Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Zabaneh.
Hi Fernando, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After leaving the finance world in Mexico City, I became enamored with the process of creating moving pictures. I discovered a career that allowed me to channel my creative instincts while remaining aligned with my strategic and business-savvy side. After spending a few years in an entirely different field, I decided to pursue my true passion. Today, I have produced over 12 short films and directed two, each of which I am extremely proud of. I am now venturing into the world of feature films—an enormous leap for anyone in this industry and a defining step in my career.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Making a film is like building an entire company from scratch. We begin by hiring heads of production, then move on to department heads, who in turn hire the hardworking crew that answers to them. A film is a living, breathing, ever-changing entity—one that cannot function if even a single piece is out of place or out of shape. No element works on its own, and no film is made without a hardworking crew and a talented cast.
That being said, team building is rarely smooth. The ability to recognize and nurture great talent is something to be truly praised. It’s not an innate skill (at least not for most); it’s something you learn, often through both good and difficult experiences.
Another challenge that often brings unease is handling money that isn’t yours. Eventually, relying on favors from old friends and crew members stops being the best route. At that point, creativity in managing resources becomes essential. No matter the amount of money you’re given, you will spend it… that’s an unwritten rule of filmmaking. This constant tension with budgets is at the core of the art form: we are often too reliant on money… money that is incredibly hard to get.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a film producer, director, and writer. I like to think I set myself apart through the combination of my taste and intelligence, and my ability to clearly express what I’m thinking, feeling, and what I want in understandable terms.
For me, the producer’s main task is deciding what is worth making. Securing financing, hiring crew, and managing production are undoubtedly crucial parts of the job, but everything begins with choosing the right project. I am meticulous about what I take on—after all, each film consumes many months of my life. I immerse myself in the creative process alongside writers and directors: I read, reread, and rewrite; I offer notes; I dive into the subject matter; and I work to align myself with the tone of the story and the vision of the director.
Only once I am certain that a script or story is truly worthy do I move into the business side of filmmaking. We are often told that budgets shape stories—and while there’s some truth to that, I always encourage my writers and directors to create without constraints. The budget can be dealt with later. What remains constant is that the less money we have, the more creative we must be. That challenge lies at the heart of independent filmmaking.
I always walk this road with people who are genuinely passionate about creating. Passion is, after all, the number one driving force in this industry. I make it a priority to work only with collaborators who believe in the project wholeheartedly—because without that, it will inevitably show, one way or another.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a kid, I was always rather quiet and observant—not much of an extrovert. I liked sports, art, literature, music, and connecting with my friends and family. Funny enough, what brought me to this industry wasn’t actual filmmaking or even production. It was the music. I’ve been playing piano since before I can remember. I used to learn every score from the movies I watched over and over again as a kid. As I grew older, I started composing myself. I figured that the easiest way to score films was if I created them myself (it was not the easiest way…).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15351249/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-zabaneh-6580932b5/
- Youtube: https://www.google.com/search?q=milo+the+voyage+to+atlantis&rlz=
Image Credits
Fallen From Grace (Produced by Maria Paula Zuluaga & Christopher Vazquez & Fernando Zabaneh (written & directed by Fernando Zabaneh)
Blanko. (Produced by Fernando Zabaneh ; Directed by Luca Flores)
Rated X (Produced by Fernando Zabaneh ; Directed by Diego Galindo)
Lentejas con Arroz (Produced by Fernando Zabaneh & Andres Garcia Aguirre ; Directed by Maria Gomez)
Milo: The voyage to Atlantis (Produced by Fernando Zabaneh ; Directed by Maria Gomez)
