The Institute

Adel L. Morales is a former high school English teacher-by-day and a filmmaker-by-night, who quit his 17-year-career to pursue his passion for filmmaking. He began his studies at the NYU Grad School Film Program in the Fall of 2012. Bronx born and bred, Adel received his B.A. in English Literature from Pace University and his M.A. in English from Lehman College/CUNY. Despite being raised in the toughest borough of New York City during one of its most dangerous times, he avoided many of the obstacles his friends and family succumbed to. In 2008, after co-founding HollyHood Productions and joining SAG/AFTRA, Adel became the President of the NY Chapter of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, serving two terms. In 2011, he appeared in the critically-acclaimed Sundance feature film "Gun Hill Road," which cemented his decision to go back to school. In his three years at NYU, Adel has produced eighteen films, seven of which he wrote & directed. Adel is currently in development of his first horror feature, “La Santera,” based on bits of spiritual stories he heard as a child.