Dany Saadia is a Mexican filmmaker,

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, podcaster and entrepreneur who won the 2008 Best Director Malaga Festival award as well as the Best Feature Film award at the Mostra de València (

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

). he is the

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of Dixo, the first and most relevant podcasting production company in Mexico.

Career

''Genesis 3:19''

In 2003 he wrote and directed ''Genesis 3:19'' a short film whose world premiere was at the 2004

Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...

. The film won 'Best Screenplay' at the 2004

Rhode Island Film Festival Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) takes place every year in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island as well as satellite locations throughout the state. History Started in 1997, the Festival is produced by Flickers, the ...

, and 'Best Short Film' at the 2004

Austin Film Festival Austin Film Festival (AFF), founded in 1994, is an organization in Austin, Texas, that focuses on writers’ creative contributions to film. Initially, AFF was called the Austin Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference and functioned to launch the ...

''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad''

In 2006 he wrote and directed his first feature film, ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad'', a Spanish-Mexican production, in

Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...

, Spain. It starred Miguel Angel Silvestre, Felix Gomez, Juan Diaz, Barbara Goenaga and Diana Bracho. The soundtrack was scored by Robin Guthrie, and edited by Ivan Aledo. The world premiere of ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad'' was during the 2008

Santa Barbara International Film Festival The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is an eleven-day film festival held in Santa Barbara, California since 1986. The festival boasts screenings of over 200 feature films and shorts from different countries and regions. SBIFF al ...

. The film earned a positive review from '' Variety'' film critic Robert Koehler. During the festival run, ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad'' won 'Best Director' in the 2008

Málaga Spanish Film Festival Málaga (, ) is a municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 578,460 in 2020, it is the second-most populous city in Andalusia after Seville and the sixth most popu ...

, and won for 'Best Film' and for 'Best Actor' for Miguel Angel Silvestre in the 2008 Mostra de Valencia.

''Faust Arp''

In 2008 he entered the

Aniboom Aniboom was an online animation studio which distributed independent animated short films and occasionally co-produced them. It was founded in 2006 by former Israeli television executive Uri Shinar. Within three years, over 13,000 clips were rele ...

In Rainbows Contest to create a full-length animated video clip for

Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...

, and his video clip submission ''Faust Arp'' was one of the finalists of the In Rainbows Animated Music Video Contest.

Podcast production

In 2005, Saadia founded Dixo, the first and leading network of podcasts and blogs in Mexico.

Filmography

Recognition

In comparing ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad'' to Saadia's earlier work, '' Variety'' film critic Robert Koehler wrote "Saadia has built his feature on the groundwork of his 2004 short, ''Genesis 3:19'', but the final work may be overbuilt," expanding, "Saadia's warm cast, full of youthful Spanish thesps (many direct from the Iberian tube), add a lightness of being to a film that gets a little too eager to fling ideas at the viewer." However, he granted that "Production values add considerable allure to the brainy entertainment, decked out with an interesting score by the

Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins was a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrum ...

' Robin Guthrie."

Awards and nominations

* 2004, won 'Best Screenplay' at

for ''Genesis 3:19'' * 2004, won 'Best Narrative Short Film' at '

for ''Genesis 3:19'' * 2006, shortlisted for ''Best Short Fiction Film Short'' by -

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for ''Genesis 3:19'' * 2008, won 'Best Director' at

for ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad'' * 2008, won 'Best Feature Film' at Mostra de Valencia for ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad'' * 2008, won 'Best Actor' for Miguel Angel Silvestreat at Mostra de Valencia for ''3:19 Nada Es Casualidad''

References

External links

*
SBCC's '3:19' Review
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saadia, Dany Mexican film directors Mexican screenwriters 1969 births Living people New York Film Academy alumni