Ricardo de Montreuil

Ricardo de Montreuil is a Peruvian filmmaker whose eclectic background blends visual arts, graphic design, and narrative cinema. Born on May 17, 1974 in the Miraflores District of Lima, he spent his formative years in the coastal city of Trujillo, where he studied painting at the Trujillo Fine Arts School under the tutelage of renowned painter Pedro Azabache. After completing high school, de Montreuil moved to the United States, earning a BA and an MA in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, while also minoring in Film and Art History; he later refined his directing skills under Judith Weston in Los Angeles. His early career began in print, serving as Art Director for Contents magazine, a role that earned multiple design awards from Print, Communication Arts, and the Society of Publication Designers. Transitioning to moving pictures, de Montreuil’s first short film La Amiga captured a Creative Achievement Award at the Festival du Film de Paris and a Jury Selection prize at the Biarritz Film Festival. He achieved commercial breakthrough with his debut feature My Brother's Wife (2005), adapted from Jaime Bayly’s novel, which secured distribution deals with Twentieth Century Fox in Latin America and Lionsgate in the United States, becoming one of the most successful Latin American releases in the U.S. market. The film’s ensemble cast, including Bárbara Mori and Christian Meier, helped cement his reputation. Subsequent projects such as Máncora (2008) competed in Sundance’s World Drama category and screened at major festivals worldwide, while Lowriders (2016) and the upcoming historical melodrama Mistura (2024) further showcase his versatility. In addition to feature films, de Montreuil has directed award‑winning music videos for artists like Andrea Echeverri and Plastilina Mosh, and high‑profile commercials for brands including Coca‑Cola, McDonald’s, and Hewlett Packard, earning nominations at Cannes Lions and multiple Promax and BDA honors. Currently the Creative Director for NBC Universal’s Mun2 channel, he continues to influence Latin American media, having been named one of Advertising Age’s "40 Under 40" in 2006 and a rising Hispanic star by Hispanic magazine in 2008.