Cristobal Abugaber

​Cristobal Abugaber is a Mexican writer and director based in New York whose work explores the emotional terrain of family and identity—with heart, humor, and a quiet sense of wonder. Influenced by his upbringing in Mexico, his films offer intimate character portraits with themes that resonate across cultures. ​

His latest short film, The Perfect Tomato (2024), was selected by Oscar-qualifying festivals such as Indy Shorts and the Guanajuato International Film Festival, and won the Outstanding International Short Narrative Award at the Anchorage International Film Festival. ​

Before focusing fully on directing, Cristobal collaborated with Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and his team on the development of Filmmakers Academy, a premium educational platform for filmmakers. He is currently completing his MFA in Directing and Screenwriting at Columbia University, where he is preparing to shoot his thesis film, Faint Memories (2026), a sci-fi drama about grief and artificial connection. He is also developing his debut feature, The Way Home, a spiritual dramedy set in Bali.​