Alejandro Springall

Alejandro Springall is a Mexican film director and producer, born in Mexico City on January 12, 1966.

Studied filmmaking at the London Film School. There, he directed, wrote and edited more than 10 short films. While in London, he worked with Colombian Documentary directors Patricia Castaño and Adelaida Trujillo on 3 documentaries about the Cocaine War in Colombia.

He returned to Mexico City in 1991, to co-produce CRONOS (Dir. Guillermo del Toro, 1992). CRONOS won the Critic´s Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993, and 9 awards from the Mexican Academy, including Best Picture. Springall then produced DOLLAR MAMBO (Dir. Paul Leduc, 1993), premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

In 1994, he line produced SOMEONE ELSE´S AMERICA (Dir. Goran Paskaljevic). That same year he produced the TV series EN GUADALAJARA FUE and directed the series JALISCO: TIEMPO DE DECISIONES, which won First Prize at the Latin American Biennale three times in a row.

In 1995, Springall produced DE TRIPAS, CORAZÓN (GUTS AND HEART) (Dir. Antonio Urrutia), which was nominated in the Best Short category of the Oscars.

In 1996, he acted and collaborated with director John Sayles on the Spanish dialogue of his film MEN WITH GUNS. That same year he founded Springall Pictures, his production company.

SANTITOS (LITTLE SAINTS), completed in 1999, is his feature directorial debut. SANTITOS had major distribution in Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia, and has received 17 major international awards, amongst we can mention: Grand Prix Découverte 2000 by the Critique Française, Best Latin American Picture at the Sundance Film Festival, Best Picture at Los Angeles Latino Film Festival; and Dolores Heredia, has been awarded twice Best Actress for her performance in SANTITOS, at the Amiens and the Cartagena Film Festivals.

In 2001, Miramax Films commissioned Springall Pictures with the negative pick up of FRIDA, directed by Julie Taymor, starring Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Geoffrey Rush.

In 2002, Springall produced CASA DE LOS BABYS, directed by John Sayles, starring Daryl Hannah, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Steenburgen, Rita Moreno, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Lili Taylor. The film was premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, and is currently under release by IFC Films and MGM.

In 2003, Springall produced and directed the grand concert of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas at Carnegie Hall, New York and in 2004 the Chavela Vargas concert at Luna Park, Buenos Aires.

MORIRSE ESTA EN HEBREO (MY MEXICAN SHIVAH), directed and produced by Springall, premiered at the Mexico City Jewish Film Festival and the New York Jewish Film Festival on January 2007..