro studied at the Centro de Investigación y Estudios Cinematográficos at the University of Guadalajara and debuted in 1993 with the film Chronos. Since then he hasn’t stopped directing, producing, and writing movies (and books!). He is known for his use of awesome special effects, religious imagery, and facets of fairy tales.
Del Toro is incredibly versatile and has directed both small independent films and huge Hollywood blockbusters.
Movies to Watch
Pacific Rim (Titanes del Pacífico)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Date of Release: 2013
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- Outstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in a Live Action Production: Annie Awards
- Visual effects of the year: Hollywood Film Awards
- Outstanding Visual Effects – Feature Film: Hollywood Post Alliance, US
- Best Global Director for a Motion Picture and Best Global New Performer in a Motion Picture: Huading Award
- Best Action Film: Internet Film Critic Society
- Best Horror/Sci-fi Film: Las Vegas Critics Society Awards
Book of Life (El Libro de la Vida)
Genre: Animation and Adventure
Date of Release: 2014
Rating: PG
Awards won:
- Outstanding Achievement in Character Design in an Animated Feature Production: Annie Awards
- Best Actress: Imagen Foundation Awards
- Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: World Soundtrack Awards
7. Patricia Riggen
Born in Guadalajara in 1970, Patricia Riggen is a Mexican film director with a background in journalism and writing documentaries. After working in Mexico, she moved to New York City, where she received her Master’s degree in directing and screenwriting at Columbia University.
Although her first feature film was released in 1997, it wasn’t until 2007 that she obtained major recognition for her work. She is a great current example of a famous Hispanic director.
Movies to Watch
Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna)
Genre: Drama and Adventure
Date of Release: 2007
Rating: PG
Awards won:
- Outstanding Spanish Language Motion Picture: ALMA Awards
- Best Film: Imagen Foundation Awards
- Best Performance in an International Feature Film- Leading Young Performer: Young Artist Awards
The 33 (Los 33)
Genre: Biography, Drama and History
Date of Release: 2015
Rating: PG
Awards won:
- Truly Moving Picture Award: Heartland Film
- Best Director: Imagen Foundation Awards
8. Pedro Almodóvar
Born in 1949, Pedro Almódovar is one of the most successful and widely known Spanish film directors of all time.
Beside directing, Almódovar also is a producer, screenwriter, and actor. His films are easy to recognize for their melodrama, irreverent humor, bold color, and complex narratives. Themes including family, desire, passions, and identity are prevalent in Almodovar’s many films.
Almodovar reached international recognition thanks to his black comedy, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. For it, he earned an Academy Award nomination in 1988. Since then, he has won many awards and screened his films at major international film festivals.
Movies to Watch
Return (Volver)
Genre: Comedy and Drama
Date of Release: 2006
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- Best Foreign Film, Spanish Language: Argentinian Film Critic Association Awards
- Best Actress: Cannes Film Festival
- Best Screenplay: Cannes Film Festival
- Best Supportive Actress: Chlotrudis Awards
- Best Film: Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain
Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos Rotos)
Genre: Romance, Thriller and Drama
Date of Release: 2009
Rating: 13+
Awards won:
- Best Foreign Language Film: Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
- European Composer: European Film Awards
- Best Movie Actress: Fotogramas de Plata
- Best Original Score: Goya Awards
9. Michel Franco
Born in 1979, Michel Franco is a Mexican film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his film After Lucia.
Franco makes films that center around strong, multidimensional female leads who deal with dysfunctional family dynamics, which make really interesting results with his male point of view and directing style.
Although Franco’s work is often criticized by Mexican film critics and audiences, he has received praise in several top international film festivals.
Movies to Watch
April’s Daughters (Las Hijas de Abril)
Genre: Drama
Date of Release: 2015
Rating: 16+
Awards won:
- Breakthrough Actress: Ariel Awards, Mexico
- Un Certain Regard Award: Cannes Festival
- Best Screenplay: Diosa de Plata
- Best Screenplay: Mexican Cinema Journalists
New Order (Nuevo Orden)
Genre: Drama
Date of Release: 2020
Rating: 16+
Awards won:
- Best Films Opening: Indiewire Critics’ Poll
- Best Latin American Picture: José María Forqué Awards
- Best Non U.S. Release Online Film Critics Society Awards
10. Jayro Bustamante
Born in 1977 in Guatemala City, Jayro Bustamante is a Guatemalan film director and screenwriter. He studied at the Free Conservatory of French Cinema and the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome.
He founded the studio La Casa de Producción in 2009. Bustamante has also published a children’s book called Cuando sea grande, cómo hacer un cortometraje (When I Grow Up, How To Do a Short Film).
In 2017, he founded the first space for independent cinema in Guatemala. He is the first Guatemalan director to have been nominated for an Academy Award.
Movies to Watch
Ixcanul
Genre: Drama
Date of Release: 2015
Rating: 16+
Awards won:
- Best Film: Art Film Festival
- Alfred Bauer Award: Berlin International Film Festival
- Best Film: Biarritz International Festival of Latin American Cinema
- Best Debut: FEST International Film Festival
- Feature Competition: Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival
Tremors (Temblores)
Genre: Drama and LGBT Themes
Date of Release: 2019
Rating: 16+
Awards won:
- Best Central American Film: Costa Rica International Film Festival
- Best Cinematography: Guadalajara International Film Festival
- Best Central American Feature: Icaro- Festival de Cine y Video en Centroamérica
- Best Screenplay: LesGaiCineMad, Madrid International LGBT Film Festival
Cinco, Cuatro, Tres, Dos, Uno… ¡Acción!
By watching amazing movies by famous Hispanic directors, you can practice your Spanish listening skills (and reading, if you turn on the Spanish subtitles). Of course, speaking Spanish is just as important. Plus, by becoming bilingual, you stand the chance to earn more money, get a cool job (interpreters and translators are among the top five fastest-growing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), make your family bilingual, and travel easier to Spanish-speaking countries.
Sign up for a free, 1-on-1 class with a native Spanish-speaking teacher to start or continue your Spanish learning journey with Homeschool Spanish Academy!
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