Born in Colombia, Germán Gutierrez studied drama in Paris before moving to Quebec some forty years ago. After studying film in Ottawa, he worked first as a camera assistant and then as a cameraman for Radio-Canada, the National Film Board, and several production companies, including Pixcom, Virage, and Gala Films. While continuing to work as a director of photography on a wide variety of projects, he quickly became interested in directing. His work takes him all over the world, often to conflict zones: Cambodia, Sarajevo, South Africa, Rwanda, and El Salvador—as well as to remote regions. His personal works primarily address social, political, and cultural themes.