DIRECTOR | WRITER
DITO MONTIEL

Dito was born in Queens and spent his youth playing in hardcore bands, and he also had a brief stint as a Versace model.  After adapting his best-selling book (the first of three) into a screenplay, Montiel made his directorial debut with the film version of "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," starring Robert Downey Jr., Channing Tatum, and Rosario Dawson. The film won the Special Jury Prize and the Director's Award at Sundance, the Critics' Award at Venice, and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards.

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He has since gone on to write and direct a long list of award-winning films premiering everywhere from Venice to Toronto with such acclaimed actors as Al Pacino, Gary Oldman, Juliette Binoche, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, and Ray Liotta. Talent  and the production community love him and how his sets run.

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Always dancing between the film and commercial world, Dito recently wrapped the State Farm "This is Us" campaign that he wrote as well as directed.  The Debut of Riff Raff in 2025 , with a current production in Italy with Al Pacino.

 

He lives with his family in LA.

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