F. Javier Gutiérrez
Gutiérrez in 2023
Born (1973-07-05) July 5, 1973
Córdoba, Spain
Years active1996–present

Francisco Javier Gutiérrez Díaz is a Spanish film director, producer and writer. Two-Time European Golden Melies nominee, he is well known for his works like the short films Brazil and Norman's Room, and his feature film debut Before the Fall.

Early life

Gutiérrez was born in Córdoba, Spain. While attending Law School, he also studied acting and produced his first short films. In 2001, he founded his own film production company. With Brasil (Best Short Film in Sitges International Film Festival and Nominated for the European Golden Melies), he entered his first international festivals where he was quickly identified as a director with a distinct personal style.

Career

In 2001, Gutiérrez created his own production company aiming to make films with an international reach. In 2002, he was invited by TVE program "Versión Española" to direct a piece for the series Diminutos del Calvario II. News of Gutiérrez's La habitacion de Norman (Norman's Room), a claustrophobic tribute to Psycho, was published by film industry magazines in the United States. In the same year, he won the Universal Studios award and visited Los Angeles for the first time. In 2007, Gutiérrez received an offer from Antonio Banderas and Antonio Pérez to direct his first feature film, Before the Fall (2008) which entered the official section "Special Panorama" at the Berlin Film Festival.

Gutiérrez had been working on the reboot of the 90's cult movie The Crow based on James O'Barr's comic book and produced by Relativity Media and Edward R. Pressman. But in June 2014, Gutiérrez signed on to the direct the next installment of The Ring franchise, produced by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, for Paramount Pictures, that made him unavailable to helm The Crow. According to Deadline Hollywood, Gutierrez was set to stay on board The Crow as executive producer.[1]

Before the Fall

Before the Fall (aka 3 días) is Gutiérrez's first feature film. During its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, the public booed and applauded equally. The controversy grew among the critics when Rebecca Davies from The Daily Telegraph praised the films as one of the best in the festival because

It proves that films about armageddic meteorites crashing into the Earth can be both intelligent and moving. Deep Impact it ain't.[2]

Whereas Jay Weissberg from Variety attacked the film because of its violence, labeling it as unpleasant and inappropriate

College-age males may get a kick, but survival chances outside Spain are slim.[3]

However, before its Spanish premiere at the Malaga Film Festival, the film had already been sold for distribution in several countries, including Japan, and two offers had been received for a remake in English (including one from Wes Craven[4]).

In 2008, Before the Fall became a buzz in Europe. In Spain, the film won the main awards in the most prestigious Spanish film festival, the 2008 Malaga Film Festival (including Best Motion Picture and Best Screenplay), the Miradas Award (TVE) for the Best Motion Picture of the Year and several awards and nominations in the Actors Guild of Spain and the Spain Critics Awards. On the other hand, in Europe, the film was finalist for the 2008 European Film Awards and won the main prizes in some of the most prestigious Science-Fiction and Fantasy Film Festivals including the Silver Méliès for the Best European Film in Imagine (Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival) , the Asteroide Award at Trieste Science+Fiction Festival (Italy), and the ScreamFest Crystal Skull Award for the Best Director in Los Angeles.

In 2009, Before the Fall was included in third place in the 2008 Hollywood International Watch List.[5]

Rings

Gutiérrez directed the sequel Rings (2017), the third installment and direct sequel to The Ring (2002), of the U.S. Ring franchise.[6][7] It was produced by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald for Paramount Pictures. The film was released in the United States on February 3, 2017, opened #2 in the domestic box office, and grossed $83 million worldwide against its $25 million budget.

Filmography

Shorts

Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Production
Designer
1996 WC Columna de aseo Yes Yes Yes No Yes
1999 El cuerpo Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2002 Brasil Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
La habitación de Norman Yes Yes No No No

Films

Year Title Director Writer
2008 Before the Fall Yes Yes
2017 Rings Yes No
2023 The Wait (La espera) Yes Yes
TBAHome School Yes No

Co-producer

Video assistant

  • El palo (2001)

References

  1. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (3 December 2014). "'The Crow' Flies With Director Corin Hardy".
  2. ↑ "Opinion". 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016 – via blogs.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ↑ "Before the Fall Movie Review From The Berlin Film Festival".
  4. ↑ Miska, Brad (February 19, 2009). "Last House Director Plans For 'Before the Fall'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ Finke, Nikki (December 24, 2008). "2008 Hollywood International Watch List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Director: Rings is a Sequel - ComingSoon.net". 23 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "F. Javier Gutierrez (@FJ6utierrez) - Twitter". twitter.com.
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