Director & Screenwriter
About
Kristian Mercado Figueroa is a Puerto Rican filmmaker and screenwriter raised between Spanish Harlem and Puerto Rico. His work moves across narrative film, comedy, music videos, and commercials, exploring identity, family, and the places where humor meets heartbreak.
His feature debut, If You Were the Last, stars Anthony Mackie and Zoë Chao. His short films Pa’lante and Nuevo Rico won jury awards at SXSW. He has directed comedy specials for Taylor Tomlinson, Fortune Feimster, Michael Che, Sam Jay, and Hannibal Buress, alongside music work for artists including Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, and Black Pumas.
Whether working with live action, animation, or a mix of both, Mercado brings a playful visual language to stories grounded in human connection. His work carries the rhythms, contradictions, and imagination of his Puerto Rican roots.
Selected recognition
The Backdoor — Austin Film Festival Script Competition Finalist, Enderby Entertainment Award, 2026
Mataron a Pedro — Audience Award, Best Short Film, CineFest Latino, 2026
Mataron a Pedro — Best Short Film, Fist Up Film Festival, 2026
Mataron a Pedro — Official Selection, LALIFF and Lusca Fantastic Film Fest, 2026
If You Were the Last — World Premiere, SXSW, 2023
Nuevo Rico — SXSW Jury Award, Animated Shorts, 2021
Pa’lante — SXSW Jury Award, Music Videos, 2019
Slamdance Screenwriting Award, 2019
Fellowships & grants
RiverRun International Film Festival — Curatorial Filmmaker Fellow, 2027
Film Independent Fellow
Cinereach grantee
Jerome Foundation grantee
Juries & mentorship
SXSW Film & TV Festival — Narrative Shorts Jury, 2024
Clio Music Awards — Film & Video Jury, 2020
Selected awards
2026 Austin Film Festival Script Competition Finalist, Enderby Entertainment Award (The Backdoor)2026 CineFest Latino Audience Award, Best Short Film (Mataron a Pedro)2026 Fist Up Film Festival Best Short Film (Mataron a Pedro)2021 SXSW Film Festival Jury Award Winner2019 SXSW Film Festival Jury Award Winner2019 Slamdance Screenwriting Award WinnerBlueCat Finalist2019 The American Diversity Award in Official Latino Short Film FestivalFramelight: Short Focus 2018 Winner, Best Short2018 NiteHawk Shorts Fest Music Driven Winner2018 NiteHawk Shorts Fest Audience Award Winner2018 Miami Short Film Festival FinalistVimeo Best Of YearVimeo Best Of Month x2Vimeo Staff Picks x52019 Rincon International Film Festival Puerto Rico Audience Choice Best PR MV Winner2019 Showdown X Music Video Festival Best Editing2018 Global Music Awards Outstanding Achievement Winner2019 Independent Shorts Awards WinnerPitchfork’s Top Ten Music Videos of the Year 2018Rolling Stone’s Top Ten Music Videos of the Year 2018IMVDb The Best Music Videos of 2016/17/18 Top 50Booooooom, The 15 Best Music Videos of 20182018 Webby Awards Music Video HonoreeNYISA Screenwriting Gold WinnerSF Indie Fest FinalistAward of Merit: Music Video IndieFESTAward of Excellence One-Reeler Short Film CompetitionAICP WinnerWEBBY Gold WinnerONESHOW Pencil WinnerBassAwards Winner
Official selections
LALIFF 2026 (Mataron a Pedro)Lusca Fantastic Film Fest 2026 (Mataron a Pedro)SXSW 2023 World Premiere (If You Were the Last)2020 SXSW SELECTION x 5Palm Springs Shortfest 2020Atlanta Film Festival 2019Atlanta Underground Film Festival 2020New Orleans Film Festival 2018Nantucket Film Festival 2019Cine Las Americas 2020Maryland Film Festival 2019LA Shorts Fest 2020Lone Star Film Festival 2020Havana Film Festival 2019Miami Film Festival 2019Raindance Film Festival 2018, 2020Urbanworld Film Festival 2018, 2020Sidewalk Film Festival 2020Oregon Independent Film Festival 2020Denver Film Festival 2020Nitehawk ShortFest 19 with NobudgeHBO New York Latino Film Festival 2019Official Latino Short Film Festival 2020Annecy Film Festival 2015, 2016, 2017Indie Memphis Film Festival 2019, 2020Cleveland International Film Festival 2018, 2016Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2019Cinequest Film Festival 2019Newport Beach Film Festival 2018, 2017Seattle International Film Festival 2019San Francisco International Festival of Short Films 2018San Diego Underground Film Festival 2020Richmond International Film & Music Festival 2019Bushwick Film Festival 2018, 2019HollyShorts Film Festival 2018 x 2HollyShorts Film Festival 2020Pittsburgh Shorts 2020Tacoma Film Festival 2020Walla Walla Movie Crush Film FestivalOrlando Film FestivalLeeds International Film FestivalAustin Music Video Festival 2018Harlem International Film Festival 2019Boston Latino International Film Festival 2019Boston Underground Film Festival 2019Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival 2018, 2019The Philadelphia Latino Film Festival 2019Latino Film Market Official Selection 2019New York City Independent Film Festival 2018St. Louis International Film Festival 2019International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival 2018, 2019Festival de Cortos de Bogotá - BOGOSHORTS 2019SENE Film Festival 2020Dublin Independent Film FestivalRooftop Films Screening @ Animation Block Party 2017La Guarimba International Film Festival 2018, 2019Cine+Mas San Francisco Latino Film Festival 2019All Fest Short Film Program 2019All Voices Film Festival 2018Inaugural Ville Fest 2019Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival 2018Cutout Fest 2016 Viewmonster ShowingBoiler Room Weekender: Everybody is a StarHollyshorts Screenplay Official Selection 2020Directors Notes x 4Tv.booooooom x 7NobudgeDiscover.Film 2020