Film & Television Director | Producer | Screenwriter
Jorge Solé
65+ years of global experience in documentary, feature films, and cultural programming
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Award-winning director, producer, and screenwriter with a 65+ year career spanning Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. Expert in documentary filmmaking, international co-productions (BBC, Discovery Channel, DW), and cultural preservation. Proven leadership in film policy, funding committees (CNAC, CAACI), and digital media innovation. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Produced 100+ documentaries, including international collaborations with Sir David Attenborough (The Life of Birds, BBC), Jamie Lee Curtis (Venezuela in the Guinness Book of Records), and Discovery Channel (Anaconda).
- Awarded Venezuela’s National Cultural Prize (2019-2020) and Orden Francisco de Miranda for contributions to arts and media.
- Founded pivotal institutions: Department of Cinema at Universidad de Los Andes (1968), Third World Film Distributor (1970s), and Venezuela’s National Cinematheque selection committee (2011).
- Led CONYCIT-recognized projects like Orinoco (1990) and History of Science in the West (1975), blending conservation, technology, and storytelling.
- Advocated for film policy: Executive Committee Member of CNAC (2014–2020), juror for Goya Awards, Venezuelan section (2014), and advisor for digital television transitions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Film Director & Producer | Founder, Filmoven S.A. & TV de Cerca C.A. | Venezuela | 1972–Present
- Produced 40+ documentaries, including:
- Orinoco: Adventures of Knowledge (2009): Conservation-ocused series for Transtel/Südwestfunk.
- Golpes de Abril (2002): Political documentary on Venezuela’s 2002 coup.
- Venezuela Sísmica (2013): Distributed to 457 theaters in 35mm/DCP.
- Coordinated local production for BBC’s Blue Planet (1998) and The Life of Birds (1997), Discovery’s Anaconda (1999), and RAI-TV/Paradine projects.
Senior Advisor & Juror | National Autonomous Center for Cinematography (CNAC) | Venezuela | 2009–2020
- Chaired selection committees for film funding ($10M+ budget), including feature films, documentaries, and industrial projects.
- Juror for Goya Awards 2014 (Best Hispanic-American Film, Venezuela) and DOCTV Latin America (2011, 2013).
Academic & Cultural Leader | Universidad de Los Andes/UNEARTE | Venezuela | 1968–2009
- Co-Founded ULA’s Cinema Department (1968), pioneering Latin American university film production.
- Directed TVenezuela (1969): Ranked among Venezuela’s top 6 documentaries (National Cinematheque, 2011), Screened at CCCB Barcelona (2025 retrospective)
- Designed curricula for UNEARTE’s Film School (2009).
International Collaborations | BBC, Discovery Channel, DW | 1972–2011
- Coordinated Venezuela-based shoots for global series, managing crews of 40+ and budgets up to $2M.
- Local Producer Guinness Book of Records: Venezuela (1983) with Paradine TV (Los Angeles).
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
Venezuela Sísmica (10 min)
2013
Director/Producer
Distributed to 457 theaters (35mm/DCP)
Anaconda (Discovery Channel)
1999
Local Producer
Viewed by 5M+ globally
Orinoco
(DW/Transtel)
1990
Producer-Director-Writer
Viewed by 5M+ Germany
History of Science in the West
1975
Writer/Director
Funded by CONICYT
Orinoco: Adventures of
Knowledge
2009
Creator
Conservation award, Transtel coproduction
(Full filmography available upon request)
EDUCATION & SKILLS
- Film & Engineering Studies: Universidad de la República (Montevideo), 1958–1963..
- Languages: English (fluent),French/Italian/Portuguese (conversational).
- Technical Skills: Camera&DP, Post-production (PremierePro), 35mm/DCP formats, digital cinematography
AWARDS & HONORS
- National Cultural Prize of Venezuela (2019–2020)
- Orden Francisco de Miranda, Precursor Class (Venezuela’s highest civilian honor)
- Official Selections:
- TVenezuela (1969): Valparaiso Film Festival 1968, Berlin International Film Festival (1970), Leipzig Documentary Festival (1971), Oberhausen Short Film Festival (1971).
- Elecciones (1966) 2 unit Documentary Cameraman: Best National Film, Uruguay Critics’ Association.
- Carlos, Cineretrato de un Caminante (Post production assistant) (1964): 1st Prize, Montevideo Independent Film Festival.
- Honorary Professor: National Experimental University of the Arts (UNEARTE)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Executive Committee Member: Centro Nacional Autónomo de Cinematografía (2014–2020), ANAC, AVEDOC, SVC, ABICINE
- Advisor: Presidential Commission for Open Digital Television (Venezuela)
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Speaker: CITEC Conference (Technological Revolution in Audiovisual Media, 2011)
- Workshops: Trained 200+ filmmakers in documentary techniques (2004–2009).