Jonathan Jakubowicz

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Jonathan Jakubowicz jumped to international recognition after he wrote and directed Secuestro express (2005); the frightening story of one young couple's ordeal as they career through the underbelly of Caracas in the hands of three thugs who've made them their latest payday. The thriller became Venezuela's highest-grossing film, eclipsing such movies as "Titanic" and "The Passion of the Christ." In 2011 Jakubowicz entered preproduction in a biopic about legendary boxer Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran starring Al Pacino and Gael Garcia Bernal, in a film that Jakubowicz wrote, will be directing and Producing through his own company JW&JJ of which he is co-President. In 2010 he co-directed the HBO International Show "Profugos", the biggest action driven original series ever made in Latin America. The series will Premiere in September 2011 in all Spanish Speaking territories across the world. Previous to all this In 2002, Jakubowicz treaded sensitive waters gracefully as he broached the subject of September 11 from a very different angle. _Distance (2002/I)_ is a poignant short film about a woman's mysterious past unfolding during an unexpected trip to Holland in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Distance screened at the World Film Festival of Montreal, New York Independent Film Festival and Palm Springs Short Film Festival, amongst others. In addition, Jakubowicz wrote and directed, Ships of Hope, a documentary recounting the journey of refugee Jews on a ship fleeing the European Nazi Regime to Venezuela. It screened at the Director's Guild of America's Angelus Awards, and the Havana Film Festival. The documentary went on to win; Best Documentary at the Premios a la Calidad de Cenac (Venezulelan Oscars). Ships of Hope was purchased by HBO OLE and History Channel Latin America, and was in programming rotation for two years. Jakubowicz has a BA in Communications from the Universidad Central de Venezuela.