All Films in Chronological Order
A Branch of Life 2024
Synopsis: A man's life unfolds in five pivotal vignettes, from birth to death, capturing fleeting moments of innocence, transformation, and vulnerability. Through evocative visuals and sound design, the film reveals the fragile beauty of existence.
Crew:
Director: Houston Diaz, Noam Jankelowitz and Ava Golden
Cinemtographer: Houston Diaz, Noam Jankelowitz and Ava Golden
Editors: Houston Diaz, and Noam Jankelowitz
Cast:
Cast
11 year old (Jim): Lincoln Caplan
17 year old (Jim): Houston Diaz
25 year old (Jim): Bodi Johnson
50 year old (Jim): Eddie Gibbons
80 year old (Jim): Jeffrey E. Milstein
Drug Dealer #1: Tyler Johnson
Drug Dealer #2: Kevin Corn
50 year old wife: Diana Berchan
90 year old wife: Anita Michael
Doctor #1: Travis Marnell
Doctor #2: Julia Cohen
Birthday Friend: Noam Jankelowitz
The Dictator Debate 2024
Synopsis: A surreal and darkly comedic dinner brings Fidel Castro, Joseph Stalin, and Donald Trump together, exposing the shared flaws of authoritarianism through absurd clashes of ego and ideology.
Crew:
Director: Houston Diaz, Noam Jankelowitz, and Brett Eckes
Writer: Houston Diaz, Noam Jankelowitz, and Brett Eckes
Producer: Houston Diaz, Noam Jankelowitz, and Brett Eckes
Editor: Houston Diaz, and Noam Jankelowitz
Cast:
Donald Trump: William Kozy
Fidel Castro: Kevin Ramirez Rios
Joseph Stalin: Yury Yakor
The Lies We Chew 2024
Synopsis: Two strange strangers meet at a strange mall, To eat strange food and bond through it all.
Crew:
Director: Houston Diaz
Writer: Houston Diaz
Director of Photography: Houston Diaz
Assistant Camera: Noam Jankelowitz
Cast:
Male Lead: Bodi Johnson
Female Supporting: Donata O'Neill
DESTINY 2024
Synopsis: A man needs to make a decision between 2 paths.
Crew:
Director: Houston Diaz
Writer: Houston Diaz
Director of Photography: Houston Diaz
Assistant Camera: Noam Jankelowitz
Cast:
Male Lead: Bodi Johnson
Awards:
Selected:
First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Volume 1 (official selection)
Masks of Fidelio 2024
Synopsis: "Masks of Fidelio" follows Sammy Hill, a young man entangled in his family's organized crime. Under the control of his father, Robby Rothstein, Sammy faces increasing danger.
Crew:
Director: Houston Diaz and Noam Jankelowitz
Writers: Houston Diaz and Noam Jankelowitz
Producers: Houston Diaz and Noam Jankelowitz
Cinematographer: Houston Diaz
Cast:
Sammy Hill: Sam Fuchs
Robby Rothstein: Mitch Tebo
Fredo Farrente: Anthony LaCastro
Jules: Lemark Mcpherson
Vincent: Emanuele Cerbone
Tommy Bruno: Carl Ellis Grant
Pauly Gorlami: Chris Lazzaro
Vito Vinci: Gautam Kannan
Lorenzo Vinci: Joseph Bossé
Franky Conway: Tony Woodward
Jackie Horner: Jim Burns
Mafia Gangster #1: Bodi Johnson
Mafia Gangster #2: Alexander Muhumuza
Mafia Gangster #3: Sid Jarvis
Mafia Gangster #4: Joseph Matzelle
Cop: Said Marshall
Cop: Ricardo Garay
Vini: Houston Diaz
Bartender: Noam Jankelowitz
Waiter: Tyler Diamond
Waiter: Tyler Shane
Swat: Daron Cheatham
Swat: Ben Elias
Swat: Benjamin Acquah
Awards:
Finalist:
Lahore International Film Festival Awards - LIFFA (Quarter-Finalist)
Selected:
First-Time Filmmaker Sessions January 2025 (official selection)
Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival (official selection)
Stolen Springs [password: poland] 2024
Synopsis: Documentary on bottled water with a case study of Poland Spring. The film explores corporate gifts towards small towns, microplastic dangers, and more.
Crew:
Director: Houston Diaz
Producer: Houston Diaz
Cinematographer: Houston Diaz
Editor: Houston Diaz
Cast:
(Narration): Houston Diaz
Alexander Polanco
Nickie Sekera
Houston Diaz
Simon Jarcho
Jim Wilfong
Joshua Goodman
Megan Wolff
Awards:
Winner:
Seoul International Kids & Youth Film Festival (Competitive 13 to 18 Section)
Selected:
Personality Pieces 2024
Synopsis: In a surreal world where humans are transformed into furniture, a pair of unconventional pieces, a Lamp and a Coat Stand, defy their restrictive rules and form a forbidden bond, leading to unexpected consequences for their oblivious owners.
Crew
Director: Houston Diaz
Writers: Houston Diaz, Lily Distler, Jewel Walk
Producer: Houston Diaz, Lily Distler, Jewel Walk
Cinematographer: Houston Diaz, Lily Distler, Jewel Walk
Cast:
Coat Stand/Bulb: Oscar Schwarzer
Lamp/Watts: Claire Culley
Comercial Host: Mitch Tebo
Mr. Windershin: Anthony Tilli
Mrs. Windershin: Lorraine Hall
Delivery Guy: Houston Diaz
Furniture Instructor: Justin Tesser
Awards:
Winner:
The Avenues International Film Fest(Most Creative)
The Avenues International Film Fest(Most Thought Provoking)
Nominated:
All American High School Film Festival (Maverick Award/Most Creative)
Selected:
Taiga (Comedy, Drama, Romantic Film)
First-Time Filmmaker Sessions - by Lift-Off Global Network (Shorts - New Voices)
Koolifilm Fest (Narrative Shorts)
Nana's Eyeball Marmalade 2023
Synopsis: In an industrial dystopian NYC, a 14-year-old poor boy sneaks into the labyrinthine tunnels to visit his reclusive grandfather, who lives in isolation among strange interiors and bizarre foods. As the boy joins him, the two bond over their shared loneliness, finding fleeting warmth in an absurd and alienating world.
Crew
Director: Houston Diaz
Producer: Houston Diaz, Rahm Kosman, and Niko Wilkerson
Cinematographer: Niko Wilkerson and Houston Diaz
Assistant-Cinematographer: Rahm Kosman
Set Coordinator: Rahm Kosman
Cast:
Grandpa: Mitch Tebo
Grandson: Leo Prince
Awards:
Semi-Finalist:
Indie Short Fest(Best Dark Comedy Short)
Indie Short Fest(Best Fantasy Short)
Selected:
Film Boxe International Monthly Film Fest(Horror/Sci-Fi Short Film)
Cloven Hoof Film Fest (Student)
SHOTDOWN 2023
Synopsis: A reflective experimental piece about love, breakup, and expectations.
Crew
Director: Houston Diaz
Producer: Houston Diaz
Cinematographer: Hugo McRobb
Cast:
Houston Diaz
Sophie Shapiro
Awards:
Semi-Finalist: Indie Short Fest(Best Animation Short)
IndieX Film Fest(Best Animation Short)
Finalist: Independent Shorts Awards(Best Indie Short)
Selected:
Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions 2024 (Student Shorts - Students of Storytelling)
All American High School Film Festival (Experimental)
BUEISFF - British University International Students Film Festival (Short films, woman films, animation films, web series, documentary, avant-garde and visual media)
IMAGINARY FRIENDS 2022
Synopsis: Two young woman meet on a park bench on a Summer day.
Crew
Director: Houston Diaz
Producer: Houston Diaz
Cinematographer: Sam Virrael
Assistant-Cinematographer: Raphael Vanegas
Cast:
Emma Bianchi
Azaryah Heller-Braun
Catarina Marques
Awards:
Winner:
The Avenues International Film Fest(Best Director)
Finalist:
Independent Shorts Awards(Best Student Short)
Independent Shorts Awards(Best Young Filmmaker)
Semi-Finalist:
Indie Short Fest(Best Microfilm)
Indie Short Fest(Best Young Filmmaker (Male))
Indie X Film Fest(Best LGBTQ Short)
Selected:
The Lovett School High School Film Fest(US Narrative)
Short. Sweet. Film Fest.(Student Short Film)
TEEN TRUTH Film Festival(MY TRUTH)
All American High School Film Festival(Drama)
NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth) (Narrative(Student))
Thessaloniki Free Short Festival(Best International Youth Short Film)
Thessaloniki Free Short Festival(Best International Special Short Film)
Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions 2024 (Student Shorts - Students of Storytelling)
Medezfest - Children & Youth Film Festival (Best Short Film (for audience 13 – 17 Years Old)), (Best Micro Short Film (1min-5min) - Produced by School Children), (Best Child/Teen Acting), (Best Student Short Film (for audience 13 – 17 Years Old)), (Best Producer), (Best Director), (Best Cinematographer)
Mostra Tricordiana de Cinema Estudantil (Curtas Metragens de Estudantes)
houston diaz - founder
Houston Diaz is a member of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Class of 2029. As a cinematographer and independent filmmaker, he collaborates with small, dedicated crews to create impactful short films and documentaries.
Email: houstondiaz@gmail.com
Phone Number: 646-276-4310