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Alejandro Gómez Monteverde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Monteverde.
Alejandro Gómez Monteverde
Monteverde at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
José Alejandro Gómez Monteverde

(1977-07-13) 13 July 1977 (age 47)
Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active2001–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2006)​
Children3

José Alejandro Gómez Monteverde (born 13 July 1977) is a Mexican filmmaker. His first film, Bella, took top prize at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival by winning the "People's Choice Award".[1] He also directed the films Sound of Freedom and Cabrini.

In 2007, Monteverde received the US Citizenship and Immigration Services' "Outstanding American by Choice" Award, which recognizes the achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens.[2]

Career

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Monteverde wrote and directed Bella,[3][4][5] a film that took top prize at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival by winning the "People's Choice Award".[3] Bella was produced by Sean Wolfington, Eduardo Verástegui, Leo Severino, and Denise Pinckley.[6] Monteverde and the filmmakers received honors for Bella from the Smithsonian and the White House. The Smithsonian Latino Center also honored Monteverde with their "Legacy Award".[7] After US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush saw the film, Monteverde was invited to sit with the First Lady in her private box during the annual State of the Union speech in 2007.[8]

Monteverde directed and co-wrote Little Boy, a film set during World War II, released in 2015.[9]

Monteverde directed and co-wrote Sound of Freedom, starring Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino and Bill Camp. It was shot in 2018 and was set to be released by 2020, but because of the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney and the film's subsequent shelving, it was not released until Angel Studios acquired it.[10] He also directed the 2024 film Cabrini, which is based on the life of Frances Xavier Cabrini. Like Sound of Freedom, the film is also distributed by Angel Studios.[11][12][13]

In 2022, Monteverde was given a Humanitarian Award by the Coronado Island Film Festival.[14]

Personal life

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Monteverde married American actress Ali Landry on 8 April 2006 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.[15][16] They have three children: a daughter born in July 2007,[17] and sons born in October 2011,[18] and July 2013.[19] Their son Valentin Francesco's middle name was inspired by Pope Francis, as Monteverde and Landry met him while she was pregnant and he blessed the baby.[19]

His father, Juan Manuel Gómez Fernández, and brother, Juan Manuel Gómez Monteverde, were found dead with fatal head wounds in Pueblo Viejo, in the Mexican state of Veracruz, on September 19, 2015, approximately two weeks after they were kidnapped from their home in nearby Tamaulipas.[20] On November 9, 2015, six people were arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Gómez Fernández and Gómez Monteverde. The suspects were allegedly holding six Central American migrants hostage at the time of their arrest, according to the Chief of the Mexican Federal Police.[21]

Filmography

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Directed features
Year Title Distributor Notes
2006 Bella Roadside Attractions
2015 Little Boy Open Road Films (US) / Videocine (Mexico)
2023 Sound of Freedom Angel Studios
2024 Cabrini
TBA Bethlehem Filming[22]

References

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  1. ^ Joe O'Connell. Like Out of a Movie: The legend of Alejandro Gomez Monteverde. Austin Chronicle. Austinchronicle.com. Retrieved on 10 March 2007.
  2. ^ "2007 Outstanding American by Choice Recipients". U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b Robert W. Welkos (4 December 2007). "Bella is a Rallying Point". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  4. ^ Gregg Goldstein (30 August 2007). "Roadside takes Bella on US Roadtrip". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  5. ^ Glickman, Aaron. "Bella Movie Producer Sean Wolfington". Social Miami. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
  6. ^ "'Bella' producer says THR put film on radar". The Hollywood Reporter. 27 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. ^ Aaron Glickman (March 13, 2007). "SmithsonianHonorsBella". SocialMiami.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  8. ^ Tomas C. (25 January 2007). "PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH INVITED MEXICAN FILM DIRECTOR ALEJANDRO MONTEVERDE TO SIT IN THE FIRST LADY'S BOX DURING HIS STATE OF UNION ADDRESS, AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICAN SOCIETY". HispanicTips.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  9. ^ "Little Boy". IMDb.
  10. ^ "Sound of Freedom (2022)". IMDb.
  11. ^ Dowd, Cooper (13 June 2023). "Angel Studios Announces Almost A Dozen New Projects at Illuminate Event". Movieguide | The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Sound of Freedom director denies film linked to QAnon theory". The Guardian.
  13. ^ "'Sound Of Freedom' Director Alejandro Monteverde Sets 'Cabrini' With Angels Studios For Spring Release". Deadline.
  14. ^ "2022 Coronado Island Film Festival Filmmaker Awards and $20,000 in Cash Prizes". Coronado Times. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  15. ^ abc.com (5 February 2007). "In Style: Celebrity Weddings". ABC. Archived from the original on 17 March 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  16. ^ Borzillo-Vrenna, Carrie (9 April 2006). "Ali Landry Weds in Mexico". People Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  17. ^ Dyball, Lennie (12 July 2007). "Former Doritos Girl Ali Landry Has a Daughter". People. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  18. ^ Raferty, Liz; Garzia, Jennifer (10 October 2011). "Ali Landry Welcomes a Son". People. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Ali Landry Welcomes Son Valentin Francesco". People Magazine. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  20. ^ Miller, Michael (24 September 2015). "Ali Landry's Father-in-Law and Brother-in-Law Found Dead in Mexico 16 Days After Kidnapping". People. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  21. ^ Hecht, John (9 November 2015). "Police Arrest Six People Over Murder of Director Alejandro Monteverde's Father, Brother". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (7 November 2024). "Angel Studios Sets 'Bethlehem' From 'Sound Of Freedom's Alejandro Monteverde; Sam Worthington, Ben Mendelsohn, Gael García Bernal & Deva Cassel Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
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