---
name: "Juan J. Campanella"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/juan-jose-campanella"
fi1m_id: "juan-jose-campanella"
imdb_id: "nm0002728"
tmdb_id: 84714
wikidata_id: "Q726925"
roles: ["Director","Producer"]
born: "19 July 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "director"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-22T02:40:30.629433+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Juan J. Campanella

## Identity

Juan J. Campanella

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/juan-jose-campanella
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** juan-jose-campanella
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002728
- **TMDB ID:** 84714
- **Wikidata ID:** Q726925
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Campanella, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q726925, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002728/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/84714

Director and producer. Born 19 July 1959 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Producer
- **Born:** 19 July 1959, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- **Active:** 1999–present
- **Also known as:** Juan José Campanella
- **Frequently works with:** [Tricia Brock](https://film.one/person/tricia-brock.md), [Adam Bernstein](https://film.one/person/adam-bernstein.md), [Constantine Makris](https://film.one/person/constantine-makris.md), [Daniel Sackheim](https://film.one/person/daniel-sackheim.md), [David Foster](https://film.one/person/david-foster-1365869.md), [David Platt](https://film.one/person/david-platt.md), [Ed Bianchi](https://film.one/person/ed-bianchi.md), [Elodie Keene](https://film.one/person/elodie-keene.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as director, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 81 (3), 2010s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 70 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $34m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Campanella, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q726925, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002728/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/84714

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Secret in Their Eyes*](https://film.one/film/the-secret-in-their-eyes.md) (78), [*House*](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md) (78)
- **Hulu:** [*30 Rock*](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md) (86)
- **AMC+:** [*Halt and Catch Fire*](https://film.one/tv/halt-and-catch-fire.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Juan J. Campanella

> Juan José Campanella trusts actors to make complicated feelings easy to follow. We value his warmth and clear storytelling, though the scripts can grow sentimental and arrange events too conveniently to get the response he wants.

Campanella is at his most persuasive when he lets a conversation run. In *Son of the Bride* (2001), his direction of the ensemble gives the longer dramatic scenes their force. We were moved by those scenes because he gives the actors time to make the family's feelings matter. We recommend his work for that patience with performers, while wishing he were sometimes less eager to tell us what to feel.

He worked in American film and television during the 1990s before returning to Argentine features. With *El mismo amor, la misma lluvia* (1999), writer Fernando Castets and actor Ricardo Darín established the central creative partnership of that work. *Luna de Avellaneda* (2004) took his concern with shared lives into a neighbourhood club facing social decline. In *The Secret in Their Eyes* (2009), memory and justice became the subjects of a story moving between two periods. His clear storytelling helps us follow people trying to resolve things that have stayed with them for years.

*30 Rock* (2006), for which he directed episodes, is a useful reminder that his work extends beyond Argentine drama. We rate the series highly, once its ensemble has settled, for its sharp writing and precisely judged foolishness. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin make the workplace friction worth staying with. That fits the broader picture of a director at ease with actors, although we would not hand him sole credit for a comedy whose writing and performances are so central to its appeal.

The reservations matter when a script starts forcing events towards the desired emotional response. *The Secret in Their Eyes* occasionally falls back on contrivance and sentimental dialogue, weakening the feelings it wants to convey. His attention to performance remains a virtue, but it cannot make every unlikely development convincing. Animation in *Metegol (Underdogs)* (2013) extended his work towards family audiences, a sensible direction for a storyteller so concerned with reaching people. Start with *Son of the Bride* for the ensemble, and allow for a director who sometimes insists on an emotion the actors have already made clear.

## Biography

Juan José Campanella is an Argentine film and television director, writer and producer. He was born on 19 July 1959 in Buenos Aires.

After studying at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, he directed episodes of American series including *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *House*, *30 Rock* (2006), *Halt and Catch Fire* and *Colony*. His feature films include *The Secret in Their Eyes* (2009), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as *El mismo amor, la misma lluvia* (1999), *El hijo de la novia* (2001) and *Luna de Avellaneda* (2004).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Halt and Catch Fire* (2014), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/halt-and-catch-fire.md)
- *The Secret in Their Eyes* (2009), Fi1m 78, Writer, Editor, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-in-their-eyes.md)
- *30 Rock* (2006), Fi1m 86, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *House* (2004), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)

## Complete filmography (50)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Strangers in the Park* (2026), Director, Writer
- *Mi mejor escena* (2025), Actor
- *Camp Crasher* (2024), Producer
- *Alamesa* (2024), Production Director
- *George Pal: Un Marciano De Hollywood En Argentina* (2023), Actor
- *Mini Beat Power Rockers: The Movie* (2022), Executive Producer
- *Escape to India* (2022), Producer
- *Night Sky* (2022), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *The Envoys* (2021), series, Creator
- *Law & Order: Organized Crime* (2021), series, Director
- *The Weasel's Tale* (2019), Screenplay, Director
- *Ian* (2018), Executive Producer
- *The Golden Generation* (2018), Director
- *The Man of Your Life* (2017), series, Writer
- *El hombre de tu vida* (2016), series, Creator
- *Colony* (2016), series, Director
- *Secret in Their Eyes* (2015), Executive Producer, Screenplay
- *Cannibals* (2015), series, Creator, Writer
- *Halt and Catch Fire* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/halt-and-catch-fire.md)
- *Underdogs* (2013), as Armando / Eusebio / Lechuga / Clark (voice) · Story, Producer, Editor, Director, Screenplay
- *El hombre de tu vida* (2013), series, Creator
- *The Man of Your Dreams* (2011), series, Director, Writer, Creator
- *Remembering Alejandro Molina's Show* (2011), series, Creator
- *Belgrano: The Movie* (2010), Producer
- *Birds of Paradise* (2010), Associate Producer
- *The Secret in Their Eyes* (2009), Writer, Producer, Editor, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-in-their-eyes.md)
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Six Degrees* (2006), series, Director
- *Vientos de agua* (2006), series, Writer, Director, Creator
- *House* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Moon of Avellaneda* (2004), Director, Writer
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, Director
- *The Guardian* (2001), series, Director
- *Son of the Bride* (2001), as Médico · Director, Screenplay
- *Culpables* (2001), series, Writer
- *Ed* (2000), series, Director
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, Director
- *Same Love, Same Rain* (1999), Writer, Director
- *Strangers with Candy* (1999), series, Director
- *Love Walked In* (1997), Writer, Director
- *Someone Had to Be Benny* (1996), Director
- *Remember WENN* (1996), series, Director
- *The Boy Who Cried Bitch* (1991), Director
- *The Contortionist* (1988), Writer, Director, Producer, Editor
- *Commercial for Murder* (1985), Editor
- *Win 392* (1984), Writer, Producer, Director, Editor
- *Los totos* (1983), Sound
- *Te rompo el rating* (1981), as Camarógrafo de espaldas en entrevista (cameo) · Assistant Director
- *Aminga, from a village to the city*, Executive Producer
- *Mafalda*, series, Director, Writer, Producer, Creator

## Gallery

- ![Juan J. Campanella](https://film.one/media/person/101678/gallery-c8d6b12dfbb2.jpg) Juan J. Campanella — Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_2019.jpg/1280px-Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Begoña Guillén is one of the first comedians to join the small cast of women in Comedy Central. In 2006, she appeared for the first time on the program "Nuevos  (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/101678/gallery-69bcd18608b3.jpg) Begoña Guillén is one of the first comedians to join the small cast of women in Comedy Central. In 2006, she appeared for the first time on the program "Nuevos  (2012) — Oba11, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Bego%C3%B1a_Guill%C3%A9n.jpg/1280px-Bego%C3%B1a_Guill%C3%A9n.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bernardo Bergeret Thierry Frémaux y Juan José Campanella (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/101678/gallery-df9e406c76ca.jpg) Bernardo Bergeret Thierry Frémaux y Juan José Campanella (2020) — Agebel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Bergeret_Fr%C3%A9maux_y_Campanella.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Buenos Aires, 7 de Junio de 2019.- Función accesible de "El cuento de las comadrejas" presentada por su director, Juan José Camapanella Foto: Soledad Amarilla /](https://film.one/media/person/101678/gallery-c74bd5601ebd.jpg) Buenos Aires, 7 de Junio de 2019.- Función accesible de "El cuento de las comadrejas" presentada por su director, Juan José Camapanella Foto: Soledad Amarilla / — Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Funci%C3%B3n_accesible_de_%22El_cuento_de_las_comadrejas%22_presentada_por_su_director%2C_Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_%2848021708793%29.jpg/1280px-Funci%C3%B3n_accesible_de_%22El_cuento_de_las_comadrejas%22_presentada_por_su_director%2C_Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_%2848021708793%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Buenos Aires, 7 de Junio de 2019.- Función accesible de "El cuento de las comadrejas" presentada por su director, Juan José Camapanella Foto: Soledad Amarilla /](https://film.one/media/person/101678/gallery-af5ed38dc441.jpg) Buenos Aires, 7 de Junio de 2019.- Función accesible de "El cuento de las comadrejas" presentada por su director, Juan José Camapanella Foto: Soledad Amarilla / — Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Funci%C3%B3n_accesible_de_%22El_cuento_de_las_comadrejas%22_presentada_por_su_director%2C_Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_%2848021708993%29.jpg/1280px-Funci%C3%B3n_accesible_de_%22El_cuento_de_las_comadrejas%22_presentada_por_su_director%2C_Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_%2848021708993%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Buenos Aires, 7 de Junio de 2019.- Función accesible de "El cuento de las comadrejas" presentada por su director, Juan José Camapanella Foto: Soledad Amarilla /](https://film.one/media/person/101678/gallery-1b1db7ec6430.jpg) Buenos Aires, 7 de Junio de 2019.- Función accesible de "El cuento de las comadrejas" presentada por su director, Juan José Camapanella Foto: Soledad Amarilla / — Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Funci%C3%B3n_accesible_de_%22El_cuento_de_las_comadrejas%22_presentada_por_su_director%2C_Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_%2848021789372%29.jpg/1280px-Funci%C3%B3n_accesible_de_%22El_cuento_de_las_comadrejas%22_presentada_por_su_director%2C_Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Camapanella_%2848021789372%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- European Film Award for Best Film 2010: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Secret in Their Eyes*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/juan-jose-campanella