CAREER PATH OF THE SCREENWRITER, PRODUCER, AND DIRECTOR:
Javier Urtasun Palacios was born in 1980 in Pamplona/Iruña. After passing his university entrance exams, he decided to study Business Administration at the University of Deusto in San Sebastián. During an exchange semester in Buenos Aires, he discovered dramatic arts, and upon his return, after obtaining his degree, he moved to Barcelona to study video production.
After finishing his studies, he found himself in an environment where cinematic creativity was not easily monetized, so he directed his professional career towards advertising, working as an online copywriter for brands such as BMW, IKEA, and SEAT.
Finally, in January 2009, he decided to quit his job to write, produce, direct, and star in his first movie, which was also the first Spanish-Nigerian co-production in history, Superzebraman. To accomplish this, he moved to Nollywood (the nickname for the Nigerian film industry in Lagos) and recorded a documentary about the adventure. After three years of hard work, during which he alternated editing the documentary with freelance work, Superzebraman was finally presented in Pamplona/Iruña on June 26, 2012, with the final support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture.
Two months later, thanks to an international projection grant from the Government of Navarra, Javier traveled to Hollywood to study a Master’s in Film Direction at the New York Film Academy. In September 2014, he presented his thesis short film Happiness under the Tree and graduated.
He currently resides in Pamplona, working on the script, production, and direction of that final master’s project, Feliz bajo el árbol, which has been expanded into a feature film, as well as the documentary NO+PARA2.
To view his work, please follow the YouTube link or profile in Behance. Thank you.