Director | Creative Producer

I am a director, writer, and producer from California with global experience from having lived in New York, London and Cape Town. My latest scripted feature THREE YEARS GONE, starring Julio Macias (On My Block, Selena: The Series), will premiere in 2026. My debut feature SONS OF THE SEA won Best South African Film at the 2021 Durban International Film Festival and was in competition at Urbanworld and the Austin Film Festivals. His latest documentary feature, ORIGINAL SIN: MY SON THE KILLER premiered on Showmax in 2024, and was nominated for Best Documentary at the Venice TV Awards, and is now streaming on Paramount+. I am a fellow of the Film Independent 2024 Episodic TV Directing Intensive and alum of the BFI Feature Film Lab.


I began my journey as a film editor, working alongside some of our greatest filmmakers and musicians. This foundational experience led to editing a Grammy Award winning feature documentary and winning a New York Festivals Award for my work on Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams." While I cherished shaping narratives in the edit suite, I discovered a deeper drive to lead creative projects from conception to final delivery—directing, producing, and editing to ensure complete creative vision.

My short films have screened at international film festivals and been exhibited at the Balenciaga Museum in Spain and The Wallace Collection in London. I am a fellow of the Film Independent 2024 Episodic TV Directing Intensive and alum of the BFI Feature Film Lab.

COMMERCIAL
Too many to count, but whether it’s a brand film for Hermès or an ad for Nescafé, I'm skilled at leading full production workflows while crafting emotionally resonant narratives for global brands. What makes me different is that I am hands on, I actually produce the work end-to-end, not just concept it. I have global media experience creating content across B2B and B2C in tech, healthcare, lifestyle, and luxury goods industries. I help brands tell stories that resonate with real people. My patient story work for Pfizer's Living Proof series earned a Webby Honoree recognition for best unscripted branded content.

EDITOR FEATURES/MUSIC VIDEOS
Kanye West, Beyoncé, The Last Poets, Regina Spektor, Duffy, Anjulie, Danni Harrison/theNewNo2, Tom Petty, Paris Hilton

CONTACT:

John Gutierrez

johnksfilm@gmail.com