Biography
Juan Avella is a Venezuelan writer and director based in Los Angeles. He holds a screenwriting MFA from the AFI Conservatory, where he received the William J. Fadiman Award for his feature script Bolichicos.
Avella directed the episode “The Russian Knot” of the NBC series The Blacklist in 2021, his television directorial debut, after selection for the network’s Emerging Director Program. His short films include Hijo por Hijo (2017, also known as Child for Child) and Her Body (2018), both of which screened at festivals and were acquired by HBO. He has also directed episodes of Bite Size Halloween (2021) and music videos.
Avella’s feature Hijo por Hijo is in post-production. His work has received support from the Tribeca Film Institute and inclusion on The Black List’s LatinX List.
