Photo by Teresa May Nichta

Juan A. Izaguirre is a Mexican-American documentary director & cinematographer specializing in vérité filmmaking. Through evocative and purposeful imagery, Juan focuses his lens on character-driven stories rooted in marginalized communities and subcultures. His past work has included serving as a producer, cinematographer, and editor for the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Arts In Context. For his camerawork on the series, Juan was awarded two Emmys in the Texas region. He was also selected to participate in the ASC Vision Mentorship Program created by the American Society of Cinematographers. Most recently, Juan was selected to be a part of PBS’ inaugural class for the Accelerator Fellowship for Diverse Voices. Juan’s work has premiered at film festivals such as Cannes Film Festival, South by Southwest, CineFestival, and many more.

Personal Statement

Having gotten my start as a solo producer, I approach all projects, whether as a director or cinematographer, with a nuanced creative mindset that carefully considers all aspects of the production process. When I’m not absorbed with the visual dynamism of a project, I’m usually lost in conversation with one of my participants and being reminded, again and again, of why their story matters. Whether it’s preserving the fading history of people of color in Central Texas or following a group of determined Bigfooters in the coastal forests of Northern California, I apply the same artistic methodology to all my projects, and I do so with equal measures of sincerity and empathy for my participants and their stories.

Based in Los Angeles, CA