Cristobal Abugaber is a Mexican writer and director based in New York whose work explores the emotional terrain of family and identity—with heart, humor, and a quiet sense of wonder. Influenced by his upbringing in Mexico, his films offer intimate character portraits with themes that resonate across cultures.
His latest short film, The Perfect Tomato (2024), was selected by Oscar-qualifying festivals such as Indy Shorts and the Guanajuato International Film Festival, and won the Outstanding International Short Narrative Award at the Anchorage International Film Festival.
Before focusing fully on directing, Cristobal collaborated with Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and his team on the development of Filmmakers Academy, a premium educational platform for filmmakers. He is currently completing his MFA in Directing and Screenwriting at Columbia University, where he is preparing to shoot his thesis film, Faint Memories (2026), a sci-fi drama about grief and artificial connection. He is also developing his debut feature, The Way Home, a spiritual dramedy set in Bali.