Joel Alfonso Vargas

Joel, a native of The Bronx, New York draws inspiration from the culture of his Dominican-American community first encountered in the barbershops and hair salons his family frequented, and from a lifelong love of urban music and art. These early influences sparked a passion for storytelling that led him to filmmaking. Self-taught at first, he began making short films as a teenager, often working solo and casting actors via Craigslist. His pursuit of craft later brought him to USC, the University of the Arts London (as a Fulbright Scholar), and the National Film and Television School, where he focused on writing and directing.

Rooted in a grassroots filmmaking ethos, Joel favors street casting and semi-improvised dialogue to preserve the raw intimacy and authenticity that define his voice. His recent work explores the porous boundaries between documentary and fiction, developed in close collaboration with the communities he depicts. His debut feature, Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy Malo), premiered at Sundance 2025, earning a Special Jury Award, and internationally at the 75th Berlinale. Joel is also a winner of the Locarno Pardi di Domani Best Direction Award, and has been named a "New Face of Independent Film" by Filmmaker Magazine.