Hernán Jiménez

Hernán Jiménez (born 1980)[1] is a Costa Rican film director, screenwriter, actor and stand-up comedian.

Hernán Jiménez
Born (1980-04-22) April 22, 1980
NationalityCosta Rican
Alma materSan Francisco Art Institute (BFA)
Columbia University (MFA)
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, actor, comedian
Years active2005–present
Websitehernanjimenez.net

Early life and education

Jiménez was born in San José, Costa Rica,[2] and left the country when he was 16 to attend Pearson College UWC in British Columbia, Canada.[3][4] Jiménez earned a BFA in film from San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA in screenwriting and directing at Columbia University. He trained as an actor at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal.[5]

Career

Stand-up comedy

Jiménez started out as a stand-up comedian in Costa Rica.[4] He consistently performs sold-out shows at venues across Costa Rica,[6][7][8][9] and has written and starred in four stand-up comedy television specials since 2012.[10]

Filmmaking

Jiménez's debut feature, A ojos cerrados (Eyes Closed), premiered in Costa Rica in 2010.[11] The film is about a successful young executive who must choose between honoring her grandmother and an important work project.[12]

With money made from his first film and his stand-up comedy act, Jimenez funded his second feature, El regreso (The Return).[13] He also raised nearly $60,000 on Kickstarter to fund post-production.[11] Jiménez wrote and directed the film and starred as Antonio, who after a decade living in New York City returns to Costa Rica for a visit and is confronted with his past.[11] It won Best International Feature Film at the 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival,[3] and premiered theatrically in Costa Rica in September 2011.[1]

His follow-up, the romantic comedy Entonces nosotros (About Us), stars Jiménez as Diego, who is trying to salvage his relationship with his longtime girlfriend Sofia (Noelia Castaño).[3][14] It premiered at IFF Panama in April 2016[3] and in theaters in Costa Rica in May 2016.[15] It had the second-best opening weekend for a local film (by attendance) in the history of Costa Rican cinema.[16] In October 2016, the film was selected to be the Costa Rican entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.[15][17]

In September 2017, Jiménez wrote and directed his most recent feature film and English language debut Elsewhere, starring Parker Posey, Aden Young, Ken Jeong, Beau Bridges, Jacki Weaver and Jackie Tohn.[18] The dramedy was shot near Vancouver, British Columbia and premiered on January 24, 2020.[19]

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Credited as Role Notes
2010 A ojos cerrados (Eyes Closed) Writer, director, producer, editor
2012 El regreso (The Return) Writer, director, executive producer, editor Antonio Won Best International Feature Film, nominated for Best Director at 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival
Won Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress at the Icaro Film Festival
2015 Viaje Taxista Premiered at 2015 Tribeca Film Festival
2016 Entonces nosotros (About Us) Writer, director, editor Diego Costa Rican entry for Best Foreign Language Film at 89th Academy Awards
2018 Elsewhere Writer, director, editor
2021 Love Hard Director

Short films

Year Title Credited as Notes
2005 Avería de la conciencia Writer, director
2005 Doble llave y cadena Writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor Documentary short
2008 Una tarde cualquiera Writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor
2010 The Red Bridge Writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor
2013 Tamarindo Writer, director, editor

Stand-up specials

Year Title Credited as Role Notes
2012 ¡Esto es en serio! Writer, director Himself Comedy special
2013 Vamos por partes Writer, director Himself Comedy special
2015 ¡Así quién no! Writer, director Himself Comedy special
2017 ¿Quién dijo miedo? Writer, director Himself Comedy special
2019 Se despichó Tere Writer, director Himself Comedy special

References

  1. Matthew Aho, "El Regreso," Americas Quarterly, Fall 2011.
  2. "Interview with Hernan Jimenez & his Kickstarter Film Success," Sweeney Entertainment, October 5, 2014.
  3. Martin Dale, "IFF Panama: Hernan Jimenez Talks About 'Entonces Nosotros'," Variety, April 14, 2016.
  4. Amanda Zuniga, "5 questions for a Costa Rican comedian – 'To hear them laugh is poetry'," The Tico Times, September 6, 2015.
  5. "The Case for Art School | SFAI". sfai.edu. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  6. "Hernan Jimenez abre seis funciones mas de 'Vamos por partes'," La Nacion, July 10, 2013.
  7. Alonso Mata Blanco, "En cuatro horas se agotaron las entradas para el nuevo show de Hernan Jimenez," La Nacion, November 13, 2014.
  8. Manuel Herrera, "Hernan Jimenez habilita seis fechas mas de su espectaculo Asi quien no!" La Nacion, December 12, 2014.
  9. Gloriana Corrales, "Salen a la venta mas entradas para 'Quien dijo miedo?', de Hernan Jimenez," La Nacion, September 7, 2016.
  10. Hernan Jimenez, screenwriterscolony.org. Accessed October 21, 2016.
  11. Adam Williams, "Costa Rica's own 'El Regreso' hits theaters," The Tico Times, August 31, 2011.
  12. Eduardo Angel Russo, editor, The Film Edge: Contemporary Filmmaking in Latin America, Editorial Teseo, 2010, pp. 77-78.
  13. Jose Luis Benavides, "Film Review: El Regreso by Hernan Jimenez," Gozamos, May 25, 2012.
  14. "Hernan Jimenez's About Us Is Costa Rica's Oscar Hopeful," Cinema Tropical, October 4, 2016.
  15. Francisco Salazar, "Oscar 2017 Predictions: 'About Us' Will represent Costa Rica at the Oscars," Latin Post, October 12, 2016.
  16. "'Entonces nosotros', de Hernan Jimenez, es el Segundo filme nacional mas visto en su estreno," La Nacion, May 16, 2016.
  17. "Película "Entonces Nosotros" representará a Costa Rica en Premios Oscar". 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  18. "Parker Posey, Ken Jeong to Star in Indie Dramedy 'Elsewhere'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  19. Pedersen, Erik (2019-12-06). "Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Dramedy 'Elsewhere'; Random Media Books 'Ernesto's Manifesto'". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
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