Benjamin Lopez, also known as Benji López, did not follow the traditional path to filmmaking. As a teenager, his passion lay in music, leading him to become the lead vocalist for the rock group Taba Co at the age of 15, and releasing two acclaimed albums.
It wasn't until his late 20s and early 30s that Lopez discovered his passion for filmmaking. The unexpected success of a homework assignment, a short film he directed while attending the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, sparked his exploration of writing and directing abilities.
Lopez's directorial debut, Tainos, an adventure drama, was inspired by that short film and explores a fictional lost Indian tribe that significantly contributed to Puerto Rico's cultural foundation.
Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Lopez spent the first six years of his life before moving to Comerio, Puerto Rico, his father's hometown, with his mother and brother. He pursued a bachelor's degree in Communications with a concentration in Media Production at the University, where he gained practical experience as an audiovisual technician at Stage Crew, Inc.
Lopez went on to amass a significant portfolio directing television commercials and music videos. He co-founded the Puerto Rican-based production company Innova Entertainment with Eduardo Correa in 2004.
After releasing Tainos, Lopez showcased his directorial prowess by creating the successful trilogy, Mi Verano con Amanda, the first comedy franchise in Puerto Rico. The film earned three awards at the 2009 Rincon Film Festival.
In 2013, he premiered his fourth full-feature film, ¿Quién Paga la Cuenta?, a dramedy set in Honduras, which became one of the Top 10 highest-grossing films in Central America and still holds the record as the highest-grossing local film in Honduras.
Lopez's films are available on popular streaming services such as Amazon, Flix Latino, and TV Networks like Cinelatino and Viendomovies.
His latest projects include the romantic comedy Amor en 266 Millas, exploring themes of divorce, starting anew, and pursuing one's passions, and the coming-of-age story Mixtape, geared towards teens. Both films are set for release in the coming months.
With a new slate of movies written and set to film in 2022, Lopez is poised to make a significant impact on the mainstream film landscape. He is open to exploring new and exciting opportunities in the business and looks forward to showcasing his work to new audiences.
