Kristian Mercado Figueroa is an award winning Puerto Rican filmmaker living in Spanish Harlem. ︎︎︎
Raised
between New York’s Spanish Harlem and Puerto Rico, Kristian Mercado discovered his passion for the arts at an early age, often using film as a form
of escapism. His psychedelic animated short Nuevo Rico debuted at the
2021 SXSW Festival, garnering the prestigious Animation Jury Award, and is
currently being developed into a full-length feature film.
Earlier
this year, Mercado directed his first feature film entitled If You
Were the Last, written by Angela Bourassa. The film is a warm and comedic
investigation of life and love, set on a rocket ship adrift in space.
Mercado
has directed content for Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Awkwafina, Eric Andre,
Spotify, Adidas, Corona, Miller, Topo Chico, Alienware, De La Soul, MF DOOM,
Planned Parenthood, Gatorade, and Adult Swim, among others. He has also
solidified a place in today’s comedy scene, directing specials for Michael Che,
Ilana Glazer, Taylor Tomlinson, Hannibal Buress, Sam Jay, Phoebe Robinson, and
Aida Rodriguez.
With work
that has screened at numerous festivals, Mercado has a distinct voice for
addressing issues of identity, family, and systemic oppression across race and
class. His work is celebrated for its poetic portrayal of working-class
struggles and highlighting the gaps between love and loss. Mercado has several
scripts in the works, laying vital groundwork for the next phase in his
career.
OFFICIAL SELECTION OFFICIAL SELECTION OFFICIAL SELECTION OFFICIAL SELECTION OFFICIAL SELECTION
Selected Awards
2021 SXSW Film Festival Jury Award Winner
2019 SXSW Film Festival Jury Award Winner
2019 Slamdance Screenwriting Award Winner
BlueCat Finalist
2019 The American Diversity Award in Official Latino Short Film Festival
Frame light: Short Focus 2018 Winner Best Short
2018 NiteHawk Shorts Fest Music Driven Winner
2018 NiteHawk Shorts Fest Audience Award Winner
2018 Miami Short Film Festival Finalist
Vimeo Best Of Year
Vimeo Best Of Month x2
Vimeo Staff Picks x5
2019 Rincon International Film Festival Puerto Rico Audience Choice Best PR MV Winner
2019 Showdown X Music Video Festival Best Editing
2018 Global Music Awards Outstanding Achievement Winner
2019 Independent Shorts Awards Winner
Pitchfork's Top Ten Music Vidoes of the Year 2018
Rolling Stones Top Ten Music Vidoes of the Year 2018
IMVDb The Best Music Videos of 2016/17/18 Top 50
Booooooom The 15 Best Music of 2018
2018 Webby Awards Music Video Honoree
NYISA Screeningwriting Gold Winner
SF Indie Fest Finalist
Award of Merit: Music Video IndieFEST
Award of Excellence One-Reeler Short Film Competition
2018 Webby Awards Music Video Honoree
AICP Winner
WEBBY Gold Winner
ONESHOW Pencil Winner
BassAwards Winner
Official Selections
(Con’t)2020 SXSW SELECTION x 5
Palm Springs Shortfest 2020
Atlanta Film Festival 2019
Atlanta Underground Film Festival 2020
New Orleans Film Festival 2018
Nantucket Film Festival 2019
Cine Las Americas 2020
Maryland Film Festival 2019
LA Shorts Fest 2020
Lone Star Film Festival 2020
Havana Film Festival 2019
Miami Film Festival 2019
Raindance Film Festival 2018, 2020
Urbanworld Film Festival 2018, 2020
Sidewalk Film Festival 2020
Oregon Independent Film Festival 2020
Denver Film Festival 2020
Nitehawk ShortFest 19 with Nobudge
HBO New York Latino Film Festival 2019
Official Latino Short Film Festival 2020
Annecy Film Festival 2015, 2016, 2017
Indie Memphis Film Festival 2019, 2020
Cleveland International Film Festival 2018, 2016
Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2019
Cinequest Film Festival 2019
Newport Beach Film Festival 2018, 2017
Seattle International Film Festival 2019
San Francisco International Festival of Short Films 2018
San Diego Underground Film Festival 2020
Richmond International Film & Music Festival 2019
Bushwick Film Festival 2018, 2019
HollyShorts Film Festival 2018 x 2
HollyShorts Film Festival 2020
Pittsburgh Shorts 2020
Tacoma Film Festival 2020
Walla Walla Movie Crush Film Festival
Orlando Film Festival
Leeds International Film Festival
Austin Music Video Festival 2018
Harlem International Film Festival 2019
Boston Latino International Film Festival 2019
Boston Underground Film Festival 2019
Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival 2018, 2019
The Philadelphia Latino Film Festival 2019
Latino Film Market Official Selection 2019
New York City Independent Film Festival 2018
St. Louis International Film Festival 2019
International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival 2018, 2019
Festival de Cortos de Bogotá - BOGOSHORTS 2019
SENE Film Festival 2020
Dublin Independent Film Festival
Boston Underground Film Festival 2019
Rooftop Films Screening @ Animation Block Party 2017
La Guarimba International Film Festival 2018, 2019
Cine+Mas San Francisco Latino Film Festival 2019
All Fest Short Film Program 2019
All Voices Film Festival 2018
Inaugural Ville Fest 2019
Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival 2018
Cutout Fest 2016 Viewmonster Showing
Boiler Room Weekender: Everybody is a Star
Hollyshorts Screenplay Official Selection 2020
Directors Notes x 4
Tv.booooooom x 7
Nobudge
Discover.Film 2020