José Luis García Agraz, a highly acclaimed and esteemed Mexican film director, came into this world on November 16, 1952, in the vibrant and bustling metropolis of Mexico City.
He then embarked on a journey of intellectual discovery, enrolling in the prestigious Centro de Estudios Cinematográficos (CUEC) at the esteemed Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
Agraz's illustrious career unfolded with the script adaptation of the renowned "Los supersabios", which underwent a transformative process to become an animated feature film in 1975, marking the beginning of his foray into the world of animation. Subsequently, Agraz's remarkable journey continued as he collaborated as an assistant director alongside esteemed filmmakers such as José Estrada, Julián Pastor, Gonzalo Martínez, and the renowned Arturo Ripstein, on a multitude of projects, further solidifying his reputation as a talented and dedicated professional in the film industry.
In the year 1979, a significant milestone was reached by the talented filmmaker, Agraz, as he showcased his inaugural short film, Háblame de Rita, which he not only directed but also wrote, at the prestigious International Documentary and Short Film Festival in Bilbao, Spain.
Following this initial success, Agraz went on to create a series of short films that not only earned him widespread critical acclaim but also garnered recognition from the film industry. These notable short films include Patricio, released in 1982, Saxofón, which premiered in 1987, Solamente una vez, showcased in 1988, Ladrón de sábado, which was released in 1990, and El último tren, which debuted in 1996.
One of his short films, Patricio, received a prestigious Ariel award, a testament to Agraz's exceptional filmmaking skills. Furthermore, Patricio was selected to be showcased at two prominent film festivals, the Festival Internacional de Nuevo Cine in Havana and the Bilbao short film festival, solidifying Agraz's reputation as a talented and innovative filmmaker.
In the year 1984, a pivotal moment in the life of a talented individual, Agraz, marked the inception of a film cooperative of great significance, Kinam, alongside esteemed colleagues Fernando Cámara, Toño Betancourt, Nerio Barbieris, and Marcelo Llacarino. This collective endeavor was undertaken with the primary objective of producing Agraz's debut feature film, a project he not only co-founded but also wrote.
The culmination of their collective efforts was the creation of Nocaut, a feature film that would go on to garner widespread recognition and acclaim. In a testament to its excellence, Nocaut was awarded the prestigious Ariel award for best debut film. Furthermore, the film received accolades at esteemed film festivals in Amiens, Madrid, and the renowned New York City.
Agraz, a renowned filmmaker, continued to showcase his versatility by producing a wide array of cinematic works, including the notable co-production between Mexico and the United States, "Sueños de oro" or "Dreams of Gold", which premiered in 1984.
In 1989, he collaborated with Japanese filmmakers to create the captivating "La paloma azul", a Japanese-Mexican co-production that garnered widespread acclaim.
Over a decade later, Agraz released "Desiertos mares" in 1993, a film that would go on to win the prestigious Best Director award at the Ariel awards in 1994, solidifying his reputation as a master of his craft.
Years later, in 2004, Agraz would once again take home the Best Director prize at the Ariel awards, this time for his work on the enigmatic "El Misterio del Trinidad".
