Roberto Monticello was born in Cuba and began his career in the entertainment industry, writing and directing stage productions, which earned him numerous awards and grants. He later transitioned to film directing and settled in New York City, becoming one of the few Cuban-born directors in the U.S. with permission to shoot in Cuba.
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Monticello has dedicated his life to human rights and environmental causes. He has traveled to Ethiopia three times during the famine, once as a camp director, and received the UNICEF Relief Dag Hammarshjold Medal for his efforts. He has also journeyed through South America in pursuit of Nazi war criminals, been arrested and beaten several times, and traveled to Central America as a troubleshooter for human rights organizations.
Monticello has concentrated his efforts on ending the U.S. Embargo and Travel Ban to Cuba, bringing medicine to the island twice a year and producing films to promote a peaceful resolution. He is currently producing two Cuba-themed documentaries and has written two Cuban-themed feature scripts.
Recently, Monticello was wounded on a mission for the Red Cross in Darfur and was given the 2007 Film Humanitarian Award at the Fifth Queens International Film Festival.
Monticello is also a published poet, novelist, and journalist, and resides in New York City.
