Director of Gaby

Background:

Mexican director, producer and writer Luis Mandoki has made a name for himself as one of the world-class filmmakers in Hollywood since enjoying his international breakthrough with “Gaby: A True Story” (1987), his second feature which was nominated for both 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,” Mandoki spent more than 15 years in America where he worked with many stars like 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). Recognized for his power to increase the self-assurance of his actors, Mandoki did not return to the Mexico cinema until 2004 with the critically and commercially hit “Innocent Voices,”starring Leonor Varela. The war/drama brought him a Berlin International Film Festival Award, a RiverRun International Film Festival and a major nomination for Best Direction at the Ariel Awards.

Mandoki's upcoming project, “Beyond the Sun” (2008), is shot in South Africa. It marks his first Hollywood film since 2002's “Trapped.”

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

“I saw 'Battle of Algiers' first, and it was a movie that really impressed me, because it was a true story, and it was just so real and it involves a child as well. And so, for me it brought the same feeling of strength and compassion and what people go through. And you’re thrown into a reality, in the way it's shot, in the way it's done, and the absurdities of war that they are all living in. And so it shook me, because I didn't know about that reality, and it brought me into it in a very human unhollywood way. I think I was sixteen or seventeen.” Luis Mandoki

Fine Arts-minded

Childhood and Family:

Luis Mandoki was born in 1954, in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. After studying Fine Arts in Mexico City, he went on to pursue 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 wife Olivia and has three children with her, Daniel Camille, and Michelle. Currently, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Innocent Voices

Career:

While a student at the London International Film School, Mexico City-born and bred Luis Mandoki made his first short film, “Silent Music,” and it won a prestigious honor at the International Amateur Film Festival at the Cannes Film Festival in 1976. Upon returning to his hometown, 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 the director an Ariel Award at the Mexican Academy of Film, a Mexico's equivalent of Oscar.

After gaining ground in the short/documentary circuits, Mandoki made his debut as a feature film director with “Motel,” a 1984 crime/drama jointly 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 in addition to directing and co-producing. Focusing the life of Gaby Brimer (played by Rachel Chagall), a girl physically disabled, who eventually gains success on her studies, the touching drama received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Norma Aleandro, who portrayed Gaby's caretaker, and two Golden Globe nominations, an impressive achievement that brought Mandoki worldwide recognition.

Two years later, Mandoki made his Hollywood debut with the made-for-television drama “The Edge” (1989), which he jointly directed with Nicholas Kazan and Carl Schenkel. Among the stars of the film were Brad Davis, Christian Slater,Bridget Fonda and Michael Rooker. Finally, the gifted filmmaker had his first American motion picture in 1990 with “White Palace,” which starred James Spader as a twenty-something widower who meets and subsequently becomes in love with an aged waitress (played by Susan Sarandon). Under his direction, Sarandon successfully won a London Critics Circle Film Award and a Golden Globe nomination. His next movie, “Born Yesterday” (1993), was a comedy/romance adapted from a play by Garson Kanin and starring Melanie Griffith.

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

Back to short films, Mandoki directed “Meeting Genevieve” in 2000 which starred Dina Merrill as Mother and Claudia Schiffer as Genevieve. 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 in 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 crime movie “Trapped” (2002).

Mandoki returned to his Mexican roots after over 15 years with 2004's “Voces Inocentes/ Innocent Voices,” which he also produced and co-scripted with Oscar Orlando Torres. A noteworthy drama/war about a young boy who is in a try to attain a normal upbringing in the 1980s El Salvador, the film gathered a total of 12 awards and 9 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, and was chosen to represent Mexico in the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film.

Two years after the box office hit, Mandoki made the documentary film “¿Quien es el Señor Lopez?/Who is Mr Lopez?, ” about Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador and his campaign to be president of Mexico in 2006. It was followed by another documentary called “Fraude: México 2006” (2007). In In addition to directing, he also produced the two films.

The 54-year-old filmmaker is set to revisit Hollywood cinema later this year with “Beyond the Sun.” The upcoming action/drama is produced under the banner of the Sixth Sense Productions and written by Art Ayris.

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