Phonograph Films

User Bio

A filmmaker and video artist, Zaldívar completed both his BFA and a Masters of Fine Arts at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he has also taught as an adjunct faculty.

Before becoming a professional director, Zaldívar started his film career as a sound editor and designer, his work can be heard in Academy Nominated films such as Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility", in Nanette Burstein and Bret Morgan's "On the ropes" and on HBO’s America Undercover, for which he garnered an Emmy nomination.

His film and video art works have been screened at many festivals worldwide and on PBS, ABC, IFC, Showtime and WE. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards. His directing credits include "90 Miles" (PBS), "The Story of the Red Rose" (Showtime), "Palingenesis" and "Soldiers Pay," (IFC) co-directed with David O. Russell (The Fighter) and Tricia Regan (Autism, the musical).

As programmer, Zaldívar co-founded and programmed The Florida Room, an event solely dedicated to social issue documentaries in Miami Beach for five years. He also coordinated the Miami International Film Festival’s newest section "Cutting the edge", which presently showcases video art and films by artists working across disciplines.

He has served as a Juror for several mayor film festivals including the Sundance International Film Festival. He presently serves on the board of directors for NALIP (The National Association of Latino Independent Producers). He is a Sundance Film Institute Fellow. He teaches at Miami international University’s Art Institute.