A director whose former career as a DJ has instilled in him a spectacular comprehension of pacing and a near-unparalleled ability to weave a compelling, nonlinear tale, Alejandro González Iñárritu stunned filmgoers worldwide with his vital and affecting directorial debut, Amores Perros. Striking a fine balance between brutality and beauty while offering well-defined characters that seem as real as their stark surroundings, Iñárritu's unforgettable take on life in contemporary Mexico City earned the first-time feature director an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film among many other honors — leaving expectations for a strong sophomore follow-up much higher than usual.

A native of Mexico City whose familiarity with his surroundings no doubt contributed to Amores Perros' vivid presentation of his home turf, Iñárritu earned a living as a DJ on the top-rated Mexican station WMF before becoming one of the youngest television producers in Mexican history. A musician at heart, Iñárritu also scored six Mexican films in the late '80s. Viewing his television work as a precursor to his feature aspirations, Iñárritu was soon introduced to noted Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga, and the pair quickly found that they shared much in common with one another, including a unique view of life in Mexico City. In the following years, Iñárritu…  » Read more