Juan Manuel Ortiz Valenzuela (Bogotá, 1978) is an independent filmmaker working in fiction and documentary. He studied film at UNAL, completed a directing master’s at KHM, and earned a screenwriting degree from the DFFB. He has directed eight short films and the feature SOLA, and has worked as a writer for Komplizen Films, Dynamo, Network Movie, and Odeon Film. His projects have received international awards and support from institutions such as the HBO AXN Film Festival, Miami Film Festival, Korea Green Festival, Filmstiftung NRW, and the Wim Wenders Foundation.
His writing focuses on contemporary themes through layered narratives and genre-blending. Since 2015, he has been Head Author and Staff Writer at Lagerfeuer Writersroom. As a director, he moves between realism and expressionism, seeking bold imagery and strong performances, with experience in both tightly scripted work and improvisation. He also runs Canchoso Filmproduktion, fostering creative collaborations between Germany and Latin America.