Biografia
Award winning provocative author, filmmaker, actor, activist and three time Academy Awards contender "Oasis" (0SCARS 2018 - amongst the 341 films eligible for Best Picture), "The Family Tree" (OSCARS 2021 amongst the 366 films eligible for Best Picture), "Altered Perceptions" (OSCARS 2024 amongst the 265 films eligible for Best Picture) Jorge Ameer began his professional career while in his late teens.
At the age of 18, he was selected to participate in the Walt Disney College Program. He worked in the marketing departments of New Line Cinema, Paramount and Columbia Pictures. In motion picture development, Jorge worked as a story analyst for Richard Gere's production company and Wendy Finerman's productions at Tri Star Pictures in the early nineties and the now defunct Fries Entertainment. His acting credits include, " Gramercy's "Panther" and "Tales from the Hood", HBO's "Social Friction Fables" New Line's "Friday", and cameo appearances in his films "The Truth Within", "Strippers", and a supporting roles in "The Singing Forest", "Contadora is for lovers", "The House of Adam", "The Dark Side of love" and "D'Agostino". He co-stars opposite award winning actor Matthew Leitch (Star of AKA) in the carnival romp "Sabor Tropical".
In October 1997, he founded and Executive directed The Continental Film Festival, better known as the first American Independent film festival overseas on an island, was held on the island of Contadora off the gulf of Panama. Upon the festival's completion, filmmakers returned to their destinations with reviews from the national and international press.
There is where his film career actually began. He served as a festival coordinator during the very beginnings of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. At the LALIFF, he worked alongside Edward James Olmos and Marlene Dehmer the current festival director. Ameer also served as the coordinator for the 1988 Latino Entertainment Industry Conference and as a member of the advisory board of the Methodfest Film Festival. Other previous industry positions include being a U.S. representative for the Barcelona G & L Film Festival and a film programmer for the Palm Springs G & L Film Festival. At these festivals, Ameer helped in the selection of many foreign features. After noticing a lack of recognition of foreign and independent gay themed films released theatrically, he founded the International Gay Film Awards, the Glitter Awards (2001-2008). Ameer currently is the US representative for Festival Mix (Mexico) where he assist in curating foreign features and shorts.
Glitter Awards, the only award show of its kind, attracted celebrities presenters such as Academy Award nominated actress Lupe Ontiveros, Karen Black, "Grease" and "Summer lovers", "Blue Lagoon" director Randall Kleiser,Ayre Gross, comedian Jason Stuart, Peter Miller (star of "Mambo Italiano") to name a few.
In 1997, as a distributor, Ameer started Hollywood Independents with the theatrical release of "California Myth" starring Tyron Powers Jr.. Thereafter, the company has released such titles as the Jamaican/American co-production "Klash" starring Jazmine Guy, "Eastside" starring Mario Lopez, "Tequila Body Shots" starring Joey Lawrence, "Poor White Trash" starring Jamie Pressley, Jason London, William Devane and Sean Young, Spain's Academy Awards Winning film (Goya Winner) "I will Survive" (Sobrevivire), and "Hotel Room" from the director of "Nico & Dani". Other releases include his film "The Singing Forest", and "Junked" starring Thomas Jane (star of "The Mist", "Punisher" and the popular HBO series "Hung") and Jordan Ladd (star of "Cabin Fever", "Hostel 2"). Mr. Ameer has authored, produced, and directed the theatrical features "The Truth Within", "Strippers","The Singing Forest", "Contadora is for lovers", "The House of Adam", "The Dark Side of Love","Sabor Tropical", "D'Agostino". All projects released theatrically through Hollywood Independents.
Ameer has produced, written and directed countless 35mm comedic shorts films to name a few "My Straight Boyfriend", "Popcorn & Coke", "Uninhibited", "Midnight Snack", "Tease" now available on DVD as a compilation of shorts called Straight Men & the Men who love them. This collection has been so successful, Ameer has executive produced, program and curated two programs of the same titled Straight Men & the Men who love them 2 and the upcoming Straight Men & the men who love them 3. The latest compilation of shorts is a collection of international shorts curated from the Cannes Film Festival (short film corner).
His documentary works include the 2005 Glitter Awards, 2006 Glitter Awards and "Classic Hollywood Cinemas" an in depth look at the old Hollywood movie palaces, their historic and preservation value and impact. In this documentary, the movie theatres are the stars!!!.
He's also produced and arrange the publishing of the historical and award winning first ever "Guide to Gay & Lesbian Film". The first edition was published through Blood Moon productions. The book has won many book awards for its detail, educational and historical contribution to independent films, specially gay & lesbian films released in theatres.
A human rights activist, Ameer has spent most of his career creating controversial, cutting edge trivial stories with thought provoking subject matters to challenge audiences from the stereotypical social conventions and outdated traditional values which detract from enhancing the global human experience.
In addition to filmmaking, within the exhibition industry, Jorge Ameer was the last person to re-open the historic Vogue theatre in Hollywood as a movie theatre to showcase independent films. Films such as "Nico and Dani" (TLA Releasing) and "Just one time" from the now defunct Cowboy Releasing played at this theatre. The resurgence of film exhibition at the Vogue was short lived due to alleged hauntings at the venue where a paranormal research group leased the theatre from Mann theatres to set up shop as headquaters for their research group. The theatre was gutted a few years later to make way for a nightclub that never opened. This short stint with this historic theatre has made Ameer a part of the Hollywood Historic Cinema experience as he was the last person to play films at what was a great film venue back in its day.
Jorge Ameer's theatrical distribution company Hollywood Independents International opened its theatrical distribution operations in Central and South America in 2006 with the theatrical release of "Grande Ecole" a film by Robert Salis. The French film was censored and banned in Panama due to its explicit sexual content where his company was schedule to open it in theatres in January 2007. Ameer took a trip to Panama to denounce the banning of this film. After outraged from the Panamanian press, the film opened successfully in Panama. It opened number one at the Alhambra-Plus Transistmica beating studio films "Night at the Museum" and "Deja Vu". It broke box office record locally, for this genre of film, playing for eight week theatrically.
On January 26, 2009 the Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture study invited Mr. Ameer's to have his screenplays be a permanent part of "The Core Collection". The screenplays in this collection are made accessible for research purposes; students, filmmakers, writers and actors are among the patrons.
In additional to his filmmaking, acquisition and distribution activities, Ameer programs and curates films and has been a guest speaker at countless film festival and media events worldwide.
In April 2011, Mr. Ameer started his own film series in Panama called Jorge Ameer presents Cine Serie Independiente, a showcase to promote and exhibit high profile award winning independent and foreign films in Panama. Among the few films Mr. Ameer was responsible in bringing to Panamanian audiences was Aluzio Abranche's controversial incestuous drama of brotherly love "From Begining to End" (Do Comeco ao Fim), Andre Shortell's "Psych 9" starring Sara Foster & Cary Elwes, Karee Andrew's "Altitude". During the film presentations, directors presented their work to Panamanian audiences in person and live via skype on the movie screen. This is the first time in Panama's cinema history technology has allowed local cinephiles the opportunity to interact with award winning filmmakers virally before and after their film presentations. During the film series screenings, Panamanian audiences shared comments and exchange opinions with the artists live on-screen from their home countries. Unfortunately, the presenting cinema and only theatre exhibitor to support independent films - the Alhambra Theatres- would close the following year, on January 31, 2012, due to financial troubles. It was the last of a series of vintage stand alone cinemas constructed during the boom of single screen theatres and drive-ins in Panama. There are currently only two theatre chain exhibitors (Cinepolis & Cinemark) operating in Panama. Both chains have their multiplex cinemas located throughout today's popular mega malls. More details of the end of the single screen theatres and era is exposed in Mr. Ameer's documentary Classic Hollywood Cinemas.
Several months after his film series, Mr. Ameer served as producer to the opening night after party to the October 2011 edition of SCREAMFEST, the world's premiere horror film festival based in Hollywood, California. The event was held at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. The event brought luminaries of the genre such as Paranormal Activity's Oren Peli, "Saw" and "Insidious" director James Wan, as well as "Grease", "Summer Lovers", "Blue Lagoon" director Randal Kleiser and "Firestarters", "Class of 1984" director Mark Lester to name a few celebrity attendees. With a seance theme, over 400 votive candles were used to create the atmosphere. In addition over one hundred skulls, the screamfest symbol, were featured as centerpieces and part of the morbid "look" throughout the event. A well lit coffin surrounded by neon lights was featured in the gift room where guests retrieved their gift bags from the open casket.
In 2012, Mr. Ameer was invited to be President of the jury to the International TV, film and video Film festival of Panama. The Festival Cine Diva is a competitive festival held Sept 8-16, 2012. The festival focuses on short subject experimental, documentary, short and television works both local and foreign. Winner are awarded the Premio Diva. (Diva Award)
After many years in the making, Mr Ameer has pioneered and procured the opening of the first high school film program in Panama at the Pan American Institute in Panama City.. The film program's curriculum was designed by Jorge Ameer and approved by the Ministry of Education. It started on March 2, 2015 with the first class schedule to graduated on December 20, 2017.
Released Halloween 2015, Jorge Ameer's latest film Medusa, a contemporary dark gothic tale of terror based on the greek mythology starred Jeff Allen, William McNamara (Stealing Home, Copycat), Katy Foley, Britt Rose & Tom Struckhoff. Visual effects were under the supervision of Jeremy Vanneman (Godzilla, Pacific Rim, Wolverine & Star Trek Into Darkness, Avengers 2, Jurassic World, Ghostbusters 3 among other studio films). The film was officially announced to the public at the 2014 Wondercon. It was named one of the most anticipated upcoming films of the year by videodetective.com.
In 2015, Jorge Ameer had two films having their world premieres in two different programs at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, his authored feature Medusa (aka The resurrection of Medusa) which he directed and acted as as Kao the witch doctor premiered in Cannes premiere as part of the Marche Du Film. Also, Find Pauletta, a ghost story was selected as part of the Short Film Corner. Jorge Ameer stars as Douglas in Find Pauletta, a horror ghost story about a new smart phone app that enables camera phones to see ghosts.
Mr. Ameer is currently the Film Festival director of FILMS FROM PANAMA presented by The Viva Panama Organization and held at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood yearly. His latest film OASIS, shot in Panama the same week his other film MEDUSA was released in theatres in Panama on August 2016, premiered at in Cannes at the Marche Du Film May, 2017. It was released theatrically November 10, 2017 . The film represented Panama at the 2018 Golden Globes. The film was among 341 films eligible for Best Picture consideration at the 2018 Academy Awards.
The Family Tree was originally schedule to open at the Marche Du Film at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival this past May 17, 2020. The festival was canceled and other alternate strategy for distribution was established for the release of the film due to COVID- 19. The film to date has won over 23 awards with 4 nominations and movie awards. The film opened the Marina del Rey 2020 and it closed the festival winning best Picture and director of the festival. The film will next Open the 2020 L.A. Live Film Festival. It is schedule to open theatrically in Latin American through Cinepolis as of December 3. As a programmer, Mr. Ameer discovered the documentary "Jack has a Plan" directed by Bradley Berman and produced by Chris Metzler which would screen at the 25th edition of the prestigious Dances With Films film festival at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The film would subsequently win the 2022 Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary.
On January 12, 2022 (Mr. Ameer's 50th birthday) NBC/Universal acquired "The Family Tree" for its Peacock channel. The film was released on July 14, in anticipation to the 2022/23 holiday season. "The Family Tree" is NBC/Universal's first acquisition from Ariztical Entertainment and Hollywood Independents.
In 2023, Another provocative film "Altered Perceptions" beat over 400 films and Ameer was awarded Best Director at the Marina Del Rey film festival. The film went on to win an additional 6 awards at other film festivals.
Mr. Ameer became a 3rd time contender for eligible films at the 2024 Academy awards with "Altered Perceptions". The film was amongst the 265 films eligible for Best Picture.
