Alfonso Cuarón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alfonso Cuarón
Cuarón at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	Alfonso Tiberio Cuarón Orozco (1961-11-28) 28 November 1961 (age 63) Mexico City, Mexico
Alma mater	National Autonomous University of Mexico
Occupation	Film director film producer screenwriter cinematographer film editor
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Mariana Elizondo ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1993)​ Annalisa Bugliani ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2008)​
Children	3, including Jonás Cuarón
Relatives	Carlos Cuarón (brother)
Awards	Full list

Alfonso Cuarón (born November 28, 1961) is a famous filmmaker from Mexico. He is known for directing, producing, and writing many popular movies. He has won many important awards, including four Academy Awards (also known as Oscars), seven BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Cuarón started his career with the romantic comedy Sólo con tu pareja (1991). He then directed movie versions of classic stories like A Little Princess (1995) and Great Expectations (1998). He became very well-known for his film Y tu mamá también (2001).

He also directed the fantasy film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). Later, he made the science fiction movie Children of Men (2006). His films Gravity (2013) and Roma (2018) won him Academy Awards for Best Director. He also won awards for editing Gravity and for cinematography (how the movie is filmed) for Roma.

Early Life and Education

Alfonso Cuarón was born in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, Alfredo Cuarón, was a doctor. His mother, Cristina Orozco, was a biochemist. He has a sister, Christina, and two brothers. One brother, Carlos Cuarón, is also a filmmaker.

Cuarón studied philosophy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He also studied filmmaking at a school within the same university. There, he met other future filmmakers and made his first short film.

A Filmmaking Journey

Early Films and Big Breaks

Alfonso Cuarón at a film festival in 1998.

Cuarón started his career working in television in Mexico. He began as a technician and later became a director. His TV work helped him get jobs as an assistant director for several movies.

In 1995, Cuarón directed his first movie made in the United States. It was A Little Princess. This film was based on a classic book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Critics really liked the movie, calling it "bright, beautiful, and enchanting." The film was nominated for two Academy Awards.

His next movie was also based on a book. It was a modern version of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations (1998). This film starred famous actors like Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Major Successes and Acclaim

Cuarón with actor Clive Owen during the filming of Children of Men.

In 2001, Cuarón returned to Mexico to film Y tu mamá también. This movie was in Spanish and became very popular. Critics praised Cuarón's directing. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for this film. He shared the nomination with his brother, Carlos Cuarón.

In 2004, Cuarón directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This was the third movie in the popular Harry Potter series. Many fans loved how he brought the book to life. The author, J. K. Rowling, said it was her favorite Harry Potter movie at the time. Critics also thought it was a great film. It was nominated for two Academy Awards.

In 2006, Cuarón directed Children of Men. This movie was based on a novel by P. D. James. It starred Clive Owen and Julianne Moore. The film received excellent reviews and three Academy Award nominations. Cuarón was nominated for Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Cuarón also started his own production company called Esperanto Filmoj. This company has helped make films like Pan's Labyrinth and Gravity.

Award-Winning Masterpieces

Cuarón at the Venice International Film Festival.

In 2010, Cuarón began working on the space drama Gravity. This movie starred Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. It was a huge success when it came out in 2013. The film earned a lot of money and won many awards.

For Gravity, Cuarón won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director. The movie received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Cuarón won the Academy Award for Best Director, becoming the first Latin American to win this award. He also won Best Film Editing for Gravity.

Alfonso Cuarón in 2013.

In 2014, Time magazine named him one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World". In 2015, Cuarón was chosen to lead the jury at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival.

Alfonso Cuarón at the Morelia International Film Festival.

In 2016, Cuarón started making his eighth film, Roma. This movie tells the story of a housekeeper for a family in Mexico City in the 1970s. It was inspired by the life of his own family's longtime maid. The film won the top prize, the Golden Lion, at the 75th Venice International Film Festival. It was released on Netflix.

Roma was highly praised by critics. It won two Golden Globes, including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Director for Cuarón. It also won three Academy Awards: Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography for Cuarón.

In 2019, Cuarón signed a deal with Apple to create TV series. His first series for Apple is a thriller called Disclaimer.

His Unique Filmmaking Style

Alfonso Cuarón often uses special camera techniques in his films. He likes to use "long takes," which means the camera records for a long time without cutting. He also uses "moving cameras" to make his films feel more like a documentary. This style helps viewers feel like they are right there in the story.

Important Messages in His Films

Cuarón's films often explore important ideas about identity and history. For example, in Y tu mamá también, he talks about what it means to be Mexican. He also touches on how Mexico has changed over time. He uses his films to make people think about their country's past and future. He also looks at themes like social class in his movies.

About Alfonso Cuarón's Life

Cuarón's first wife was Mariana Elizondo. They have a son named Jonás Cuarón, who was born in 1981. Jonás is also a film director. Alfonso's second marriage was to Italian actress Annalisa Bugliani. They were married from 2001 to 2008 and have two children together.

Alfonso Cuarón is interested in the Esperanto language. He even named his production company Esperanto Filmoj. He is a vegetarian and has lived in London since 2000.

Films Directed

Awards and Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Alfonso Cuarón para niños