Eva Aridjis
Encyclopedia
Eva S. Aridjis, born 1974 in Holland, Netherlands
while her father was serving there as Mexico's ambassador, is a Mexican
filmmaker. She later attended the American School Foundation
in Mexico City
, Princeton University, and New York University. She has made many prize-winning short and feature-length films.
, and now living in New York
, is the daughter of writer Homero Aridjis
and Betty Ferber de Aridjis, an environmental activist & translator. Eva Aridjis left Mexico City when she was 18 to go study Comparative Literature at Princeton University, and then she got an MFA in Film and TV at New York University (1996–2001). While at NYU she made several short films, including "Taxidermy: The Art of Imitating Life" and "Billy Twist", both of which played at the Sundance Film Festival and dozens of other festivals around the world. An activist for many of Mexico City
's street children, in 2003 she made the film "Niños de la Calle" ("Children of the Street") to bring attention to the epidemic.http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117921403?categoryid=31&cs=1 The documentary was nominated for 2 Mexican Academy Awards (Arieles), and won the Best Feature Documentary prize at the Morelia Film Festival in 2003. Since making this movie in 2001, Aridjis has stayed in contact with the protagonists. Eva wrote and directed her first narrative feature film entitled The Favor
, starring Frank Wood and Ryan Donowho, in 2004. The film had its premiere at the CineVegas Film Festival in June 2006, where it won a prize. Ryan Donowho also won the "Best Actor" prize at the San Diego Fillm Festival for his performance in the film. "The Favor" was released theatrically in Mexico in 2007 and in the United States in 2008 and is currently airing on the Sundance Channel. Aridjis's second feature documentary, about a Mexican religious cult, is entitled "La Santa Muerte" ("Saint Death") and is narrated by Gael García Bernal
. "La Santa Muerte" premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2007 and has screened at festivals all over the US, Latin America, and Europe. Aridjis is currently teaching Screenwriting in the Graduate Film department at New York University and preparing her next narrative feature.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
while her father was serving there as Mexico's ambassador, is a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
filmmaker. She later attended the American School Foundation
American School Foundation
The American School Foundation is a school in Mexico City founded by individuals from the U.S. It offers classes from kindergarten through secondary school ....
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Princeton University, and New York University. She has made many prize-winning short and feature-length films.
Biography
Born in Holland on July 24, 1974, raised in Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and now living in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, is the daughter of writer Homero Aridjis
Homero Aridjis
Homero Aridjis is a Mexican poet, novelist, environmental activist, journalist and diplomat known for his independence.-Family and Early Life:...
and Betty Ferber de Aridjis, an environmental activist & translator. Eva Aridjis left Mexico City when she was 18 to go study Comparative Literature at Princeton University, and then she got an MFA in Film and TV at New York University (1996–2001). While at NYU she made several short films, including "Taxidermy: The Art of Imitating Life" and "Billy Twist", both of which played at the Sundance Film Festival and dozens of other festivals around the world. An activist for many of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
's street children, in 2003 she made the film "Niños de la Calle" ("Children of the Street") to bring attention to the epidemic.http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117921403?categoryid=31&cs=1 The documentary was nominated for 2 Mexican Academy Awards (Arieles), and won the Best Feature Documentary prize at the Morelia Film Festival in 2003. Since making this movie in 2001, Aridjis has stayed in contact with the protagonists. Eva wrote and directed her first narrative feature film entitled The Favor
The Favor (2006 film)
The Favor is a 2006 drama film written and directed by Eva S. Aridjis. The film is about a photographer living in New Jersey who gets a phone call from a woman who broke his heart 25 years ago. The film was premiered on October 15, 2006, at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico and opened in Mexico...
, starring Frank Wood and Ryan Donowho, in 2004. The film had its premiere at the CineVegas Film Festival in June 2006, where it won a prize. Ryan Donowho also won the "Best Actor" prize at the San Diego Fillm Festival for his performance in the film. "The Favor" was released theatrically in Mexico in 2007 and in the United States in 2008 and is currently airing on the Sundance Channel. Aridjis's second feature documentary, about a Mexican religious cult, is entitled "La Santa Muerte" ("Saint Death") and is narrated by Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal is a Mexican film actor and director.-Early life:García Bernal was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the son of Patricia Bernal, an actress and former model, and José Ángel García, an actor and director. His stepfather is Sergio Yazbek, whom his mother married when García Bernal was...
. "La Santa Muerte" premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2007 and has screened at festivals all over the US, Latin America, and Europe. Aridjis is currently teaching Screenwriting in the Graduate Film department at New York University and preparing her next narrative feature.
Miscellanea
- Eva wrote, directed and co-produced The FavorThe Favor (2006 film)The Favor is a 2006 drama film written and directed by Eva S. Aridjis. The film is about a photographer living in New Jersey who gets a phone call from a woman who broke his heart 25 years ago. The film was premiered on October 15, 2006, at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico and opened in Mexico...
, her first English-language feature film. - She is AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on her mother's side and Greek-MexicanGreek MexicanA Greek Mexican is a Mexican person of Greek descent. The largest Greek communities are in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Sinaloa. Smaller numbers of Greeks can be found in Aguascalientes, Acaponeta, Tepic, and Pachuca...
on her father's. - Her sister is writer Chloe AridjisChloe AridjisChloe Aridjis is a London-based Mexican writer. She is the oldest daughter of writer and diplomat Homero Aridjis and Betty Ferber de Aridjis, an environmental activist & translator...
- Tony Award winner Frank WoodFrank WoodFrank Wood is the name of:*Frank Wood , Iowa State Senator from the 42nd District*Frank Porter Wood , Canadian art collector*Frank Wood , American actor...
describes Aridjis as "one of those extremely intelligent but-not-dependent-on-irony people." - A graduate of New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU) - Eva directed the video for New York band The WalkmenThe WalkmenThe Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer...
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