Gaby: A True Story

Background:

Mexican director, producer and writer Luis Mandoki has been considered a world-class filmmaker in Hollywood since enjoying his international breakthrough with “Gaby: A True Story” (1987), which was nominated for Academy and Golden Globe Awards. Prior to the victory, Mandoki was noted as the director of the award winning shorts “Silent Music” (1976) and “El Secreto” (1980) and his first film, “Motel” (1984), was selected to represent Mexico in film festivals around the globe.

Following the success of “Gaby: A True Story,” Mandoki spent more than 15 years in America where he worked with many stars, including Kevin Costner, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Melanie Griffith, Kevin Bacon, Meg Ryan, James Spader, Andy Garcia and Charlize Theron. His Hollywood credits include “White Palace” (1990), “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1994), “Message in a Bottle” (1999), “Angel Eyes” (2001) and “Trapped” (2002). Mandoki did not return to the Mexican cinema until 2004 with the hit “Innocent Voices,” starring Leonor Varela. The war drama brought him a Berlin International Film Festival Award, a RiverRun International Film Festival award and a Best Direction nomination at the Ariel Awards.

Mandoki is the father of three children, who were mothered by his wife Olivia. He mentions that “The Battle of Algiers” (1965), “The Human Condition: No Greater Love” (1958) and “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960) provided inspiration and changed his life.

Mexico

Childhood and Family:

Luis Mandoki was born in 1954 in Mexico City, Mexico. After studying the fine arts in Mexico City, he pursued the interest in America at the San Francisco Art Institute and in London at the London College of Printing. He also attended the London International Film School.

Luis is married to a woman named Olivia and has three children with her. Currently, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Innocent Voices

Career:

While a student at the London International Film School, Luis Mandoki made his first short film, “Silent Music,” which won a prestigious honor at the International Amateur Film Festival at the Cannes Film Festival in 1976. Upon returning to his hometown of Mexico Cite, Mandoki joined the Instituto Nacional Indigenista (the National Institute for the Indigenous), Conacine (National Commission of Film) and the Centro de Produccion de Cortometraje (Center for the Production of Short Films) to direct documentaries and short films. His 45 minute film, “El Secreto” (1980), won an Ariel Award at the Mexican Academy of Film.

After gaining ground on the short and documentary circuits, Mandoki made his debut as a feature film director with “Motel,” a 1984 drama co-written by Jordi Arenas and Abraham Cherem. Winning one out of four Silver Ariel nominations, the film was picked up to represent Mexico in several film festivals throughout the world.

Following a three year hiatus, Mandoki successfully returned to the cinematic industry with his sophomore effort, “Gaby: A True Story” (1987), in which he was credited as a developer and directed and co-produced. Focusing on the life of Gaby Brimer (played by Rachel Chagall), a physically disabled girl who gains success with her studies, the touching drama received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Norma Aleandro and two Golden Globe nominations.

Two years later, Mandoki made his Hollywood debut with the television drama “The Edge” (1989), which he co-directed with Nicholas Kazan and Carl Schenkel. Among the stars of the film were Brad Davis, Christian Slater, Bridget Fonda and Michael Rooker. He then directed the American motion picture “White Palace” (1990), which starred James Spader and Susan Sarandon. Under his direction, Sarandon won a London Critics Circle Film Award and a Golden Globe nomination. His next movie, “Born Yesterday” (1993), was a romantic comedy adapted from a play by Garson Kanin and starred Melanie Griffith.

1994 saw Mandoki direct Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan in the drama “When a Man Loves a Woman,” in which the two stars collected award nominations for their performances. The director, however, did not return to his chair until 1999 with “Message in a Bottle,” which was based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. Starring Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn, Paul Newman and John Savage, the film was a hit with audiences.

Back to short films, Mandoki directed “Meeting Genevieve” in 2000, which starred Dina Merrill and Claudia Schiffer. The same year, he also directed “Amazing Grace.” In 2002, Mandoki was nominated for an ALMA award for Outstanding Director in a Motion Picture for his work on the thriller “Angel Eyes” (2001), which starred Jennifer Lopez, James Caviezel, Jeremy Sisto and Terrence Howard. He also produced and directed Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend and Kevin Bacon in the thriller “Trapped” (2002).

Mandoki returned to his Mexican roots with 2004's “Voces Inocentes” (“Innocent Voices”), which he also produced and co-scripted with Oscar Orlando Torres. A movie about a young boy in El Salvador, the film gathered many awards and nominations, including a Glass Bear for Best Feature Film at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival, a Jury Prize for Best Feature Film at the 2005 RiverRun International Film Festival, and a Best Direction nomination at the Ariel Awards. It was also chosen to represent Mexico in the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film.

Two years after the box office hit, Mandoki directed and produced the documentaries “Who is Mr. Lopez” and “Fraude: México 2006” (2007).

Awards:

• Berlin International Film Festival: Glass Bear, 14plus: Best Feature Film, “Voces inocentes,” 2005

• RiverRun International Film Festival: Jury Prize, Best Feature Film, “Voces inocentes,” 2005

• Mexican Academy of Film: Ariel, “El secreto,” 1980

• Cannes Film Festival: International Amateur Film Festival, “Silent Music,” 1976