Roberto F. Canuto

Roberto F. Canuto is a filmmaker from Gijon (Asturias), Spain. He obtained his bachelors degree in Image and Sound at the Complutense University of Madrid in 1998. During his years of study he worked as a film critic in different magazines, as "Voz en Off" (also editor) and he analyzed and get influenced by many classic directors after frequent sessions at the Spanish Cinemateque. In addition to his film experiences, he has degrees in Music studies for the Royal Conservatory of Music of Oviedo (Spain). After graduation, Roberto expend many years in London (UK) working on a different field, until 2008, when he decides to persuade his filmmaking passion and he moves to Los Angeles to complete a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) at the New York Film Academy (Universal Studios, Hollywood), where he directs different shorts in various formats (including Film, HD and Red Camera). He also co-directed a feature film, "Desire Street". He graduated in 2009. Roberto starts his collaborations with Xu Xiaoxi in early 2008. Between many projects, he collaborates with him as a writer, editor and director of photography in "Mei Mei", a short film directed by Xu Xiaoxi in 2009. Roberto's short, "Toto Forever", completed in 2009, was presented in over 30 international festivals, receiving awards, nominations and great reviews. "Desire Street" is his first feature film, co-directed with Xu Xiaoxi. It received a Special Mention for Best Festure Film in its premiere at Mix Mexico Film Festival 2011 and a Best Film in "Asturian Film Festival" in Spain (2014). He moved to China in 2011. In 2012 and 2013 he works with Xu Xiaoxi in advertisement and fiction films. "Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal" is his first fiction short film in Chinese, presented in 2013. The movie receives awards as best film in "Riverside Saginaw International Film Festival" (Michigan) and Best Actress in Asturian Film Festival, Spain, 2014, among other nominations and awards. In August 2014 the Contemporary Art Musseum A4 in Chengdu, Sichuan (China) dedicates an exhibition to his works together with Xu Xiaoxi, with the title ID/EGO. This allow the filmmaker to exhibit his movies for the first time in China, obtaining great reviews. In 2015 directed, together with Xu Xiaoxi, "Floating Melon", that was screened in over 40 international film festivals, with some awards including best film. In 2016 his first movie filmed in Spain and in Asturian language, "Advent (Ad-vientu)", premiered at the 54th Gijón International Film Festival with an Audience Choice Award "Dia D'asturies" for Best Film. His latest project, "Sunken Plum", filmed in Chengdu (China), will be released in 2017.