Photo by Derly Pérez
•About Andrès Arias
Andrès Arias is an independent filmmaker based in New York City, working as an editor and in post-production of documentary films.
He is currently editing Travis Gutiérrez Senger’s film that celebrates and profiles the extraordinary Chicano art collective of the 70's-80's known as ASCO. North of Now, La Corriente del Golfo, and ANM are producing. Exile Content is executive producing.
Some of his past work includes the Sundance award-winning and Oscar-nominated documentary feature Cartel Land (2015); Brimstone & Glory! (2016); The Great Hack (2019); and THE BOY FROM MEDELLÍN (2020); as well as in Documentary series such as HBO's 5 part series Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered (2020); HBO documentary series THE VOW (2020-2022); and The Trade Season 2 on Showtime (2020). He has also edited content for PBS, BRIC TV and The New York Times.
Andrès holds a Master of Fine Arts in Social Documentary from the School of Visual Arts. His thesis film was screened at the Workers Unite New York Film Festival in 2013. In 2020, he became a fellow of the prestigious Karen Schmeer Editing Fellowship , and he belongs to the BIPOC Editors Database. He also is an active member of the Alliance of Documentary Editors (ADE) where he served as a member of the Steering Committee (2020-2021). Currently he volunteers as head of ADE's Documentary Editors Recognition Committee, were they started the initiative WHO MADE THAT? with the intention of recognizing the work of editors in documentaries.
Prior to that, Andrès was working as a journalist in Puerto Rico writing for magazines, local newspapers and online content.
Andrès also sits at the Board Of Directors of the project Obras del Pais, that documents and foments the artisanal culture and folklore of Puerto Rico. Their goal is to make 100 micro-documentaries, preserving and sharing the stories and techniques of Puerto Rican artisans.
Moreover, Andrès stays active as a member of the Asociación de Documentalistas del Ecuador. seeking to foment the participation and aid to Ecuadorian documentary filmmakers.
•Why Andrè Montage?
He discovered his passion for filmmaking at his university, while designing a stage set for Federíco García Lorca’s play “Buster Keaton’s Stroll”. Like Lorca, Andrès became fascinated by cinema’s inherent visual poetry. In his research he found “duende” and became seduced by cinema’s language and power.
Andrès encountered editing the way one is struck by love, by surprise, passionately and unavoidably. He believes in what Godard said about editing in his essay Montage, Mon Beau Soucci , where he asserted “Si mettre en scène est un regard, monter est un battement de coeur". That word, Montage (Montaje), both in French and in Spanish refers to the act of building something to construct, to assemble. To edit.
Andrè Montage is the name lovingly bestowed upon him by his mentors and friends in reference to editing.
When it comes to crafting a compelling documentary film, editing is one of the most critical aspects, turning hours of footage into a cohesive narrative that captivates audiences. Andrès has an eye for detail, enabling him to enhance the emotional impact of a documentary. His experience working with esteemed directors and production teams, from intimate character-driven stories to thought-provoking social issues, has honed his skills to deliver exceptional results. His ability to navigate complex projects, make efficient editorial decisions, and handle tight deadlines with grace and precision makes him an invaluable asset to any documentary film production.
Born surrounded by volcanoes in the mountains of Quito, Ecuador, and raised in the sun-kissed waters of the Caribbean, Andrès undestands the richness, awe and reverence towards nature. He carries within him a cultural legacy of writers, poets, artist and filmmakers that enrich his artistic sensibilities. This is something he brings to his work, and the edit room.
In his free time, Andrès likes to read about aesthetics, anthropology, poetry, languages, and culture. He also loves to play the Ronroco, a South American Lute.
His mentor has said this about him :
“In the last few years, I've discovered that Andres is a dramatist, a filmmaker, a raconteur, and most importantly, a young artist who has the innate ability to create compelling stories. The short films he made in my directing classes were inspired by his Latin American spirit, and his work is imbued with a magical realism.”
“Andrès is a documentary filmmaker with a flair for performance. His teatromanía - his love for theater - gives his work a unique bent.” -Michel Negroponte.
June 2023
Links:
Karem Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship 2020 Alum
