Juan Martinez Vera

Writer | Director | Producer

Juan Martinez Vera grew up in a remote town in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. At the age of eleven, he immigrated to the U.S. with his family to pursue a better life. Soon after moving to his new home in the central coast town of Santa Maria, California, movies became Juan’s main source of entertainment and soon he learned to use films as a tool to understand and connect with the American society.

In 2010, Juan graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Film, Television and Digital Media. While at UCLA, Juan directed, wrote, and produced over 35 projects that included soap operas and the college’s award-winning News show. Immediately after graduating from UCLA, Juan attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts where Juan received the honor to be one of three directors selected to direct an advanced project funded by the university. On his last year at USC, Juan received the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant to write and direct the project, SPARK. This film went on to receive a US Student BAFTA Award nomination, an award for Best Student Latino Director from the Director’s Guild of America, and a national distribution deal from HBO. Most recently, Juan produced the feature film, Cabarete at the Dominican Republic, worked at Starz as a showrunner assistant and directed the independent feature film, SPIKED. This film was acquired for national distribution by Gravitas Ventures and was later acquired by international distributors at the European Film Market for international release. 

Juan’s goal as a filmmaker is to inspire people to use their imagination to transform their reality.

Juan Martinez Vera grew up in a remote town in the Mexican state of Guanajuato and at the age of eleven, immigrated with his family to pursue a better life. Soon after moving to his new home in the central coast town of Santa Maria, California, movies became Juan’s passion and a tool he used to understand and connect with others.

 

In 2010, Juan graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Film, Television and Digital Media. While at UCLA, Juan honed his craft, directing, writing, and producing numerous projects, including soap operas and the college’s award-winning News show. Immediately after graduating from UCLA, Juan attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he received the honor of being one of three directors selected to direct an advanced project funded by the university. His talent and dedication earned him prestigious accolades, such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant, which allowed him to write and direct the praised film, SPARK. This film went on to receive a US Student BAFTA Award nomination, an award for Best Student Latino Director from the Director’s Guild of America, and a national distribution deal from HBO. Most recently, Juan produced the feature film, Cabarete, worked at Starz as a showrunner assistant and directed the independent feature film, SPIKED, starring Aidan Quinn. This film was acquired for national distribution by Gravitas Ventures and was later acquired by international distributors at the European Film Market for international release.

 

As a filmmaker, Juan strives to inspire people to use their imagination to transform their reality.

Stream My Work On:

When the murder of a migrant worker shakes a Southwest border town to its core, the feud between a newspaper owner and the chief of police leads to the blurring of the truth and a dirty fight for justice.

Credit: Writer/Director/Producer

Oscar, a young Venezuelan student sparks a social media movement using an innovative cell phone application to circumvent the censorship in his country.

Credit: Writer/Director

A Skid Row social worker struggles to come to terms with her tragic past by carrying an addict up four flights of stairs.

veridicofilms@gmail.com

Credit: Director

CABARETE

Cabarete follows the story of Somalia, a big-hearted teenage kitesurfer from the Dominican Republic who convinces his idol to train him for an upcoming tournament. On settling in Cabarete Somalia finds himself irresistibly drawn to the town’s hedonistic nightlife, and must choose between a life of pleasure and pursuing his competitive kitesurfing dream.

Credit: Producer

Bicycle and A Way of Life

In East LA, a teenage bicycle thief straddles two worlds – that of her old fashioned grandma and that of her crooked boss. When these worlds collide, she must decide which path to take.

veridicofilms@gmail.com

Credit: Producer

Press

Spiked Acquires International Distribution
Spiked Q&A With Film Tucson
Gravitas Ventures Distributes Spiked
Spiked Press
Nalip Newsletter
Remezcla Magazine
Spiked Upcoming Film
Juan Receives DGA Award
Spiked Upcoming Film
Univision/Televisa Latinovela
DGA Honors Upcoming Directors
Juan Vera's Spark is nominated for the 2016 US Student BAFTA Awards
Juan Vera Wins DGA Award
BAFTA Unveils Student Awards
Interview at CNN