Jorge Xolalpa
- Writer
- Director
- Producer
A rising star and a film festival veteran, Jorge Xolalpa (Sho-lal-pa) is an award-winning filmmaker residing in Los Angeles, California.
From an early age, Jorge dreamed of becoming a commercial airline pilot. However, due to suffering from a high level of astigmatism and fear from surgery, Jorge decided to give up on that dream at the age of 17. After many attempts at career soul-searching, Jorge found himself drawn into politics, which eventually led him to pursue a law degree. Throughout his college years, Jorge kept a journal where he wrote ideas which would eventually became some of his now films.
Jorge's initial intention was to become an actor. At the beginning of his career, given the lack of opportunity in the industry, Jorge decided to write a short-film for himself. When the time came to perform the lead role in Brian's Birthday (2014), Jorge found interest in the development process, so much that it led him to step down and instead concentrate in directing the short film. This could be noted as the landmark point in Jorge's career, as he took the needed time to perfect his writing and directing craft.
In 2014, Jorge launched Mighty Aphrodite Pictures, a production and finance company that concentrates in the production of female driven stories. In 2019 Jorge launched NYTA (Not Your Typical Assholes) Films, a Mighty Aphrodite Pictures sister company with the intent to produce LGBTQIA+ and or LatinX content, created for and by LatinX filmmakers.
In 2016 Xolalpa had the great fortune of directing his very first feature film titled Blue Line Station (2016), starring Summera Howell and Leo Ramsey. Blue Line Station (2016) was filmed entirely on an iPhone 6 PLUS and an anamorphic adapter, in eleven days and with a budget of only $100. Without any experience, Jorge took it upon himself to grab his iPhone and fearlessly went out to shoot the film, a film that successfully made its way into 46 films festivals.
In 2017 Xolalpa directed his second film Valentina (2017) starring Victoria del Rosal, Estela Garcia and Eduardo Roman. This was Jorge's first film entirely in Spanish which was also shot with a budget of $500 - Valentina went on to play in more than 40 films festivals, won several Best Pictures, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress awards.
Following the success with Valentina, in 2018 Jorge decided to reunite with Summera Howell, Julia Gallagher and Craig Robert Young for his third film Sweet Caroline (2018) - a dark thriller which critics have said to be in the vein of Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010). Sweet Caroline premiered at the Sunscreen Film Festival, taking home the Best Picture award, continuously making its way through the film festival circuit.
In 2019 Xolalpa had the honor of directing his fourth feature film Your Iron Lady (2020), once again starring Victoria del Rosal, making Your Iron Lady his second film entirely in Spanish. Your Iron Lady is based on an unpublished memoir written by Teresa Ramirez, Jorge's mother. Xolalpa has publicly admitted that Your Iron Lady is a love note from him to his mother and siblings. Exploring the early years of their arrival to America in 1998.
In 2020 Xolalpa found himself directing his new film MELANCOLíA (2021) starring Mexican stars Alessandra Rosaldo, Plutarco Haza and Laura Flores, finishing the film two days before the COVID-19 stay at home order was issued. The film is currently being repped by UTA and is expected to hit theaters fall 2021.
With all the unfortunate events that took place during 2020, Xolalpa had decided to take a break from his "One Film a Year" tradition in 2021. But of course that didn't happen. After receiving a phone call from Vadhir Derbez and Elyfer Torres, Xolalpa knew he wasn't going to be able to sit this year out and ended up shooting his new film SVGS, currently in post-production and is expected to hit theaters Fall 2022.
Although Jorge did not attend film school, his writing and directing method have been critically acclaimed by many in the industry. His thematic is constantly very dark and dramatic. Jorge's has publicly admitted that he is heavily inspired by the works of Darren Aronofsky, Yorgos Lanthimos, Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman and John Cassavetes
Jorge is a full-time Filmmaker. Make no mistake, Jorge is well experienced in many fields, including but not limited to Real Estate Development, Real Estate Property Management and Business Management. With his strong interpersonal business skills, Jorge is always ready to take on the next project.
From an early age, Jorge dreamed of becoming a commercial airline pilot. However, due to suffering from a high level of astigmatism and fear from surgery, Jorge decided to give up on that dream at the age of 17. After many attempts at career soul-searching, Jorge found himself drawn into politics, which eventually led him to pursue a law degree. Throughout his college years, Jorge kept a journal where he wrote ideas which would eventually became some of his now films.
Jorge's initial intention was to become an actor. At the beginning of his career, given the lack of opportunity in the industry, Jorge decided to write a short-film for himself. When the time came to perform the lead role in Brian's Birthday (2014), Jorge found interest in the development process, so much that it led him to step down and instead concentrate in directing the short film. This could be noted as the landmark point in Jorge's career, as he took the needed time to perfect his writing and directing craft.
In 2014, Jorge launched Mighty Aphrodite Pictures, a production and finance company that concentrates in the production of female driven stories. In 2019 Jorge launched NYTA (Not Your Typical Assholes) Films, a Mighty Aphrodite Pictures sister company with the intent to produce LGBTQIA+ and or LatinX content, created for and by LatinX filmmakers.
In 2016 Xolalpa had the great fortune of directing his very first feature film titled Blue Line Station (2016), starring Summera Howell and Leo Ramsey. Blue Line Station (2016) was filmed entirely on an iPhone 6 PLUS and an anamorphic adapter, in eleven days and with a budget of only $100. Without any experience, Jorge took it upon himself to grab his iPhone and fearlessly went out to shoot the film, a film that successfully made its way into 46 films festivals.
In 2017 Xolalpa directed his second film Valentina (2017) starring Victoria del Rosal, Estela Garcia and Eduardo Roman. This was Jorge's first film entirely in Spanish which was also shot with a budget of $500 - Valentina went on to play in more than 40 films festivals, won several Best Pictures, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress awards.
Following the success with Valentina, in 2018 Jorge decided to reunite with Summera Howell, Julia Gallagher and Craig Robert Young for his third film Sweet Caroline (2018) - a dark thriller which critics have said to be in the vein of Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010). Sweet Caroline premiered at the Sunscreen Film Festival, taking home the Best Picture award, continuously making its way through the film festival circuit.
In 2019 Xolalpa had the honor of directing his fourth feature film Your Iron Lady (2020), once again starring Victoria del Rosal, making Your Iron Lady his second film entirely in Spanish. Your Iron Lady is based on an unpublished memoir written by Teresa Ramirez, Jorge's mother. Xolalpa has publicly admitted that Your Iron Lady is a love note from him to his mother and siblings. Exploring the early years of their arrival to America in 1998.
In 2020 Xolalpa found himself directing his new film MELANCOLíA (2021) starring Mexican stars Alessandra Rosaldo, Plutarco Haza and Laura Flores, finishing the film two days before the COVID-19 stay at home order was issued. The film is currently being repped by UTA and is expected to hit theaters fall 2021.
With all the unfortunate events that took place during 2020, Xolalpa had decided to take a break from his "One Film a Year" tradition in 2021. But of course that didn't happen. After receiving a phone call from Vadhir Derbez and Elyfer Torres, Xolalpa knew he wasn't going to be able to sit this year out and ended up shooting his new film SVGS, currently in post-production and is expected to hit theaters Fall 2022.
Although Jorge did not attend film school, his writing and directing method have been critically acclaimed by many in the industry. His thematic is constantly very dark and dramatic. Jorge's has publicly admitted that he is heavily inspired by the works of Darren Aronofsky, Yorgos Lanthimos, Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman and John Cassavetes
Jorge is a full-time Filmmaker. Make no mistake, Jorge is well experienced in many fields, including but not limited to Real Estate Development, Real Estate Property Management and Business Management. With his strong interpersonal business skills, Jorge is always ready to take on the next project.
