Rafael Ortega Velderrain is a veteran Mexican film director and producer. He began his career as a director in the late 1950s, working in television and films. He is best known for his work on films such as “El Espectador” (1959), “Los Olvidados” (1960), “El Camino” (1962), and “Los Olvidados” (1970).
Rafael Ortega Velderrain was born in Mexico City in 1933. He studied at the CCC Film School in Mexico City, where he specialized in cinematography. After graduation, he worked as a camera operator and assistant director on several Mexican films. He made his directorial debut in 1959 with the film “El Espectador”, which was a critical and commercial success. His next film, “Los Olvidados”, was released in 1960 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
In 1962, Ortega Velderrain directed “El Camino”, a drama about a young girl who goes on a journey to find her father. The film won numerous awards, including the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. He followed this up with “Los Olvidados”, a drama about a group of juvenile delinquents living in Mexico City. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
In the 1970s, Ortega Velderrain continued to work as a director and producer, making several films such as “La Noche de los Milagros” (1972) and “Todos los Hombres Soñaron una Vez” (1978). He also produced the Spanish-language version of the classic film “The Godfather” (1972).
Throughout his career, Ortega Velderrain received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including several Ariel Awards from the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences. He was also awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor bestowed on a Mexican citizen by the government.
Rafael Ortega Velderrain passed away in 2016 at the age of 83. He is remembered for his groundbreaking work in Mexican cinema, which was influential both in Mexico and abroad. He was a pioneer in Mexican cinema and his legacy will continue
