REEL DE ORO

The Spanish filmmaker, Alejandro Toledo began his career in 1983. Since then he has founded two production houses (Hangar 18 and Propaganda) and worked with Spanish and international production companies. Currently he is part of the ACA Films’ family for the Mexican market and for developing projects for the US Hispanic market.

His wide portfolio includes almost 1,000 commercial, music videos, documentaries and feature films projects. He has filmed mainly in international markets, in many different countries. The range of his work shows his interest for all genres and his narrative sensibility.

Q: When did you find out that you will become a director-producer?
AT: I have 35 years directing. I did my first film when I was 19 years old was, it was a short-film about Mahler and surprisingly it won many awards. I had to sell the car my grandmother gave me in order to produce it. My work, my craft has always been a passion I renew in each shooting. It’s incredible to still feel the same nerves and the same passion for my work.

Q: How does all the cultural richness you’ve gotten by filming all around the world translates in your visual style?
AT: I’m not a traveler, I’m an immigrant. Filming in many different countries has given me an incredible experience, the wisdom to understand different cultures and religions, and to take on in order to adapt to what our work demands. Additionally, a wide range of technical teams, experiences and all kind of anecdotes, ways of working, creative ideas and very different types of clients. All of this has given me, as a director and as a man, a personal richness and a breadth of views of which I’m very proud of.

Q: Are you developing any fiction project currently?
AT: I just finished as unit action director of the film, Living Pablo with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, under Fernando Leon’s direction. I filmed almost all the movie’s action and it was incredible, it was a great experience.
I want to do fiction as a natural evolution of my career. I’m working on two feature films very different from each other, one in India and the other in Spain. But, above all, I’m am a publicist and I don’t want to ever loose that perspective. Is a work that I am really passionate about and has given everything I have.

Q: How has been your relationship with ACA Films?
AT: I’ve known Elda Bravo all my life and I adore her. Recently working with her has been wonderful.

Q: Which have been your most recent clients?
AT: Toyota, Thortons, Mercedes Benz, Ferrero, Amazon, Liverpool, Alpha Beer, Aeroméxico.

Q: Where’s Alejandro Toledo heading in the future?
AT: Towards all the projects that offer me wisdom in my work. Even towards VR, which I’m discovering with wonder and great interest as a new way to tell stories. That’s what currently interests me the most, to tell stories from emotion, from the ordinary life. I believe this is the most natural way for my work to evolve, and in which I feel more comfortable. I value increasingly more simplicity, reaching the essence without missing the ancillary.

Production Company:
ACA Films, USA
Contact: Gloria Ortega

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