Vicente Juarbe

Directing

Vicente Juarbe

Born 1951-07-31

Vicente was born in the mountains of Utuado, Puerto Rico in 1951 and soon after, his family moved to New York City, where he grew up. Studied film directing in the New York School of Visual Arts in the 1970's, and later moved to Philadelphia to work for ABC television. After (5) years of producing public affairs programing for the Hispanic community, he returns to Puerto Rico in 1983. He worked as an independent producer/director/editor in the advertising and industrial markets. At the same time, he collaborated on numerous documentaries relating to the history and culture of Puerto Rico. Throughout the 1980's & 90's he worked in the film industry in various capacities. As assistant director, he worked on more than (15) films produced in Puerto Rico and the United States. In 2003, he directed Cayo, his first feature film. Cayo, provided the opportunity to work with the best theater actors in Puerto Rico, and with Roslyn Sanchez, who came from Hollywood to work on the project. Since then he has directed award winning films such as: Hay Hombres para Todas (2008), Il Viaggio: Una DocuMedia Surrealista (2011), El Rey del Bar (2012). In addition, he has directed various documentaries and two stage productions; Voces Contra el Poder (Spanish version of Speak Truth to Power written by Ariel Dorfman) and Julia Íntima (based on the writings of the Puerto Rican poet, Julia de Burgos). From 2006-2013, along with actress and professor, Idalia Pérez Garay, taught Actuando para la Cámara; workshops designed to teach film acting techniques. He is in post-production for (2) feature length documentaries: La Verdadera Historia de Teatro del Sesenta (Puerto Rico's oldest theater company) and El Sueño de Andy (The life and times of singer Andy Montañez).

Acting credits

Behind the camera

La redención poster
NR

Portrays the importance of the use of art in the formation of adolescents; the use of art, in all its manifestations, as a tool to help them meet themselves, to resurface their emotional, spiritual, and psychological life.

La redención

2015

La promesa poster
NR

A journey through customs and traditions such as the promise of the Kings, Virgen del Carmen festival, the rosaries, Christmas' parrandas, and the voices of people retelling their memories of history.

La promesa

2014

El Rey del Bar poster
NR

Early in the morning, a picturesque old bar that frames a corner of Santurce like a castle, is enlivened by a tasty salsa music that emanates from a fleece. The owner of the bar, as is his custom, dances with street virtuosity to the rhythm. Sitting near a window, a beautiful woman waits for her lost prince. Four horsemen play Dominoes with mastery, while the melancholic Bartender cleans glasses as if wanting to clean their memories. A wobbly Wise Man (Gaspar), dressed regally, enters the bar and asks for a drink. The bartender offers to serve him a glass of milk instead, which provokes a confrontation between the two, that gradually turns into a duel of words. The Bartender brings out the resentment he has for the Three Kings who never brought him gifts and for the disappointment he has towards life. The Wise Man tries to re-validate himself creating uncertainty of his true identity. Who is this King of the Bar?

El Rey del Bar

2013

Cayo poster
6.3

Ivan, Julia and Kike were born and grew up in Culebra where they shared a close friendship. Ivan ventures in a small boat and stumbles on Cayo, a small island close by. Here he finds peace of mind, and the island has a healing effect on him. When federal authorities try to keep Ivan away from Cayo, they find themselves face to face with a community that will defend Ivan's need to visit the island. Based on a true story of love and friendship that will touch your heart, this wrenching drama was filmed in the beautiful natural scenery of Culebra, Puerto Rico.

Cayo

2005

Etreum poster
NR

The story of a group of people that suddenly find themselves in an unknown place. Etreum's waiting room... But what are they waiting for? As they get to know one another they soon realize they can't escape this place.

Etreum

2019

Celina's Son poster
NR

Celina's Son is an intimate portrait of one of Puerto Rico's most celebrated singers of all time. Despite his popularity, both in Puerto Rico as well as in Latin America, he remains a simple, sincere and lovable person. This 25-minute film explores the life of Andy Montañez through the eyes of his mother Doña Celina. She describes his rise to fame from a mother's perspective, making clear the pride she feels for the oldest of her 18 children. Combined with Doña Celina's narrative, are comments from Danny Rivera, a popular Puerto Rican singer, Nick Quijano, a San Juan graphic artist and Cuco Peña, a renowned music composer. These interviews, intercut with colorful footage of Andy, paint a picture of a grass roots performer, whose humble beginnings helped shape the great artist known as Andy Montañez.

Celina's Son

2018

Celina's Son poster
NR

Celina's Son is an intimate portrait of one of Puerto Rico's most celebrated singers of all time. Despite his popularity, both in Puerto Rico as well as in Latin America, he remains a simple, sincere and lovable person. This 25-minute film explores the life of Andy Montañez through the eyes of his mother Doña Celina. She describes his rise to fame from a mother's perspective, making clear the pride she feels for the oldest of her 18 children. Combined with Doña Celina's narrative, are comments from Danny Rivera, a popular Puerto Rican singer, Nick Quijano, a San Juan graphic artist and Cuco Peña, a renowned music composer. These interviews, intercut with colorful footage of Andy, paint a picture of a grass roots performer, whose humble beginnings helped shape the great artist known as Andy Montañez.

Celina's Son

2018

Il Viaggio poster
NR

Interconnects the life of four Puerto Rican actors and a Colombian director while they participate in a Theater Improvisation Festival. They will be forced to reflect on their future in art amid economic crisis, global warming, and technological dependency.

Il Viaggio

2010

Il Viaggio poster
NR

Interconnects the life of four Puerto Rican actors and a Colombian director while they participate in a Theater Improvisation Festival. They will be forced to reflect on their future in art amid economic crisis, global warming, and technological dependency.

Il Viaggio

2010

No artwork available
NR

A few women arrive at an escort agency to choose the men who will accompany them at their events. They aren’t all there for the same reason. One of them mistakes the office for that of a gynaecologist, while two prostitutes seeking a change in profession want to learn how to be more refined and respectable. Others are indeed looking for an escort for events, where they must portray an image of personal success despite being single.

Hay hombres para todas

2008

No artwork available
NR

A documentary made by the United Methodist Church which explores the possibilities of decolonization in Puerto Rico. Interviews are done with farmers, Puerto Rican intellectuals, and different reverends from the UMC located around the island.

Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide

1981