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Two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Rudy Valdez is known in the entertainment industry for his commitment to telling powerful, diverse, and dynamic stories through an unparalleled and self-taught cinematic lens. From documenting the rise of one of the world's best-known musicians to delving into the devastating impact mandatory minimum prison sentences can have on a family, Valdez's commitment to uplifting unheard voices while shining a light on cultural, social, and political moments not only reveals suppressed stories but also sparks meaningful conversations. His ability to capture the essence of human emotion and experience has earned him critical acclaim and has firmly established Valdez as a transformative and influential figure in the world of filmmaking.
This year Valdez's six-part docuseries "Choir," where he served as Director, Executive Producer, and Cinematographer, will debut on Disney+. Produced by Imagine Documentaries and Blumhouse Television, "Choir" follows the kids of the Detroit Youth Choir as they prepare for the performance of a lifetime. Through their eyes, viewers experience the highs and lows of growing up in Detroit, navigating the challenges of balancing family, school, and athletics, all while pursuing their dreams of taking their talents to the next level following an appearance on "America's Got Talent." "Choir" premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, and will release all episodes on January 31, 2024, on Disney+.
In addition to "Choir" Valdez recently Directed, Executive Produced and was Cinematographer on the poignant and award nominated documentary "Carlos" (Sony Pictures Classics, Imagine Documentaries) which was released in September 2023. The film chronicles Carlos Santana's journey from a 14-year-old street musician to a 10-time Grammy award winning global sensation, featuring unseen archival footage and tracks. The film was an official selection at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and earned a 2023 Critics 'Choice Documentary Nomination for Best Music Documentary.
Valdez's award-winning documentary short "Translators" (in partnership with U.S. Bank) also debuted in 2023 and follows three Latino families and the kids who act as their translators on matters that are sometimes more adult than they are. The short was an official selection at LALIFF and the Tribeca Film Festival and won the Tribeca X Award for Best Short Documentary.
Raised in Lansing, Michigan, Valdez's breakthrough project "The Sentence" (HBO, 2018) marked his directorial debut, and was a true labor of love. Shot over the course of a decade, Valdez learned the art of filmmaking on the job as he worked as a producer, editor, sound mixer, production assistant, and everything in between. The feature documentary tells the very personal story of his sister's plight in the criminal justice system, while tackling subjects like mandatory minimums and sentencing reform. "The Sentence" put Valdez on the map as a director and filmmaker on the rise, winning the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, the US Documentary Audience Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and he was a 2018 Critics Choice Documentary Awards Best New Director nominee.
Valdez launched his career as a camera operator on the Peabody Awards winning Sundance series "Brick City." He went on to work as a cinematographer on a plethora of projects including "The Last Patrol" (HBO), Whoopi Goldberg presents "Moms Mabley: I Got Something To Tell You" (HBO) produced and directed by Whoopi Goldberg, "Remembering the Artist, Robert De Niro, Sr." (HBO), "Prison Dogs," directed by Emmy Award winner Geeta Gandbhir and Perri Peltz, "Buried Above Ground," directed by Ben Selkow and "The Talk" (PBS), directed by Academy Award nominee Sam Pollard.
Additional director credits include: "ReOpening Night" (HBO Max), "Breakaway" (ESPN), "Make Him Known," and the four-part docuseries "We Are: The Brooklyn Saints" (Imagine Documentaries, Netflix). Valdez also co-directed the premiere episode of "Through Our Eyes" (HBO) alongside Academy Award-winning director, Geeta Gandbhir, a four-part docuseries from Sesame Workshop that explores the lives of American families from the perspective of children; how they navigate their circumstances with their families and the world at large.
Valdez helms Bluff Road Films, an independent production company focused on creating meaningful social, cultural, and political stories while championing equity both on screen and behind the camera. The mission is two-fold, to expand the range of stories told and to provide a platform for diverse storytellers. Bluff Road Films takes pride in sharing impactful human stories without limiting labels, and its critically acclaimed projects have premiered at prestigious festivals and have been distributed by major platforms such as Netflix, HBO, and Disney+, to name a few.
