Alfonso Cuarón

Alfonso Cuarón was born in Mexico City in 1961, and grew up in the city as well; he went on to study both filmmaking and philosophy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. After graduating, Cuarón began working in television in Mexico, first as a technician and then as a director. Cuarón's television work led to assignments as an assistant director for several Latin American film productions (including and Romero), and in 1991, he landed his first big-screen directorial assignment. Solo Con Tu Pareja was a dark comedy about a womanizing businessman who learns he's contracted AIDS; the film was a massive hit in Mexico, and was enthusiastically received around the world.

Hollywood, in the form of Sydney Pollack, took notice and brought Cuarón to the US to helm an episode of the Showtime series "Fallen Angels". The director earned a CableACE Award for his work and moved into features with "The Little Princess" (1995), a critically-acclaimed box office dud that was the third go-around for the Frances Hodgson Burnett story. At year's end, Cuarón was cited by the Los Angeles Film Critics for his efforts.

For his follow-up to "A Little Princess", he directed "Great Expectations" (1997), a modern update of the Dickens classic, now set in Florida fishing villages and New York art's scene. Still a tale of a young man making his way in the world, the film stars Ethan Hawke, Robert De Niro and Gwyneth Paltrow. Cuarón seemed to find his niche with the release of "Y Tu Mama Tambien" (And Your Mother Too)(2001). The frank portrayal of two adolescent boys and their road trip with an older woman was a runaway success. Although the film was met with some controversy over its graphic sex scenes, the overwhelming response was positive. Cuarón's most recent film is "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004).

Cuarón currently lives in New York City.