Jerzain Ortega
Director
Jerzain Ortega
Director
“It’s hard to be original in this era, but settling is not an option for me”
Jerzain Ortega began his film career as a makeup artist in Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto". In 2015, he made a one man crew movie and what he considers his film school: "Diary of a misfit".
In 2023, with a 2 people crew, he made his first professional feature film "Telephone", which had it's International Premier at Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF 21) and won the "Best Screenplay" award, one of the only 3 awards given to feature films.
In 2024, he finished his 3rd feature film "Lugubrious", with a 3 people crew and a budget of only 3K USD, premiering at Macabro FICH.
Now, 2025, he's self taught in animation and made his first animated short film "Chewing Gum".
Filmography
  • Writer (5 Credits)
    Chewing Gum2025
    Animation
    Lugubrious2024
    Experimental, Feature
    Lúgubre2024
    Experimental, Feature
    TELEPHONE2023
    Experimental, Feature
    diary of a misfit2015
    Feature
  • Director (5 Credits)
    Chewing Gum2025
    Animation
    Lugubrious2024
    Experimental, Feature
    Lúgubre2024
    Experimental, Feature
    TELEPHONE2023
    Experimental, Feature
    diary of a misfit2015
    Feature
  • Producer (4 Credits)
    Lugubrious2024
    Experimental, Feature
    Lúgubre2024
    Experimental, Feature
    TELEPHONE2023
    Experimental, Feature
    diary of a misfit2015
    Feature
  • Animator (1 Credit)
    Chewing Gum2025
    Animation
  • Cinematography (1 Credit)
    TELEPHONE2023
    Experimental, Feature
  • Acting (1 Credit)
    diary of a misfit2015
    Feature
17 Awards & Selections
Official Selection
Chewing Gum
DEPARTMENT OF ANARCHY (Slamdance side program)
Los Angeles
2026
Micro-Short - Official Competition
Chewing Gum
ANIMA LATINA Festival de Cine de Animación Latinoamericano
Buenos Aires
2025
Official Selection
Chewing Gum
LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival
Kyiv
2025
Official Competition
Chewing Gum
19th BIG CARTOON Festival
Moscow
2025
Official Selection
Chewing Gum
GIFF 28 Guanajuato International Film Festival
Guanajuato
2025
Experimental - Official Selection
Chewing Gum
ANIBAR Animation Festival
Peja
2025
Official Competition
Lugubrious
Macabro FICH
Mexico City
2024
WINNER for Best Screenplay. Nominated for best Director and Best Feature Film
TELEPHONE
TIFF 21st Tirana International Film Festival
Tirana
2023
WINNER, Audience Award: Best Crime Feature
TELEPHONE
Another Hole In The Head
San Francisco
2023
Official Selection
TELEPHONE
FICG 38 Guadalajara International Film Festival
Guadalajara
2023
Best Mexcian Feature Film. Best Mexican Director. Best Music Score.
diary of a misfit
Premios Latino
Marbella
2016
Nominated for Best Low Budget Film
diary of a misfit
Phoenix Film Festival, Melbourne Australia
Melbourne
2015
Best Film and Best director
diary of a misfit
Muestra de cine Jaliscience
Guadalajara
2015
Official Selection
Lugubrious
Brussels Independent Film Festival
Brussels
Official Selection
diary of a misfit
Los Angeles Cinefest 2016
LA
Official Selection
diary of a misfit
Cinefest Global 2016
Texas
Official Selection
diary of a misfit
Broken Knuckle Film Festival
New York
Show All Awards
“It’s hard to be original in this era, but settling is not an option for me”
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