BIO
Michael Cuartas is a Colombian-American director of photography based in Miami, FL.
In 2019, Michael lensed his first feature film, MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO, written and directed by Jonathan Cuartas, starring Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram and Owen Campbell. For his work on the film, Michael received a Special Jury Mention for Cinematography at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Cinematography at the 39th Molins Film Festival. The film won two awards at the 53rd SITGES Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the 2020 EnergaCAMERIMAGE.
Michael has photographed a number of short films. HERMANO HERMANA, part stop-motion animation, part photographic memoir, was in competition for Best Animated Short at the 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest. THE HORSE AND THE STAG won Best After Dark Short at the 2018 Indie Memphis Film Festival and is available to watch on Gunpowder & Sky's ALTER. TERRA premiered on Film Shortage in 2025, featured as one of their Best Picks of the Month.
Michael is fluent in English and Spanish.
Michael Cuartas is a Colombian-American director of photography based in Miami, FL.
In 2019, Michael lensed his first feature film, MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO, written and directed by Jonathan Cuartas, starring Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram and Owen Campbell. For his work on the film, Michael received a Special Jury Mention for Cinematography at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Cinematography at the 39th Molins Film Festival. The film won two awards at the 53rd SITGES Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the 2020 EnergaCAMERIMAGE.
Michael has photographed a number of short films. HERMANO HERMANA, part stop-motion animation, part photographic memoir, was in competition for Best Animated Short at the 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest. THE HORSE AND THE STAG won Best After Dark Short at the 2018 Indie Memphis Film Festival and is available to watch on Gunpowder & Sky's ALTER. TERRA premiered on Film Shortage in 2025, featured as one of their Best Picks of the Month.
Michael is fluent in English and Spanish.
CV
AWARDS
Special Jury Mention for Cinematography, Tribeca Film Festival (2020)
Winner, Best Cinematography, Molins Film Festival (2020)
Special Jury Mention for Cinematography, Tribeca Film Festival (2020)
Winner, Best Cinematography, Molins Film Festival (2020)
FEATURE FILM
MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
Special Jury Mention for Cinematography, Tribeca Film Festival (2020)
Winner, Best Cinematography, Molins Film Festival (2020)
Winner, New Visions Award: Best Feature Film, SITGES (2020)
Winner, Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation, SITGES (2020)
Winner, New Direction Competition, Cleveland International Film Festival (2021)
Official Selection, EnergaCAMERIMAGE (2020)
MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
Special Jury Mention for Cinematography, Tribeca Film Festival (2020)
Winner, Best Cinematography, Molins Film Festival (2020)
Winner, New Visions Award: Best Feature Film, SITGES (2020)
Winner, Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation, SITGES (2020)
Winner, New Direction Competition, Cleveland International Film Festival (2021)
Official Selection, EnergaCAMERIMAGE (2020)
SHORT FILM
HERMANO HERMANA
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
Official Selection, Palm Springs International ShortFest (2025)
THE HORSE AND THE STAG
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
Winner, Best After Dark Short, Indie Memphis Film Festival (2018)
TERRA
Director: Rocio Crudo & Saskia d'Altena
THE SEXTON AND THE SPADE
Director: Jon Rhoads & Mike Marrero
THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BROTHER
Director: Edson Jean
TWELVE TRADITIONS
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
THE PALLOR
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
TOP SHELF
Director: Timothy Wilcox
HERMANO HERMANA
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
Official Selection, Palm Springs International ShortFest (2025)
THE HORSE AND THE STAG
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
Winner, Best After Dark Short, Indie Memphis Film Festival (2018)
TERRA
Director: Rocio Crudo & Saskia d'Altena
THE SEXTON AND THE SPADE
Director: Jon Rhoads & Mike Marrero
THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BROTHER
Director: Edson Jean
TWELVE TRADITIONS
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
THE PALLOR
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
TOP SHELF
Director: Timothy Wilcox
COMMERCIAL
MCDONALD'S [2nd Unit DOP]
Director: LOBOS
XFINITY
Director: Andrew Bazouzi Butte
WALMART
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
LUCYD
Director: Carlos de Varona
DIGITEX
Director: Carlos de Varona
MCDONALD'S [2nd Unit DOP]
Director: LOBOS
XFINITY
Director: Andrew Bazouzi Butte
WALMART
Director: Jonathan Cuartas
LUCYD
Director: Carlos de Varona
DIGITEX
Director: Carlos de Varona
MUSIC VIDEO
PALOMINO BLOND "CREATURE NATURAL"
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
FORTY WINTERS "SNUFF OUT THE LIGHT"
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
FORTY WINTERS "ISOLATE"
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
PALOMINO BLOND "CREATURE NATURAL"
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
FORTY WINTERS "SNUFF OUT THE LIGHT"
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
FORTY WINTERS "ISOLATE"
Director: Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuartas
DIRECTORS
Jonathan Cuartas, Edson Jean, Rocio Crudo, Jon Rhoads, Mike Marrero, LOBOS, Andrew Bazouzi Butte, Saskia d'Altena, Carlos de Varona, Timothy Wilcox
Jonathan Cuartas, Edson Jean, Rocio Crudo, Jon Rhoads, Mike Marrero, LOBOS, Andrew Bazouzi Butte, Saskia d'Altena, Carlos de Varona, Timothy Wilcox