Directing

Sergio Morcillo

Biography

Sergio Morcillo is a Spanish filmmaker who, between the ages of 15 and 19, directed several amateur short films such as “Bloody Mirrors” (selected at Sitges Brigadoon 2009) and “Don’t Stop,” which provided him with early experience in the industry. In 2012, he began studying Film Directing at Camilo José Cela University in Madrid, under the guidance of professionals such as Pilar Vaquero and Miguel Martí. That same year marked a turning point in his career with the short film “Tus gritos me dan risa” (“Your Screams Make Me Laugh”), a tribute to 1980s horror cinema. Produced by Terror Club, a production company specializing in horror and fantasy, it remains the director’s most successful short film to date — selected for over 100 festivals, including its official premiere at the Sitges International Film Festival, and winner of 14 awards, among them Best Film at the Fanter Film Festival in Cáceres. Following the success of “Tus gritos me dan risa”, Morcillo directed “M is for Metamorphose” in 2013, one of the entries shortlisted for the anthology sequel “The ABCs of Death 2.” The short ranked 13th out of nearly 600 submissions. A few months later, Sergio’s team released a version 2.0 of the film for international festival distribution, achieving 45 official selections. Among the producers was the special effects company Inside FX, led by David Ambit, known for his work on landmark genre films such as “Rec” and “Sweet Home” (Filmax). In August 2014, Morcillo directed the book trailer for Fernando Polanco’s zombie novel “Zombi D’or: Ciudad de vacaciones.” In 2015, he was selected to direct the commemorative spot for the Nocturna International Film Festival in Madrid — a tribute to the 25th anniversary of Wes Craven’s classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” That same year, he also worked as a production assistant on Víctor Matellano’s feature film “Vampyres.” In 2016, he directed “You’re Gonna Die Tonight,” produced once again by Terror Club and Fonofox, and mentored by Miguel Ángel Vivas, director of acclaimed films such as “Kidnapped” and “Extinction.” Starring renowned actress Mónica Aragón, this tale of revenge and suspense had its world premiere at the 4th edition of the Nocturna International Film Festival in Madrid. Distributed by YAQ (headed by Raúl Cerezo), the short has since achieved 60 festival selections and 8 international awards, including at the San Sebastián Horror Week and Fantasporto in Portugal. In 2017, Morcillo directed what remains his most acclaimed work to date: “Gotas” (“Drops”). Produced by Darko Decimavilla and written by Santiago Taboada, the short was distributed by Salon Indien Films with the support of the Community of Madrid. To date, “Gotas” has received more than 50 festival selections worldwide — including the Sitges International Film Festival 2018 — and has won 21 international awards in countries such as Greece, Canada, and Chile. He has also directed the official FIFA World Cup music video “Desde Rusia con amor” (“From Russia with Love”), performed by the Spanish band Taburete and produced by Rumbo Films. Additionally, Sergio Morcillo has directed the short films “La Elegida” (“The Chosen One”) and “Cabrales”, both of which are currently being screened at various international festivals.