Director | Writer | Actor | Unit Photographer SAG-AFTRA Member | U.S. Army Veteran
Cheo Tapia is an award-winning filmmaker and SAG-AFTRA actor whose career is defined by a relentless pursuit of technical mastery and authentic storytelling. Born in Manhattan in 1953 and raised between the vibrant cultures of New York and Puerto Rico, Tapia’s diverse heritage—Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Italian—informs his global perspective and "forensic" approach to cinema.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Tapia served as a Military Police officer at Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd Airborne and Special Forces. This background in discipline and high-stakes environments transitioned into a decorated career in the arts. Settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he first made his mark as a musician, earning multiple New Mexico Music Award nominations between 2002 and 2005.
His transition to film was sparked by a screen role in the indie feature The Rise and Fall of Their American Dream, but his trajectory as a creator was cemented when his debut script took 3rd Place at Christopher Coppola’s PATH FEST. Since then, Tapia has combined his veteran experience with elite training, holding credentials from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and nine professional certificates from Sundance Collab.
With 13 years of experience as a Unit Photographer in the New Mexico film industry (2 Guns, Longmire), Tapia brings a "photographer’s eye" to the director’s chair. His recent work, the AI-integrated documentary Liberty vs. Tyranny, has been selected for the 2026 Austin Lift-Off Film Festival and submitted to the Cannes Film Awards, marking him as a leader in the New Age of AI-driven filmmaking.
Through his production banner, 3s Malos Amigos Films, Tapia continues to develop high-concept narratives—like the historical thriller The Advocate’s Shadow—that explore the intersection of individual liberty and institutional power.