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José Luis Borau

Known For
Directing
Born
August 8, 1929 in Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
Died
November 23, 2012
Active Years
1960–2026 (67 Years)
Total Credits
50 credits in database
Directing Born Aug 8, 1929 Died Nov 23, 2012 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain 50 credits
50
Total Credits
1960–2026
67 Years Career Span
8
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

José Luis Borau Moradell was a Spanish film director, producer, screenwriter, writer, occasional actor, literary editor, and film critic. Born in Zaragoza, Spain, on August 8, 1929, he studied law in his hometown and debuted as a film critic in the newspaper El Heraldo de Aragón. In Madrid, he joined the Instituto de Investigaciones y Experiencias Cinematográficas. He exerted great influence on the medium through his teaching at the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía. In 1967, he founded the production company El Imán, Cine y Televisión, financing his own projects and those of other filmmakers. Among his personal work, the film Furtivos, released in 1975, won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian Festival. He also won the Goya Award for Best Director in 2000 for Leo. He passed away on November 23, 2012.

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Career

Career overview

José Luis Borau Moradell was a Spanish film director, producer, screenwriter, writer, occasional actor, literary editor, and film critic. Born in Zaragoza, Spain, on August 8, 1929, he studied law in his hometown and began publishing articles about cinema in the newspaper El Heraldo de Aragón, where he worked as a film critic. He later moved to Madrid and joined the Instituto de Investigaciones y Experiencias Cinematográficas. Borau exerted great influence on the medium through his teaching at the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía.

In 1967, he founded the production company El Imán, Cine y Televisión, through which he financed both his own projects and those of other filmmakers. Among his personal work, the film Furtivos, released in 1975, stands out. It won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian Festival and achieved significant success for its opposition to the limits of censorship at the beginning of the Spanish Transition.

Throughout his career, Borau received recognition for his work in cinema, including winning the Goya Award for Best Director in the year 2000 for the film Leo. Additionally, he was a member of the Real Academia Española, holding seat B from 2008 until his death. Borau passed away on November 23, 2012, at the age of eighty-three.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

My Dearest Señorita · Original Film Writer
Lo Siguiente
Enrique Herreros
Arrebatados: recordando a Iván Zulueta
Por la gracia de Luis
Anna's Summer · Producer
Leo · DirectorLeo · WriterLeo · Producer
Niño nadie · DirectorNiño nadie · Writer
Ilona Arrives with the Rain
Celia · WriterCelia · DirectorCelia · CreatorEveryone Off to Jail
Misadventure
Tata Mía · WriterTata Mía · DirectorTata Mía · Producer
On the Line · DirectorOn the Line · ProducerOn the Line · Writer
Cuentos para una escapada
La Sabina · DirectorLa Sabina · Writer
Somnambulists
In Memoriam · ProducerBlack Litter · WriterEl monosabio · Screenplay
La adúlteraB. Must Die · DirectorB. Must Die · WriterB. Must Die · ProducerPoachers
My Dearest SenoritaMy Dearest Senorita · Assistant DirectorMy Dearest Senorita · Writer
Estado de sitio · Producer
Un, dos, tres, al escondite inglésUn, dos, tres, al escondite inglés · Producer
Double Edged Crime · DirectorSnakes and Ladders
Ride and Kill · ScreenplayRide and Kill · Director
En el río · DirectorEn el río · Screenplay

Full Filmography

50 titles
  • My Dearest Señorita (2026) Original Film Writer
  • Lo Siguiente (2018) as Self - Presenter
  • Enrique Herreros (2011) as Self - Filmmaker
  • Arrebatados: recordando a Iván Zulueta (2010)
  • Por la gracia de Luis (2009) as Himself
  • Anna's Summer (2001) Producer
  • Leo (2000) Director
  • Leo (2000) Writer
  • Advertisement
  • Leo (2000) Producer
  • Niño nadie (1997) Director
  • Niño nadie (1997) Writer
  • Ilona Arrives with the Rain (1996) as Alcántara
  • Celia (1993) Writer
  • Celia (1993) Director
  • Celia (1993) Creator
  • Everyone Off to Jail (1993) as Capellan
  • Misadventure (1988) as Alcántara
  • Tata Mía (1986) Writer
  • Tata Mía (1986) Director
  • Tata Mía (1986) Producer
  • On the Line (1984) Director
  • On the Line (1984) Producer
  • On the Line (1984) Writer
  • Cuentos para una escapada (1981)
  • La Sabina (1979) Director
  • La Sabina (1979) Writer
  • Somnambulists (1978) as Director de la biblioteca
  • In Memoriam (1977) Producer
  • Black Litter (1977) Writer
  • El monosabio (1977) Screenplay
  • La adúltera (1975) as Médico
  • B. Must Die (1975) Director
  • B. Must Die (1975) Writer
  • B. Must Die (1975) Producer
  • Poachers (1975) as Gobernador
  • Poachers (1975) Director
  • Poachers (1975) Producer
  • Poachers (1975) Screenplay
  • My Dearest Senorita (1972) as Médico (uncredited)
  • My Dearest Senorita (1972) Assistant Director
  • My Dearest Senorita (1972) Writer
  • Estado de sitio (1970) Producer
  • Un, dos, tres, al escondite inglés (1969) as Tio Prudencio
  • Un, dos, tres, al escondite inglés (1969) Producer
  • Double Edged Crime (1965) Director
  • Snakes and Ladders (1965) as Cliente del café (uncredited)
  • Ride and Kill (1964) Screenplay
  • Ride and Kill (1964) Director
  • En el río (1960) Director
  • En el río (1960) Screenplay

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is José Luis Borau best known for?

José Luis Borau is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Big Town (1980), Somnambulists (1978), In Memoriam (1977).

When and where was José Luis Borau born?

José Luis Borau was born on August 8, 1929 in Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain. They passed away on November 23, 2012.

How many credits does José Luis Borau have?

José Luis Borau has accumulated over 50 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1960 to 2026.

What is José Luis Borau's background in cinema and television?

José Luis Borau Moradell was a Spanish film director, producer, screenwriter, writer, occasional actor, literary editor, and film critic. Born in Zaragoza, Spain, on August 8, 1929, he studied law in his hometown and debuted as a film critic in the newspaper El Heraldo de Aragón. In Madrid, he joined the Instituto de I...

José Luis Borau by the numbers

50credits
46films
4TV series
1960–2026active years

Age in their best-rated roles

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