Joel holds an M.F.A in Film Directing from American Film Institute, and graduated from Metropolitan University in Caracas, Venezuela with a Law Degree. He also studied one year in UCLA's Extension Film Production program. Working in films since the age of 6, Joel has also directed eight short films with selections and honors in more than 30 film festivals, including Cannes, L.A.LIFF, La Habana, TNT Project 48, and the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival. Joel's thesis film from A.F.I Machsom was awarded the prestigious Caucus Foundation Grant, and the Deluxe Laboratories Grant. As first Assistant Director, he has worked on four award-winning features, with official selections and awards in Tokyo, Shanghai, and the Spanish Academy Awards (Goya), and an official submission from Venezuela to Academy Awards.
God's Slave is Joel's first feature as a director, at the age of 26, shot in four different countries, after winning contests and co-production grants in Argentina, Spain, Venezuela and Uruguay.
Film Movement